broken dreams-a seaycee story

ten

Sean

One Month Later

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"Kayc, you ok?" I asked her, for what seemed like the millionth time. She looked up at me, eyebrows raised in amusement from her position on the floor, on her yoga mat. "Do I look like I'm in any need of saving?"

I rolled my eyes and pushed her gently, toppling her out of her pose. "Hey!" she whined. 

"That's what you get," I grinned. "I'm just trying to be nice." Which earned another eye roll. 

"If you were feeling helpful," she paused, thinking. I sprang to my feet. "Anything!" I said, a little too eagerly. She had me wrapped around her finger and she knew it, but now with this baby, even more so. Which I didn't think was possible. Let's be real, I was making Seaycee edits ad discreetly posting them since I was 16. I thought I was whipped then....Jesus. "I would love some takeout."

"The usual?" I asked her. She nodded. "Will it be good for the baby?" I asked nervously. She shot me a questioning look. "With like, the vitamins and protein and stuff, I don't know."

"Sean," she sighed, getting up and folding her mat. "You need to stop worrying. Your kid isn't going to know you with any hair, if you keep stressing over every little thing."

"I'm just nervous," I whined. "I don't wanna lose you. Either of you." Her hand rested on her stomach. She was still barely showing, but it was instinct, and there was glee in every tiny movement she made. The way she walked, the way she glowed, her every movement was styled with a little bit of extra grace that only encircled pregnant women, I noticed. We still hadn't told anyone. We both agreed that, even though it was painful to admit, with the high risk of complications, we were going to wait until the first trimester was over before we released anything. 

"Chicken is delicious," she laughed, patting her stomach. "And lo mein is just amazing in general. And there's veggies....?" her voice trailed off hopefully. 

"You're a piece of work, Rice," I grinned, grabbing my jacket. 

"Soon to be Lew," she corrected me, her cheeks pink. "That's right." I kissed her hand, lingering my hand over her ring, and then kissing her forehead. "You sure you'll be alright? You know Holly's number?"

"Alone?" she asked nervously. "Sean, if Holly isn't here, I-" she shook her head. "Never mind. I'll be fine. I can do this. I have to start sometime."

"You sure?" I asked her. I had forgotten she hadn't been left alone before, without Holly being in the guest partition of the house. I was mad that she had to leave early, but being a single mom with two very active boys wasn't something I could really argue with. And besides, I knew I'd be choosing my family over my job whenever I was forced to make the decision once the baby came our way. Hell, I'd choose Kaycee over anything right now, without the baby. The baby only made my decision milliseconds earlier. "You can come with me, you know. That just defeats the purpose of me being your slave for nine months." 

She laughed. "I'll be fine, Sean. I'm a big girl. I need to get ready for when you go back to Imma."

"But it's night," I said, now rethinking my decision. "I'll be home before then most nights."

"It's fine," she sighed. "Please just go. I'm starving."

"Alright," I said, kissing her again. "Promise you'll text me if you need anything?"

"No," she shrugged. "I think I'll text Gabe."

I stopped dead in my tracks. Insecurity must have been written on my face, because she burst out laughing. "I'm kidding."