𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕊𝕦𝕟 𝕚𝕤 𝔾𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕃𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕣- completed but editing

Chapter 72 | lezioni di guida (Driving Lessons)

"So you just told him you were pregnant and he writes you a three million dollar check? Just like that?" Shuri snapped her fingers for emphasis.

I looked up from the computer screen. "Yeah. But that's just how he is. And now that everything happened, I don't think he knows how to relate to me."

"What do you mean?" Shuri adjusted the screen's position so she could see it too.

"Well, before Germany, he was like my dad/uncle/brother/best friend/mentor. All at once. But I'm married now. I'm not just Peaches anymore. I'm someone else he seems to resent getting to know. And I'm not exactly sure why."

Shuri pointed at a link and I clicked on it. "But three million dollars. What did Bucky say?"

"He responded in typical Bucky fashion and said, 'What the hell? What are we going to do with all of that?'".

She smiled. "I still think it's a little extreme. But I'm happy for you. Were finances really that tight?"

I grimaced. "It wasn't to the point of eating ice cubes for dinner but it was pretty close. It's not the best season for the farm and I've been taking off work so much."

"Is all of this too much right now?" Shuri flicked the display on one screen to another to make it bigger.

I shrugged. "It's just all catching up to me."

"I can talk to some village leaders. What if you went to work with children again? Or just took off until after the baby comes?"

"I'll talk it over with Bucky. I'll let you know."

I checked my watch. "I gotta go. I've got that special thing I was doing today."

"Have fun!" She called after me as I portaled home.

I changed my clothes to my standard home uniform, loose yoga pants and a camisole covered in a lightweight zip hoodie, and took another dose of Zofran. "Bucky, I'm leaving! Do you want me to pick up dinner in the city?"

He popped his head out of the bathroom, his hair dripping wet. "Can you get pizza? Like pizza pizza?"

I smiled at his eagerness. "Sure. I'll be back by dinner then."

"Ok." He pulled me close and pressed a kiss on my lips. "I love you."

"I love you too." I pulled on a pair of sneakers. "I gotta go."

My portal was waiting for me and I stepped into it, breathing in the familiar smell of his cologne and something May cooked. "Peter?"

"Li Anne!" He jumped off his bunkbed and ran to hug me.

When we broke apart, I surveyed the room. "Been busy, Spiderman?"

"Yeah. So where are we going to practice me driving without you getting seen and arrested?"

"Somewhere," I said, stepping into the hallway.

"Peter?" May's voice carried down the hallway.

I headed towards the kitchen. "It's me, May."

She covered her mouth with her hands. "Leah?"

"It's me."

May ran to hug me, her arms wrapped around my back. "It's so good to see you, sweet girl." She held me at arm's length. "When are you due?"

"Second week in October."

She hugged me again. "Where are you and Peter planning to go?"

"For a drive. I'm gonna teach him some tricks."