NERVOUS WAS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. I was so anxious within my own body I felt like I could burst at the seams at any moment. I was about to be surrounded by the few people that were once my everything and now they're strangers to me.

I haven't seen Festus since before Janus was born and though it's only been 2 weeks since seeing my parents, we were on entirely different terms last I've spoken to them.

They made their intentions clear; kicking Janus--their granddaughter--and I, their only living child out onto the street to go play pretend with their fake heir. The father of my child. The man who was once the mere thing I breathed in. I was consumed by nothing but him and I was happy and fulfilled but now, it's all over.

I'm going to be sitting at the table I've spent so many silent dinners at, awaiting with my thumbs twiddling in my lap as I await the chef to bring whatever gourmet meal my parents desired.

Except, this time, my three least favourite people--that I still somehow can't seem to hate--will be surrounding me.

There's a knock on the door and to no surprise at all, Eliot stands on the other side, offering a gentle smile as he slides past.

He's wearing a plaid fur-lined coat with a plain black t-shirt styled with jeans. His warm hand comes up and brushes against the side of my face as he presses his lips to the top of my head. "You look nice."

I want to smile, I almost do, but I'm too nervous. My hand swipes down the navy-coloured dress clinging to my body and Eliot goes to slide his jacket off and place it atop of the kitchen counter before going to where Janus had been lying in her small fold-up playpen.

We've done this routine many times now, except usually, I'm not jittering with nerves.

Eliot lets out a playful noise as he goes to swoop Janus up into his arms and the way they're both smiling at one another makes me want to take a photo and look at it always.

He begins to coo at her, pointing and gaping at different things in the room and it's almost enough to make me forget all my worries for just a moment.

Then, in the corner of my eye, I see the time flashing back at me on the alarm clock on the floor beside my air mattress and instant panic overwhelms me. "Shit. I have to go."

I finish stuffing things down my purse and running my hairbrush through the knots in my hair before finally, I go over to where Eliot and Janus had been.

I stroke my thumb against the thin hairs on top of Janus' head and connect my lips to the top of her head—where I've left a trail of lip gloss.

Hastily wiping it off, my only focus is to get out that door but when I tug the keys out of my pocket, Eliot clears his throat from behind me.

I turn to face him, and he has that stupid half-grin on his face but it's enough to bring a smile to my face as the remembrance sets in.

I walk back over to him and give him a quick kiss; relishing in the calmness the scent of his cologne brings me before walking into a storm.

"Call me if you need anything, 'kay?" He releases his free hand from my hip and places it back around Janus.

I nod, selecting the golden key out of the dozen, and I stick it in the keyhole.

Before shutting it behind me, I wave back at Eliot, who is currently moving Janus' hand in a waving motion—and I smile at the reminder of what the two good things in my life right now are.

BLAKELY SPEAKS !
sorry for taking a week to publish this chapter
wattpad thought it'd be hilarious to delete the entire fucking thing and i legit started crying so hard blood came out and i'm gonna kms but it's okay bc wattpad thinks they're so funny hahahahaahahahahahahahah

also, get ready for the next chapter. it's a long one