Just Pretend

Chapter 69 - It's Always Been Family

The house looks exactly the same as before we moved out. The scruffy "Go Away" welcome mat makes me giggle to myself like a private joke that no one's ever gotten tired from.

Noah opens the door without hesitation as if we still live here and I'm hit with the familiar smell of coffee and boy, something that I can't describe. The type of smell that clings to fabric and guitars. It soothes me in the strangest of ways.

An empty red bull can sits on the side, a leather jacket hung over the banister and unmistakably Nicks boots sit in the middle of the hallway as if they walked themselves there and then gave up. I step around them like muscle memory and we follow the noise.

"Damn, this place hits you like a fucking train." Noah chuckles as we kick off our shoes and make it further into the house.

"Ay! Is that you guys. Please tell me you brought snacks and life altering news." Folio shouts from the living room. We continue through the house and they're all exactly where I expect them to be. Jolly curled up on the couch a book in hand, Nick next to him rapidly texting away no doubt to Sadie and Folio sits sunken in the too big leather arm chair with the feet propped up a wide smile planted on his face.

"We brought both." Noah smiles as he launches a Walmart bag in Folios direction which he catches swiftly ripping it open to peer inside.

"Mar your glowing, this pregnancy is turning you into a goddess or are you just puking less?" Jolly kindly teases.

"Bit of both." I smile as I sink into the free couch and so does Noah. His arm instantly falls around my shoulders pulling me closely into his side. It's like we never left. The rooms abuzz of quiet chaos, half drained coffee mugs litter the table along with empty water bottles, an X-Box controller digs into my hip and I pull it out resting it on the arm of the sofa as Folio digs into the packet of flaming hot Cheetos that smell fucking incredible.

"Alright, hit us with it." Nick smiles putting down his phone giving us his full attention.

Noah leans forward handing Nick the sonogram print out from his jacket pocket where it's sat close against his chest for the hour. It's slightly turned up in the corners from where I gripped it too tightly worried that if I didn't it would fade away.

"It's from this morning." Noah says his voice low. "Strong heart beat. Everything just the way it should be." His voice catches as Nick looks closely at the sonogram.

"Damn, that's your kid." Nick whispers as he studies the sonogram one eyebrow raised. "Fuck... that's a real baby."

"Yeah." Noah chuckles softly. "Our baby." Noah looks down at me a proud smile firmly planted on his face.

"Dude, that's insane. Wow." Jolly grins as he peers over Nicks shoulder to look at the sonogram.

"Do you have copies of this? Like would it be weird if I framed one?" Folio asks as he gets up walking over to the couch to take a look. I stare at him dumbfounded by his words.

"You want to frame it?" I blink at him my voice laced with shock.

"Duh, that baby is gonna hang on the wall next to the platinum record. This baby is already cooler than all of us and it's just a grainy blob. I'm emotionally invested." Folio says his tone serious but we all laugh. "I bet it's a boy."

"Really? I think it's a girl." Nick replies genuinely as he hands Folio the sonogram.

"Oh hell yeah I think it's a boy. I'm gonna teach them drums." Folio grins looking over to Noah and I. "What do you think they're gonna be Mar?"

"Guys, I've just got my head wrapped around the fact we're having a baby." I laugh awkwardly as Noah kisses the top of my head. "I just know they're gonna be cute as hell and an absolute whirlwind."