I actually fell asleep a couple of hours earlier…I guess I’m just drained.”
“Do you have to get up early tomorrow? I mean today?” Maybe they had things planned for the day. Whenever they got together, the ladies enjoyed fun outdoorsy, nature-filled adventures.
With Nalee’s love for the outdoors, I’d taken her on a one-week trip to Venezuela and we had spent the whole day watching the giant stream of water cascading down the mountains of Auyantepui. It had been one of the happiest days of our relationship, and as we trekked the river trail to get the full spectacular view of the eight natural wonders of the world, she’d whispered in my ear and proclaimed her love for me. It was a day I’d never forget because even with the amazing, almost spiritual scenery around us, the look in her eyes eclipsed everything else.
Her throaty answer broke my drift into the past. “No. Tanya said we’d have a late start today.”
“Ah, okay.” I rubbed my free hand across my eyes, feeling the weariness taking over me. Describing today as draining would be the understatement of the year. Energy-sucking, a vortex of emotional turmoil among all of our friends would be more like it. “How did they take your news?”
The gentle sounds of the waves from a distance echoed on the phone. Zander had revealed that the girls were hanging out in Puerto Vallarta. I’d never been there so I checked it out online right after a pizza, beer, and a whole lotta wings dinner with the guys.
Images of the endless light blue waters and the carefree greenery abundant in the area made me wanna ditch my foul-smelling friends. You’d never know how much gas a guy can hold until you’ve met Dom and heard his ass rip through a metal chair. And John could actually compete with him after eating three tubs of buffalo wings dipped in cheese and barbecue sauce. The disgusted expression on Zander’s face as the guys held a “Whose fart is louder?” contest said it all – we missed the clean, sweet-smelling scent of our ladies.
Nalee’s soft reply brought me back to the present, “They were extremely upset that I didn’t tell them… But mostly, they were sad for me. For us. Tanya wished that she was with me to get through it all. Sedona had said she would’ve dropped everything to be with me.”
I clenched my jaw to the point of pain, grinding my teeth together. I should have been there for her from the beginning. To the middle. Through everything. I could only imagine the struggles she went through. I’d seen it firsthand. When Sedona was pregnant with their baby, Zander got up every time her face turned white, ready to soothe her, hold her in his arms.
Instead I’d been a stupid, a selfish Grade A asshole who left her to deal alone with what was supposed to be ours together. The highs, the lows, the joys, the pain. But ours nonetheless.
“I’m sorry, Nalee. So friggin’ sorry.” It came out dragging, hoarse, unforgivingly late. “I should have been there for you.”
“I explained to both of them that I just needed time to grasp the reality, the responsibility, of something that could change our lives forever.” She continued as if she didn’t hear me. “They’re my soul sisters. I hid it from them because I wanted to be selfish. I just wanted it to be me and her for a while because I knew the moment we told them the news, she would be shared with everyone else. I should’ve told them…should’ve, could’ve, would’ve. But we don’t get to have all the ‘haves’ in our lives. We get dealt with the cards and we play with them as best as we can, hoping that we don’t get the raw end, the shortest stick.”
Nalee’s unwavering strength was something I’d always admired. She tried to make the best out of every situation. Even when I’d ignored her efforts to make me accept our situation, she’d worked and worked at me, hoping I’d bend. But even the sturdiest trunks can get damaged and my indifference poisoned our
“Do you have to get up early tomorrow? I mean today?” Maybe they had things planned for the day. Whenever they got together, the ladies enjoyed fun outdoorsy, nature-filled adventures.
With Nalee’s love for the outdoors, I’d taken her on a one-week trip to Venezuela and we had spent the whole day watching the giant stream of water cascading down the mountains of Auyantepui. It had been one of the happiest days of our relationship, and as we trekked the river trail to get the full spectacular view of the eight natural wonders of the world, she’d whispered in my ear and proclaimed her love for me. It was a day I’d never forget because even with the amazing, almost spiritual scenery around us, the look in her eyes eclipsed everything else.
Her throaty answer broke my drift into the past. “No. Tanya said we’d have a late start today.”
“Ah, okay.” I rubbed my free hand across my eyes, feeling the weariness taking over me. Describing today as draining would be the understatement of the year. Energy-sucking, a vortex of emotional turmoil among all of our friends would be more like it. “How did they take your news?”
The gentle sounds of the waves from a distance echoed on the phone. Zander had revealed that the girls were hanging out in Puerto Vallarta. I’d never been there so I checked it out online right after a pizza, beer, and a whole lotta wings dinner with the guys.
Images of the endless light blue waters and the carefree greenery abundant in the area made me wanna ditch my foul-smelling friends. You’d never know how much gas a guy can hold until you’ve met Dom and heard his ass rip through a metal chair. And John could actually compete with him after eating three tubs of buffalo wings dipped in cheese and barbecue sauce. The disgusted expression on Zander’s face as the guys held a “Whose fart is louder?” contest said it all – we missed the clean, sweet-smelling scent of our ladies.
Nalee’s soft reply brought me back to the present, “They were extremely upset that I didn’t tell them… But mostly, they were sad for me. For us. Tanya wished that she was with me to get through it all. Sedona had said she would’ve dropped everything to be with me.”
I clenched my jaw to the point of pain, grinding my teeth together. I should have been there for her from the beginning. To the middle. Through everything. I could only imagine the struggles she went through. I’d seen it firsthand. When Sedona was pregnant with their baby, Zander got up every time her face turned white, ready to soothe her, hold her in his arms.
Instead I’d been a stupid, a selfish Grade A asshole who left her to deal alone with what was supposed to be ours together. The highs, the lows, the joys, the pain. But ours nonetheless.
“I’m sorry, Nalee. So friggin’ sorry.” It came out dragging, hoarse, unforgivingly late. “I should have been there for you.”
“I explained to both of them that I just needed time to grasp the reality, the responsibility, of something that could change our lives forever.” She continued as if she didn’t hear me. “They’re my soul sisters. I hid it from them because I wanted to be selfish. I just wanted it to be me and her for a while because I knew the moment we told them the news, she would be shared with everyone else. I should’ve told them…should’ve, could’ve, would’ve. But we don’t get to have all the ‘haves’ in our lives. We get dealt with the cards and we play with them as best as we can, hoping that we don’t get the raw end, the shortest stick.”
Nalee’s unwavering strength was something I’d always admired. She tried to make the best out of every situation. Even when I’d ignored her efforts to make me accept our situation, she’d worked and worked at me, hoping I’d bend. But even the sturdiest trunks can get damaged and my indifference poisoned our
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