BLAINE
Being back in New York City reminded me of something we had back at the yacht, but I was here not to reminisce about what happened in the past. I am here for Bianca.
“Blaine!” Bianca called out enthusiastically as if I was the only person standing at the airport.
“Silly.” A wide smile curved across my lips as I walked toward her, and she was getting bigger. I wasn’t big as hers when I was roughly in the first week of the third trimester.
“I miss you, sis.” She squeezed me into a tight hug, which I badly needed it right now. I was thankful Ethan didn’t show up again. Ben didn’t ask why I was crying that day.
My emotions were over the edge when her advice flashed through me. I was not blaming her because it was completely my own choice to believe that there was something between me and Xandry, Bianca just boosted my confidence.
“I missed you too, B.” I bit my lip and took a deep breath as my eyes started to water. Then we broke our hug, and she moved to Ben who was already grinning at her.
“Good to see you again, Blaine.”
“Me too, Kyland. How’s the honeymoon?” I gave Kyland a quick hug. Bianca filled me up over the phone and through video calling. I could see the happiness and amazement in her eyes as she continued telling me about the places they visited in Paris.
They were back last week since Kyland had to get back to work and Cam was planning for the baby shower tonight.
“That was awesome.” He smiled—a smile that reached his eyes, making me so happy for them.
“Let’s go home,” B announced, holding Ben’s hand. Kyland was already carrying our luggage to place at the trunk of his Mustang Shelby.
“We can stay at the hotel, B,” I suggested. They were newly married, and I didn’t wanna hear their sexual escapades in the bedroom. If my memory served right, they still had glorious sex even at her stage of pregnancy.
“No way, sis.” She shifted on her seat and rolled her eyes at me. “You and Ben are staying with us. We have a new apartment, remember? And it’s three times bigger than our old one.”
“Yeah, Cam’s wedding gift to both of you.”
“I’m paying her. That’s too much of a gift.” Kyland looked at me through the rearview mirror.
“Like Cam will let you,” I retorted.
“I know, but I’m persistent.”
“Just take it, Kyland. You are like her big brother, and a gift is a gift,” I advised.
He nodded. “I know, Blaine, but it feels like she’s paying me back.”
I snorted. “Really? What you both shared when you grew up together, how you stood by her side when no one else did, that can’t be bought at any price. She loves you so much, Kyland. I think she just wanted to share what she has with the people she cares about.”
“I know, sis. I know Cam very well,” B agreed.
***
The huge apartment was already decorated with pink balloons, hanging pink elephants, pink paper fans, pink ribbons, and pink life-sized bears. There were pink cupcakes with pink frosting, pink finger food, and pink champagne glasses—in short everything around the living room was pink. We were like being transported to the pink cotton candy factory. Even the room smelled like sugar.
Megan, Cam, Kiara with her newborn baby boy, Fourth, and Bianca’s co-workers were here, too. These girls were awesome. Somehow, I forgot my recent dilemma when the party started.
I was surprised Saph was not around. To what I knew, she was close to Cam and Bianca. And it was impossible she wasn’t invited.
I chose not to talk to Bianca about what was going on between Xandry and me, besides there was nothing to talk about, right? But I could feel that she had a lot of questions to pop and a lot of things to say to me.
We talked, laughed, and I shared my motherhood experience with Ben.
“You’re a strong woman, girl. I really admire you,” said Jedd, Bianca’s co-worker who was Amy Schumer’s looked-alike. She was funny and free-spirited.
“Thanks, so here is my gift to you, dear sister, and I know you will be a great mother.” Kissing her cheek, I offered the box wrapped in pink ribbon.
She sniffed. “Thank you, Blaine.”
“I know it’s not much—”
“Oh, shut up, sis. I love everything from you—”
“Oh, really?” I waggled my brows playfully. “Remember what I gave you on your sixteen birthday?”
She laughed. “Oh, my God! Don’t remind me, please. I still have it in my closet back at home.”
“What’s her gift, B?” Cam asked her with curiosity.
“It’s not really a pretty thing to share.” She continued laughing, then quickly untied my gift, and I smiled at her. Her eyes widened and mouth fell open.
“Oh, wow! I suddenly want to get pregnant!” Megan gushed when she saw my gift, making Cam and Bianca snort in unison.
“Oh my, god! Where did you get those? Can I order online?” asked Kiara, the redhead gorgeous woman with Fourth on her lap.
“Well, you can, but I attached the letters and patches by myself.” It was a simple three pieces onesie—pink for the baby, red for Bianca, and blue for Kyland. “I watched videos for four hours on YouTube, so I need a credit for that.” I laughed. “And then, ta-da!” I proudly showed them the finished products. The baby onesie had a small pink elephant with ‘I’m pretty in pink’. For her was ‘Hot Mommy’ and for Kyland was ‘If looks could Kill’.
