Chapter Two

:::Rayne POV:::

My mornings usually start before anyone else is awake in the house. Nick will still be snoring as I climb out of bed, shower, dress and sneak into my kids rooms to watch them sleep.

I miss them a lot, being that I put myself back in school to study Music Theory. Nick has been so supportive, offering to stay at home and be a house husband. I admired him so much, but I was also jealous. He witnessed most of Rory’s firsts. First word, first steps. It broke my heart, but at the same time I was doing this for them as well as myself. I wasn’t going to be one of those moms who lived off their husbands money. Sure, we could live off Nick’s, but I wanted to do something with my life.

So I sacrificed a lot, I sacrificed time with my kids during the day so I could study. It’s why I would make time for these moments in the mornings. I’d start out in Maisie’s room and marvel at how beautiful she was becoming. Her hair fell in almost brown curls, and was constantly in her face but she looked adorable with them. She favoured Nick, other than her darker hair and dark eyes. She favoured him in everything else. Looks, personality, temperament. She had a knack of throwing some epic tantrums, that I knew were something she got from Nick. I could just tell.

I’d then move into the nursery, where my bouncing baby boy would sleep. Of course he wasn’t much of a baby any more. He was a year and a half, and huge. He had been walking by the time he was a year, and already Nick was trying to potty train him. He looked like me, but was fair like his dad, and had the most beautiful blue eyes I’d ever seen. I spent longer with Rory, the guilt of leaving him all day too much. Sometimes he’d wake up whilst I was in there. He was an early riser, and today was no different.

Rory was already sat up in his crib playing with the toy attached to the side when I walked in. My heart skipped a beat as he turned to see me and smiled.

“Hey baby..” I whispered, knowing that the monitor was still on in our room. I gently pulled Rory out his crib and smiled as he snuggled against me in a cuddle. I had a total soft spot for my little boy, and he was a total momma’s boy. I took him downstairs and made him some milk before settling down on the couch to feed him.

My pregnancy with Rory had been fairly easy, but the birth had been horrible. Maisie’s birth had been over before I even realised it had started, and Rory’s was the complete opposite. I’d had to be induced as he was late, and then when labour started it lasted 47hours before he came in to the world. I was tired beyond belief, not to mention slightly ripped to pieces as he had been over 9 pounds in weight. I vowed to have no more babies, and Nick agreed.

Only moments like this, as I realised just how my baby wasn’t much of a baby any more it made me yearn for another. But I didn’t even know if I could conceive again. Both of my children were miracles.

I was lost in my moment with Rory when I heard footsteps walking down the stairs. I looked up to see Nick carrying a sleepy Maisie and smiled as he walked into the room and dropped down on the couch beside me.

“Morning..” Nick yawned, tickling Maisie softly, making her giggle. I couldn’t help but smile before sitting Rory up as he realised Nick was beside us and gave him a grin much like the one he’d given me.

“Morning. I didn’t wake you, did I?” I glanced at Nick, who shook his head.

“Nope..”

“I did.” Maisie whispered before grinning at Nick.

“Good girl.” I smiled at Maisie before looking back at Nick. “So what’s your plan for today?”

Nick went to reply when Maisie started whining that she wanted me. So we awkwardly swapped children before chuckling. “Probably chill here, or go see J.”

“Wish I could come..” I said softly before smoothing Maisie’s hair out her face.

“You got classes?”

I shook my head. “It’s a free day, but I got a bulk load of research to do. I’m meeting Brin at the library.” I leant forward and gave Maisie a kiss on the cheek before she climbed off my lap to inspect her toys. I turned to Nick. “I can meet you for lunch though.”

Nick smiled back. “That would be nice.” He put Rory on the floor before pulling me close. “We need Nick and Rayne time..”

I giggled and hugged myself to his bare chest. “We do.” I kissed his chest before looking up at him. Even with his messy bed head and a pillow crease down his cheek he still was sexy to me. “Tonight?”

Nick glanced over at the kids before looking at me. “Why don’t you skip the Library this afternoon and I’ll leave the duo with AJ. Me and you can lunch.” He leant down and nibbled on my neck, making me giggle. “I could eat you..” He whispered, making me smile.

“I’ll try, but I can’t make any promises.” I hated seeing the pout on Nick’s face as he lifted his head up, but he nodded and leant down to kiss me. I kissed him back, and smiled as he deepened the kiss and slide his tongue along mine. We kissed for a moment before Rory let out a cry, making us break apart to see Maisie giving us a guilty look whilst Rory reached out for whatever toy she’d taken off him.

