Slightly Less Badass

~Chapter Thirty Five~

Epilogue- about 6 years later

Mira's POV

"Jacob I need you to come over immediately. It's an emergency."
Someone, I'm not really sure who, screams. It sounds like someone is getting murdered. Before Jacob can reply, I hang up the phone and run to see what was going on.
----
I'm so exhausted that I don't even bother getting off of the floor. I just lay there, not moving. When the doorbell rings I just yell, "Come in."
Jacob walks in and looks around with wide eyes. He looks panicked. He sees me laying there and rushes over to help me up.
"What's wrong?" he demands.
"Rina'a children are horrible, beastly little things," I reply. Jacob's panicked look disappears and he rolls his eyes.
"That was your emergency?"
"Well Jay is at work and I knew you were home today and I needed help. They just wouldn't stop. I didn't know two little kids could scream for so long."
"Well why were they screaming?" he asks. I shrug hopelessly.
"I don't even know. They just kept running in circles screaming. I tried to offer them everything- candy, cartoons, money, drugs, a puppy- to stop and be quiet. They didn't want any of it. They just kept screaming."
Jacob shakes his head. He looks like he's trying not to laugh. I hit him on the shoulder and glare.
"It's not funny," I say. "I started crying at one point. They stopped yelling for that. They thought that was hilarious. Then, after that, they got into the cookies I just made for a client. They ate all of them. Then they started running in circles and laughing. Their sugar high finally wore off and they just crashed about three minutes ago."
"Sounds like lots of fun. Why do you have Rina's kids?" he asks.
"David had to go somewhere to visit some relative and Rina went with him. They dropped the kids off last night are supposed to be back soon. They're coming over for dinner."
"Oh. Well since they're asleep now am I allowed to leave?"
"Will you please stay? Just for a few minutes?"
He looks somewhat reluctant when he replies, "Sure."
We walk into the kitchen and sit down. I grab one of the cookies sitting on the counter and shove it in my mouth. Jacob raises an eyebrow and picks one of the cookies up.
"These looks like they're for a client," he says.
"They were. But then Rina's hooligans ate half of them so I have to remake them anyway. Want one?"
He doesn't hesitate to take a giant bite out of a cookies.
"Mhmm yummy. I love when bake things."
"Thanks," I mutter between bites. Before I know it, I've eaten four cookies. As I start to eat a fourth, Jacob gives me a judgement look. He's smart enough to not say anything though.
"Pregnant people are allowed to eat as much as they want," I tell him.
"Umm sure. If you say so."
I hear the front door open as I munch on another cookie. Jacob gives me another judging glance. My back was to him but I hear Jay walk into the room.
"Jay make Jacob stop it. Tell him that I can eat as many cookies as I want because I'm an adult and I'm pregnant," I say.
"You ate all of a clients cookies? Again?" is all Jay has to say in reply. Jacob finds this hilarious.
"No!" I yell. "The monsters ate most of them. I'm just finishing them off."
"Oh. Then in that case Jacob leave her alone. I've learned that it's just best to let her eat as much as she wants," Jay says. I stick my tongue out at Jacob. He shakes his head and pokes my stomach. The noise that comes out of me is a mixture of a groan and a growl.
"I told you to stop doing that. I hate when people touch my belly. Just because there's a child in there doesn't mean I have you consent to touch me," I rant. It's not the first time Jacob has heard this lecture. He likes to do it because he thinks my reaction is funny. Jay would never be daring enough to say it to my face but I knew he thought it was funny too. It's annoying.
"Whatever," says Jacob. "Anyway I have a question to ask."
Before he can ask whatever it is he needs to ask, Jay leans down and kisses me on the forehead. Then he kisses the top of my belly. I thought it was cringey when he did that but he was so excited for this baby that I allowed him too.
"So how were Addy and Aiden?" Jay asks.
"Horrible. That's why I called Jacob over. I was having a mental breakdown and needed to have a conversation with someone older than a screaming four year old," I mutter.
"That's how old Aiden is?" Jacob questions. "I kinda assumed he was, like, two or something."
"No he's four but Addy is two."
"Oh. All little kids just look the same to me," he says.
"If this child is as obnoxious and annoying as they are, then I'm sorry Jay but I'm disowning it," I tell him.
"I can't really disagree with that," Jay replies.
"Talking about my children again?" says someone from behind me.
"Yes. Train your children better," I say.
"They're not dogs," mutters David.
"No, they're not. Dogs are cuddly and obey. Your children just scream and cry for no reason."
"It's good practice for you," says Rina. "Ooh cookies yay!"
She rushes over and picks up a cookie. David grabs one too and I take the very last one.
"Where are my offspring?" David asks between bites.
"I told you to stop calling them that you weirdo," says Rina. He shrugs.
"Sleeping upstairs."
Rina sighs a very loud sigh and finishes off her cookies. She says, "Guess I better go check on them."
"I should start dinner," Jay says. They both get up and walk in different directions- Jay towards the fridge and Rina toward the hallway. Suddenly I remember that Jacob had tried to ask me something earlier.
"Oh! Jacob! I'm sorry. What was you question?"
He glares at me. Then, after about ten seconds, we hear Rina go up the stairs. After she's walked up all of the steps, Jacob starts talking.
"I don't want Rina to know. It's a secret and she's hasn't been very good at keeping secrets lately."
"But-well... I guess you're not wrong," I reply, thinking about it. These past few years and she's gotten worse and worse at keeping secrets.
"By the way David, you have lucky SpongeBob Squarepants underwear? Why?" I question. I don't mean to get sidetracked from my conversation with Jacob but I just had to ask.
David just nods his head. His face gets slightly pink as he says, "Ya, so?"
I laugh and turn back to Jacob.
"Anyway, what's the secret/ question?"
"I was wondering if you could bake me some cupcakes," he says.
"Umm sure. I bake you cupcakes all the time, though. May I ask why?"
"Well these cupcakes need to be special."
He stands up and pulls something out of his pocket. It was a small velvet box. He opens it up to reveal a gorgeous engagement ring instead. My eyes go wide and I jump up with an excited squeal. That was a mistake though. Instantly my back makes a loud crack noise and I'm doubled over in pain. David is the closest to me and quickly helps me sit back down. This has happened so many times that he knows exactly where to find the heating pad. He walks over to the cabinet and pulls it out. He plugs it and and presses it against my back. I give him a grateful smile.
"Thanks." I glare down at my stomach and mutter, "Stupid belly."

