Breanna Michelle Santana

   "Brea, you know I love you, right?" My dad asked me, joining me in the kitchen behind the island.

"Uh-oh." I knew whatever he was about to say wouldn't be positive.

"It's Kaign, Brea." He said.

I went "of course" because what else would it be? Kaign had been a nuisance since the second he arrived.

"—And why'd he have to bring a plus one?"

I had to defend my friend even if I didn't like Kaign imposing. "Dylan's his best friend, they've been through everything together."

"So did your mom and I but you see where she's at."

My face straightened with the head tilt. "That's not fair, dad." I followed him to the kitchen table and sat.

"Speaking of mom," my dad started to say,"she's coming to the party, is that okay?"

"She bringing Steve?" I toyed with the salt and pepper shakers in the center of the round table.

"I'm sure. And if she does, we'll behave, right?"

"I'm not calling him Dad." I joked, making my dad laugh.

"Me either." He joked and left the table as Kaign entered the kitchen.

"Hey." He spoke to me. We hadn't been talking much since our argument when I walked in to his surprise visit.

"Hey." I replied dryly, keeping my head down.

"You ready to talk now or no?"

"What's there to talk about? I said we're done can you just accept that and get the Hell out of my father's house?"

"Brea, what will it take for you to forgive me? I flew here, went to nana's funeral, and now I'm helping plan this little party."

"You don't get it, do you?" I stood. Kaign shook his head with innocent eyes.

"I'm sorry." He pled, taking my hand in his.

"I am, too." With that, I walked away.

======

"These are lovely. I can't thank you enough!" The woman exclaimed. Her skin was bright and luminous. I was jealous but of her skin... of her belly.

It was a maternity shoot.

"What does your husband think?" I asked obliviously.

"He likes whatever I like. I told him I was doing a nude photoshoot and he just had to book you, there's no way he'd let another man do it."

I laughed at that. That's usually how it was. "I understand. Thanks, by the way."

I started to pack up while she paraded around in a robe and booties.

"May I?" I randomly asked, slowly approaching her. She just grinned and took my hand, gently lying it on her round third-trimester belly.

"I felt a kick!" I couldn't help but scream and do a little happy dance.

"Mhm." She sounded, smiling big at me.

"That's beautiful." I cooed, eyes big. Finally, I took a step back and let my hand fall.

"What's it like?" I had to ask. She didn't hesitate to answer.

"Beautiful, like you said. Being that close to someone to make someone who will also be close to you. Knowing that this is one of the only people in the world who will love you unconditionally. I'm even doing a natural birth, I wanna experience it all."

My smile faded to a frown. I swallowed.

When it was put like that it made me sad. I was capable of having a child unlike some unfortunate others and for the longest time, I didn't want to. My perspective on things was starting to change, though...

======

Later that evening, I went home after work.

Tired, I trudged to the living room and laid out on the sofa.

"Ughhh." My groan was muffled as my head was stuffed in a pillow.

"Brea, is that you?" Asked Kaign's voice.

"No, I'm sleep." I replied.

Kaign stood over my body and sat me up. He kneeled down before me.

"What?" I asked, curling my face up. "Why are you looking at me like that, smiling? Stop it."

"I wanna show you something."

"I'm really not in the mood-" I tried denying him but his persistence wouldn't allow that. I was pulled onto my feet and blindfolded only to be led into another room.

The smell of pasta invaded my nose. I loved pasta!

I ripped the blindfold off eagerly and gasped. My jaw dropped, I looked back and forth from the pasta to Kaign.

"Eep! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"It's the little things." He patted himself on the back, smiling wide.

"Wait." I remembered something. "I'm mad at you."

"I know. Sit." He pulled out my chair and sat opposite of me.

I dug in right away. To my surprise, it tasted good.

"You never cooked before. You tryn' to poison me?"

He laughed. "No, Breanna, I'm not trying to poison you."

"Could've fooled me." I said with a mouthful of spaghetti.

"You wanna 'Lady and the Tramp' it?" I offered.

"I'm confused-"

"All you do is-"

"No," he laughed then got serious again,"I get the reference. I just thought you hated me, why'd you wanna be so close?"

"I've had your penis in my mouth before, okay, this is nothing. Come here."

Kaign put his chin in the palm of his hand and sat back, staring at me lazily.

"What?" I giggled, drinking the red wine.

"You're something else." He said and then leaned in to slurp the same noodle as me.

I bit it before we got too close for comfort.

"Sorry." Kaign said randomly.

"For what?" I asked, my eyebrows raised.

Kaign didn't say anything. He only broke eye contact - something he never did - and drank from his glass.

======

It was the day of the party. Really, they were making it a bigger deal than it was.

Dylan and Kaign went all out with decorations and my dad went all out with the food and those who he chose to invite.

"The party's downstairs, kid." My dad said to me, entering my bedroom as I finished getting ready.

I dusted off my bake and cut my eyes to him.

"Dad, why'd you invite Grayson?"

"Grayson's a great man, he's like the son I never had."

"I thought you always said I was like the son you never had?" I laughed.

"That, too. I know Gray's dad, him and his wife were concerned he wasn't the happiest."

"What do you mean?"

"They said he wasn't himself since college."

My heart began to hurt. I knew what he meant. Grayson mentioned the end of his soccer career, maybe that what it was.

"This project he's working on is helping and between you and me, I think he's got a new girl-"

"A new girl?!" I blurted, springing from my seat at the vanity. I quickly realized I was being too suspicious and sat down quietly.

"Yeah. I mean, he never had a girlfriend since he's been home but he's been really... good... these past few weeks. Must be a woman in his life."

I hunched my shoulders. "I guess. Good for him."

"Yeah. Good for him. Alright, I'll be downstairs while you finish frying yer face."

"Baking, dad. You old coop."

"Toe•mate•oh, tuh•mat•oh." He shooed me away and walked out of my room, shutting the door on his way.