We stopped to a halt when the doorbell rang. My eyes landed on Bianca, but Camila got on her feet and walked to the door. I got a chance to sip my Champagne as I felt empty in the pit of my stomach.
“Blaine,” my sister cooed, and I smiled timidly. My heartbeat suddenly fluttered to whoever was on the door.
“She can’t just be a little early, can she?” Camila commented with sarcasm.
“Of course, I would not be Saphoera Williams if I showed up early, right?” Saph’s voice made me gasp, and I could feel her rolling her eyes at my back.
I honestly missed Saph and whatever happened between me and Xandry would not affect the friendship I started with her.
So, I stood up and spread my ever bright smile at her. “Saph!”
“Blaine!” she yelled, eyes widened, launching herself at me. “Oh, my god. Why didn’t I think that you’ll be here? I could’ve come early.”
Rolling my eyes, I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her cheek. “Then, you are not Saphoera Williams.”
Saph came back to me after giving pleasantries to everyone. “You know we have a lot to talk about, right?” she started, giving me a small smile. Sadness swam in her blue eyes— the eyes that reminded me of a lot of her twin. I could feel that she was holding something larger than life with the possibility of breaking my heart in pieces.
Her standing in front of me was like seeing the sad version of Xandry. It made my chest constrict and want to help get rid of that sadness.
I managed to ignore her words. “So, how are you?” I sauntered to the table of drinks. Her high heels clicked against the floor as she followed me. I poured Champagne into a glass and offered it to her.
She took it and muttered thank you. “Don’t play dumb with me, Blaine. You should’ve known me that I’m not letting you go without a talk. I will squeeze you like a lemon until I get the answer I want from you. Give him a benefit of the doubt.” Her voice was soft, yet coated with sorrow.
“A benefit of the doubt? Your brother and I had a fling, Saph, and it was over weeks ago. And what we are going to talk right now does not involve your brother anymore.” I sipped again. My muscles quivered violently as I was far from ready for the next words she was going to throw to me. Just a word fling was breaking my heart into two.
“To what he told me, it was not a fling. You know we don’t keep secrets, Blaine.”
Great!
She toyed with the stem of the glass, and I sensed hesitation. “Something happened—”
“Oh, my god! Is he okay?” I rushed out of my query. My heartbeat thundered in my chest. I placed the glass on the table when my hands started shaking.
She nodded slowly. “He will be. And I promise you he will come around.”
“He... he just stopped calling, you know. He didn’t answer nor reply to my call and message, so I stopped it and thought we were over...” I trailed off, seemed losing my words. My shoulders sagged like I drained all my strength after my admission. Honestly, I was still hoping for him to show at my door and explain. But the question was when?
“I know, and I’m sorry. But he cares so much about you and Ben. Believe me, Blaine,” Saph said sincerely.
Why can’t Xandry tell me this?
What was so hard about telling the truth?
“What really happened to him? He received a call from your dad when he was with me, it sounded urgent though. Your dad seemed angry, so I figured he was in trouble.”
“I just need you to understand and trust him. He has some issues to fix, but I promise you it doesn’t involve you.”
“Come on, Saph, you can’t just tell me like that.”
“It’s not my place to tell, I’m sorry.”
“Stop saying sorry. You can’t keep me in the dark, Saph. Don’t I deserve to know? It directly came from Xandry that my trouble is his and his trouble is mine. Please, tell me what’s going on? How big his issues are? For the love of God, I’m his girlfriend!” My voice rose. I stopped and looked around. I had to press my lips together to stop my chin from trembling.
Pairs of eyes pinned directly at me, but there was no judgment in their gazes, and all I could see was sympathy—especially in Bianca’s. I averted my gaze and looked down, feeling guilty for ruining my sister’s baby shower party.
“I’ll drive you to his apartment. He works at home this week,” she suggested though it sounded an order to me.
“I-I’m not ready.” I stammered and swallowed the thickness forming in my throat.
“You said that you are his girlfriend, Blaine. My twin’s girlfriend. Now, grow some balls— no, tits because whether you like it or not I will send you tomorrow morning or I’ll drag your ass out of this apartment. I will kidnap baby bunny if I have to, to force you to see my brother. He’s a mess without seeing you, happy?” She kissed my cheek. Without waiting for my answer, she smiled as if nothing happened. “Sorry, girls. So, let’s have some fun, yeah?”
My chest tightened, heart ached, eyes stung, and I swore I was already falling for him.