After a few moments with the heating pad, I'm feeling better. I thank David again and focus my attention back on Jacob. He still had the ring sitting out so I could look at it.
"That's fantastic Jacob," I say. I couldn't stop smiling.
"I want to put the ring inside a cupcake. You know how she loves your cupcakes as much as I do," he says. Ideas for the cupcake were already going through my head.
"Okay I think I know what to make. Text me tomorrow, though, to go over the details."
We hear Rina walking back down the stairs so he quickly shuts the box and puts in back in his pocket. Rina enters the room with Addy hanging onto her back and Aiden on her leg. She looks like all of the energy has drained out of her body.
"Well," she says, "they're awake."
-----

Jacob decided to stay for dinner. He also invited over Shannon- his soon to be fiancée. I made it through all of dinner without being obnoxious but I couldn't contain myself during dessert. Every time Shannon wasn't paying attention and Jacob made eye contact with me I would wink at him. His reaction every time was to roll his eyes. He really shouldn't have told me that secret.
"So how has the baby been? Any morning sickness?" she asks as I finish my ice cream sundae. Jacob looks over at me and glares, warning me not to say anything. I restrain my giggles.
"Um well not-"
Jay interrupts, saying, "Yes. She wakes me up constantly because she's throwing up."
I frown but I can't argue cause it's true. Shannon laughs and starts listing things that may help. Coincidentally, she's baby nurse. She helps the doctor deliver the baby and then takes care of them after they're born. She's been really helpful these past few months.

David walks into the room with ice cream smeared all over his face. He does not look happy.
"Well the kids are done eating their ice cream," he mutters. Rina looks at me with a sickly sweet smile.
"Hey my greatest most fabulous best friend Mira-"
"No I'm not watching your kids again tonight. They're your problem now," I interrupt. Her smile disappears.
"Jerk," she mutters. She goes back to eating her ice cream. I go to say something to Shannon but she's talking in whispers to Jacob. Whatever she says makes them both laugh. This makes me smile. It's about time he found someone.
Without a word, Jay refills my bowl with more chocolate ice cream. This makes me smile wider. He knows me so well. Addy and Aiden come running into the room. I prepare myself for their obnoxious yells but for once their actually silent. They walk into the room with tired looks and climb onto their parents laps. Addy snuggles in close with Rina and Aiden just sits down on the floor and leans on David's leg. I sigh in content and relax in my seat. I'm glad I found people I can rely on the rest of my life.