On the Run: The Texas Files ✔

Chapter 34: The Baby Shower

Marissa and Noah are standing in our apartment living room with huge smiles on their faces and envelope in Marissa's hands. Parker and I are sitting on the couch, and Andrew and Lily are sitting at the bar.

It's the first Friday of February, and we're all relaxing. It's about seven in the evening.

Parker raises his eyebrows. "Why are you smiling like that?"

"We've got huge news!" Marissa says.

Parker is smiling a little. He knows whatever it is, but what is it?

Lily and Andrew turn their attention towards the middle of the living room as well.

"Are you just going to stand there all day?" Lily asks. "Tell us already!"

"In this envelope," Noah says as he points to it. "are the names of our future children! The genders are in here!"

"Sexes," Andrew corrects him. "Gender is a spectrum. You're revealing the sexes of the fetuses."

"Right, yeah, that," Noah says.

"It's an important distinction," Andrew says.

"I know," Noah answers. "I'm just excited."

Oh, my God. We finally get to know... I don't know what I want them to be, not that it matters what I want. Marissa asked me what I thought last month, but I truly had no idea, and with my busy schedule, I honestly forgot about it and gave it no more thought.

"Oh, my gosh," Lily says. "I can't believe it!"

Lily and Marissa have become closer since Thanksgiving. I honestly think it's because they're each dating one of my brothers.

"So, do you want to know?" Noah asks.

"Duh!" I say.

I really want to know.

"Wait," Parker says. "You guys don't know?"

How did he- Oh, right.

Noah shoots him a glance.

Right. Neither Marissa or Lily know that Parker can read minds, and I guess he was just in one of theirs.

"No!" Marissa says.

She didn't seem to notice. Thank God.

"Then, stop stalling!" Lily says.

Marissa tears into the envelope.

She takes out a folded piece of white paper and holds it to where she and Noah can see it at the exact same time when she opens it.

"Drum roll, please!" Marissa says.

Parker and I hit our hands against our thighs rhythmically.

She opens the paper.

Everything feels like it's happening in slow motion. Her opening the paper, the drum roll, and the heavy breathing from the room. I can feel the entire room, including Marissa and Noah, on the edge of their seats. I hold my breath as their eyes search the page.

Marissa puts her hand over her smiling mouth, and Noah raises his eyebrows in pleasant surprise.

"Well?!" Andrew asks excitedly.

"I'm gonna be really outnumbered because we're having girls!" Noah exclaims.

The room erupts into screaming from shock and happiness. Noah kisses Marissa from the excitement. Lily and Andrew are smiling like idiots. As for Parker, he's just looking at me. Lily pulls Marissa into a hug, and they start chattering about something. Noah and Andrew are watching them in complete awe.