Chapter 14, Esmeralda

Saying that I'm exhausted would be a fucking understatement.

I feel like someone ran me over with their car, but I still leave my bed because I have a brunch date with my sister. We used to have brunch dates all the time, but since I left for New York, that habit stopped all together. I was so looking forward to have a moment with Rita, but she was so busy, that I couldn't even find the right time to call her.

I came back from the hospital yesterday morning, and I feel a bit better physically.

Emotionally...It's, well complicated.

Still no contact with Milo whatsoever, and I don't know how I feel about it.

I kicked him out of my room that night, and I absolutely do not regret it. He plays with my feelings all the time, and I don't think I can keep up with him much longer.

He thinks it's a game, and I am ready to let him win it if that's what it'll take for him to be more serious about this. Us.

I get ready in unusual cheerfulness. I don't know why but I have a feeling that today's going to be good.

As soon as I finish dressing up, I go downstairs and find my parents having breakfast in the vast garden.

I kiss my Mom's cheek and greet my Dad good morning.

"How are you doing, honey ?" My father asks me, with a small smile on his face.

They were so worried for me when they came to visit at the hospital, and it broke my heart seeing tears on my father's face. Right now, I feel good. Exhausted, but good.

"Good." I only answer, giving them a genuine smile back.

"Aren't you going to have breakfast with us ?" My Mom asks when I don't sit down.

"Nope, I'm having brunch with Rita today."

My parents exchange a look.

Oh ?

"Oh. That's amazing." My father wipes his face with a tissue, looking as suspicious as one could be.

They are not telling me something.

"What's going on ?" I ask, confused.

Ah, confusion. It seems to be the only emotion I repeatedly feel every damn day.

"Nothing." My Mom says too quickly.

"You guys are hiding something from me, and I want to know what it is." I stand my ground.

"You're going to be late, Esmeralda. You should get going. Remember what I always used to tell you about punctuality ?"

I sigh. These two are as stubborn as one could get. No wonder where I got that from.

I finally give up, promising myself to find out as soon as I'm back home.

I get in my car, put some music and sing until my vocal cords beg me to stop. I have a horrible voice, but singing has always been a big passion of mine along with dancing.

As soon as I am at the café we are supposed to meet in, I text Rita. She answers that she's already there, and I enter the fancy place.

I find her in a two people table in the terrace. She literally looks like she's glowing. My golden haired older sister is wearing a short sleeved white dress, that makes her green eyes look even more intense.

I walk over to her, and kiss her on the cheek.

"Hi !" I greet her.

"Hey, sweetie." She smiles kindly at me.

I sit down on the chair and look into her green eyes.

"You look different today." I say frankly.

She shrugs, fidgeting with the hem of her dress.

Why is she acting suspicious too ?

Since when we were little girls, I was always the better liar between the two of us, I would cover for Rita when she snuck out to see her boyfriend at the time. She, on the other hand is a terrible liar, so my parents immediately knew we were up to something when she tried to do the same for me.

So, right now, It's obvious she's hiding something from me.

"Just tell me already, Ri. You're a terrible liar."

She rolls her eyes.

"Can't do that to you, eh ?" She looks pissed, but amused at the same time.

I nod, waiting for her to tell me whatever the fuck it is.

"Let's order food first." She waves at a waiter, who walks over to us.

I sigh in exasperation.

She orders food for five people and I furrow my eyebrows. That wouldn't be the first weird thing she's done today. She's usually one to be careful about what she puts in her system, and none of what she ordered is healthy.

When the waiter finally disappears to take care of our food, I raise a brow at her.

I think threatening her is the best thing to do, at the moment.

"I swear to God, if you don't tell me right-"

"I'm pregnant." She blurts.

It takes a few seconds to process the information.

"What ?" I croak like the dumb bitch I am.

"I'm pregnant." She repeats.

Oh my God.

I'm going to be an aunt.

Joy like I've never felt before strikes me.

I stand up abruptly, knocking a few spoons by the way, and hug her over the table.

She hugs me back tightly, a few tears spilling from her eyes.

"So, that's why Mom and Dad were acting so suspicious !" I say when we pull back, happy tears spilling down my cheeks as well.

She chuckles,"I wanted to tell you sooner, but you had that incident and went to the hospital, and I could't find the right time."

Regret mares her features.
Right.
I shake my head, reassuring her that it's not her fault.

"How far along are you ?" I ask, my gaze drifting to her still-flat belly. She puts a protective hand on it.

"Five weeks." She smiles. "I only found out a week ago."

"I am so happy for you, Rita. I know how much you and Hunter wanted children."

Since they've been engaged, my older sister told me how much she wanted to have children with the love of her life, and when a few months later, she did not get pregnant, she decided that she would not obsess over it, and that when the time would come, she and Hunter would gladly welcome that baby.

Our food arrives, and Rita gives me an unapologetic look before digging in her food like a caveman.

I chuckle at the image.

"I try to eat as much as I can before I start getting morning sickness." She explains.

When we finish eating, we start conversations about her incoming wedding, she asks me about Milo, and I tell her that we got in a fight. She says he's an asshole, so it doesn't surprise her that he's acting like his usual self. God, she really does hate him.

By the time we're done, Hunter comes to pick up his fiancé.

I smile wide when I see the golden brown haired man, and stand to hug him tightly.

"Congratulations, Hunter. I'm so happy for you guys."

He thanks me, hugging me back, then walks towards Rita, and kisses her forehead gently.

"How are you ?" He asks her, concern edging his features even if my sister looks happier than ever.

"We're good." She answers with a smile, and I can't help but grin at her use of words. Joy lights up her fiancé's eyes, and he presses a chaste kiss to her lips before helping her up.

"Thank you for keeping her company," He nods at me. "We need to get going, though. I have a surprise for you." He turns his face to look at his future wife.

Surprise contorts Rita's beautiful face.

"You do ?"

He nods, taking her hand in his.

The couple greet me goodbye, and they stride off, hand in hand.

"Take care of her, Baby Daddy !" I yell at Hunter, and he chuckles, giving me one last wave of his hand.

I can't help but feel a tug of...jealousy ? when I see them from far away, looking at each other like no one else matters.

I am happy for them, really, but I can't help myself from wondering if I'll ever have that.

Right now, my guess is I won't be so lucky.