First Crush, My Forever

Chapter 53

  I am currently stretched across Dani's couch, a pillow tucked under my head and KK's princess tea set scattered across the living room floor in front of me. Dani is still at work, or should be on her way home, and KK had insisted we throw a tea party for her stuffed animals. I didn't argue. It's impossible to say no to that little girl. Just as KK begins pouring pretend tea for the elephant, my phone buzzes on the coffee table. I lean forward and grab it, recognizing the name right away.

  Mama: Dinner tonight. Dani and KK better come too. No excuses. 5 sharp.

  I grin at mama's text and because Dani has just pulled into the driveway.

  "Hey KK," I say, standing up and brushing imaginary crumbs off my jeans. "Pause the tea party. I need to ask your mommy something when she gets home."

  KK groans dramatically. "But the tea is hot, TayTay."

  "Then it'll still be hot when we come back," I say with a wink.

  When Dani walks in the front door, KK bolts across the room like a little rocket.

  "Mommy!" she shouts, throwing herself into Dani's arms. "TayTay said I had to pause my tea party!"

  Dani laughs, lifting her up with a tired but happy smile. "Did she now?"

  "She did! But I think it's because she missed you," KK adds with a little smirk. Then she leans close and loudly whispers, "She was laying on the couch like this..." KK flopps in Dani's arms with her tongue sticking out. "Like a sad potato."

  Dani cracks up. "Poor TayTay."

  KK scrambles down and darts back into the living room. "I'm gonna finish my tea party now!"

  I step into the foyer, watching Dani take off her shoes, still smiling from the welcome-home chaos.

  "Hey," I say.

  "Hey." Her voice softens like it always does when it is just us.

  I walk over and brush my hand against her arm and give her a welcome home kiss. "So, mama text me."

  Dani raises an eyebrow. "Good or bad?"

  "Good. She wants us to come over for dinner tonight at 5. You and KK included."

  Dani leans back a little, suspicious. "Why do I feel like this is a setup?"

  "Because it probably is," I say, not even trying to lie. "But nothing bad. You know they love you."

  Her eyes stay on mine for a second, then she nods. "Okay. We'll come. Let me change into comfortable clothes, then we can head over. It's already four anyway."

  The second I step through the front door, I smell garlic and roasted something coming from the kitchen. My moms are always extra when they cook for guests, and tonight is no different. Dani is right behind me, slipping off her shoes, her hand resting protectively on her small baby bump.

  KK runs in ahead of us, loud and excited. "Nana L! Nana K!" she shouts like she is breaking news. "Mommy has a baby in her belly! I'm gonna be a big sister like TayTay!"

  I shoot Dani a look as her face turns tomato red, and I nearly choke trying not to laugh. KK turns toward my moms, who are standing at the kitchen island, blinking like they are trying to process what she just said.

  "Did you hear me?" KK says louder, bouncing on her toes. "AND I have two mommies now! Like TayTay!"

  Mama puts a hand to her chest, clearly caught off guard but trying not to laugh. "Oh, wow. That's... wonderful, sweetheart."

  Mom gives Dani a knowing look. Dani gives her a sheepish smile.

  "Surprise?" I say to mom when she looks at me.

  I lean into Dani a little and brush my hand against hers. "Guess KK handled the announcement for us."

  Dani nods her head. "Yeah, she nailed it."

  They don't press. Mama just says dinner will be ready soon and mentions the chicken needing five more minutes. She hands me a salad bowl and tells me to help set the table. As I walk off, she adds, "We'll talk after dinner."

  I nod. "Yes ma'am."

  Dinner is loud, like it usually is when KK's excited. She tells stories between bites of mashed potatoes and promises to teach her new sibling how to play Barbies and have tea parties, even if it's a boy. She keeps the table laughing with her tea party drama and how her stuffed elephant spilled juice on the princess. My brother Tristan shows up halfway through and instantly becomes KK's new favorite person.

  Mama asks Dani how teaching at the high school is going and says she'd heard good things from other teachers. She even mentions that students seem to love her. Mom has to tease me for bringing Dani lunch every day like a lovesick teenager. I don't deny it. Dani just gives me that soft glance that makes my chest tighten.

  After dinner, Dani and I help clear the table. I am loading dishes when Tristan pops his head in.

  "Yo, KK," he calls, "wanna come to the table and play Go Fish?"

  KK lights up. "YES!" She jumps up, almost knocking over her cup, and runs after him. I hear Tristan trying to teach her how to play, but from the sound of it, she is already making up her own rules.

  I glance at my moms. They are both giving me that look. The one that says we should talk. We move into the living room, out of earshot. Dani and I sit on the loveseat. My moms sit across from us on the couch. Mom crosses one leg over the other, arms loose, expression sharp.

  Mama starts. "So. KK said two mommies and called us Nana L and Nana K."

  Dani clears her throat. "KK has a mind of her own."

  Mom smiles, soft but steady. "It's not a bad thing. Just caught us off guard. It's cute though."

  Mama adds, "She's not wrong though. and we would love to be her nana's."

  I reach for Dani's hand. "We're figuring it out but yeah, we're together."

  Mama's smile deepens. "About time."

  I groan. "Please don't make it a thing."

  "It is a thing," mom says. "You've been smitten with Dani since high school."

  Dani's eyebrows shoot up. "Really?"

  "Seventeen, to be exact," mom says, like she's been waiting to say it. "That summer when you first moved in, Dani. You were so obvious, Taytum."

  I groan again and roll my eyes. I let out a slow breath and look between them. "But I'm not seventeen anymore. I know what I want. I want this life. With Dani. With KK. With the baby."

  Mama nudges mom, then looks back at us. "I think it's time we tell you how we got here too."

  I frown. "What do you mean?"

  Mama takes mom's hand. "We've never told the full story. You asked when you were really young, but it wasn't the right time. It matters now."

  "We want you both to know something," mom says. "We support this. All of it. The baby, the relationship, the messy parts."

  "We've been through it ourselves," mama says.

  I feel Dani shift beside me. She leans forward a little. "I've always wondered... how did you two end up together?"