“Rain check baby..” I patted his cheeks before climbing off the couch to tend to my kids.

***

I’d been at the library an hour when Brin showed up. She looked tired and stressed.

“You ok?” I whispered as she dropped down in the seat opposite me and placed her books down.

“Ugh..” She muttered before pulling out her laptop. “.. don’t ask.”

I smiled before putting the cap on the highlighter I’d been using and stuck it in the spine of the notebook, where I’d been highlighting the notes I made. “Ok talk..”

Brin shook her head. “Not now.. Later..”

Someone told us to hush, making me roll my eyes and pick the highlighter back up. I could see in Brin’s face that she was stressed about something, I just didn’t know what.

Half hour later I was on my laptop, typing up a storm when my messenger programme popped up. I frowned when I saw it was Brin’s username and glanced around my laptop at her before clicking it open.

Brin: Me and Trey slept together..

My eyes widened and I gasped, receiving looks from the people around us, but I ignored them. I looked around my laptop again to see Brin blushing. I moved my laptop closer before typing.

RayneC: Are you shitting me??

Brin: Nope.

RayneC: When did this happen??

Brin: Last night. I don’t know what to do!

I bit my lip before shutting the laptop up and sliding it into my bag. I was due to meet Nick for lunch, but I’d have to cancel. My best friend needed to talk.

I reached over and tapped Brin’s arm, making her look at me. “Lets break for lunch.” I whispered.

“But its not even 11am.” Brin whispered back. I just rolled my eyes and carried on packing my stuff away before waiting for her to do the same.

***

“Sorry baby.. Brin’s got a dilemma and she needs an ear..” I glanced around and looked at Brin, who was sat on a bench outside the library unpacking the food she’d just brought. I’d moved away to call Nick.

“It’s all good baby. Brin needs you. Maybe tonight?”

I smiled to myself. “Definitely tonight. Make sure you nap when the kids do.. You’ll need that energy.” I smiled more when Nick giggled down the phone before telling me he loved me. I cut the call after returning the gesture and walked back over to Brin.

“Nick ok about you not going to lunch with him?”

I sat down and looked at her. “How did you know?”

Brin smiled. “I’m not stupid. Thanks though.. For blowing off your husband so you can have lunch with me.”

I grabbed my take out bag and smirked. “I’m sure Nick would of rather had me blow him… but your welcome. So.. Spill. I wanna know all that went down.”

Brin sighed softly before looking up at me. “We were drinking.. And laughing and talking about how fucked up we were because your all settled down with a hot husband and got the kids and we’re still single and waiting.. And.. Well I don’t know. One minute we were describing our dream catch, and the next… at it on the sofa.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, just the image of the both of them having sex was hilarious.. Because I just couldn’t see it happening. But Brin’s face made me stop laughing. “Sorry, it’s just… I can’t picture it. Did you stay the night?”

Brin nodded. “I woke up this morning in his bed. He was gone. So I got dressed, went home and showered before coming here. I don’t know what to do. I feel weird..”

I took a bite of my sandwich and pondered over her words before sitting up straighter. “Did you like it?”

“What?” Brin looked over at me.

“Did you like the sex?”

“Um…” Brin blushed, making me smile.

“You did. And now you feel awkward.” I watched as Brin looked down and sighed. “Why don’t you just go to his and talk to him. It’s the only way your gonna get rid of the awkwardness… unless you have feelings for him?”

Brin never said anything, she just carried on eating her food in silence. I got the vibe I said too much so opted to stay quiet. I’d given the only advice I could give anyways. This was all on Brin now.

We were getting ready to head back in the library when my cell rang. I didn’t recognise the number, but could see it was local so I answered it.

“Hello?” I slid my bag over my shoulder before waving at Brin to go inside.

“May I speak with Rayne Baker please?”

I frowned. For one I didn’t recognise the voice, and two.. I hadn’t been Rayne Baker for nearly 2 years. “Speaking?”

“Rayne, its Kiana..”

My blood ran cold the moment I heard the woman on the phone tell me they were my sister. “Kiana?”

“Yup, remember.. Your older sister.”

I sat back down on the bench and sighed. “Like I can forget. What do you want?”

Kiana chuckled. “Wow, bitch much. Just wanted to catch up with my baby sister.”

“Kiana, you haven’t called me in five years. What do you want?” I sighed again, hoping she would get the hint.

“You could of called me! It’s not all on me you know!”

I rolled my eyes and looked around the court yard. My life may have changed, and for the better… but it was pretty obvious that my sister hadn’t changed.

But for her to call me… well that was something that sparked my senses.