Heather...
It's Ali's birthday, so everyone gathered in Los Angeles to celebrate her. I know it's pretty rude to mention a lady's age but guess how old she is. Try to guess, I'll give you 5 seconds.
She's forty-five years old already. Surprise!
Time flies, I know. Her and Ashlyn's adorable daughter, Hermione just turned eight years old a few weeks ago.
- Tobin!!! – someone shouted my name.
I turned my head to see who it was, which then turned out to be Alyssa Naeher. She and her wife Melvin Birmingham were pushing their twins in the double trolley towards me.
The Naehers looked so cute with the way they dressed themselves so similarly in color of clothes. Alyssa's smile gives me life every time it appears, I swear to God. I honestly had never seen a happier Alyssa Naeher in my life until Melvin Birmingham's existence. That girl just did something to her that none of us has it figured out.
- Wow Tobin, you still look fire after all those years. – Mellie teased me.
She talked like we haven't seen each other for ages, which in fact, it has only been 3 months since we met. The last time I met them, Liz bawled her eyes out on the floor like a child when she saw her daughter and son for the first time after Mellie gave birth to her twins.
Back in the day when Mellie still had to follow Alyssa everywhere like a little tail to be able to win over her, Mellie used to poke fun of me and try to annoy the hell out of Alyssa by calling me hot in front of Liz all the time. It's a long story to say about their old days because you know just how punchably difficult Alyssa used to be when it came to dating and giving her heart to someone. But after all the hard work, Mellie got her so good and got her them hooked together for life. I tell everyone all the time that there's just something special about that girl that Alyssa couldn't resist. God created her charms as perfect as a puzzle to connect and attract someone as cold-hearted and as hard-going as Alyssa Naeher. (My next book will be about this couple Naeher + Melvin, it's coming soon^^)
- What's wrong with you? Am I not enough? – with the same attitude as how she's always behaved whenever Mellie did that, Alyssa side-eyed her wife, which earned me and Millie a big laugh.
Mellie seductively pulled Alyssa's shirt to make her lower herself so she could place a little kiss on Lizzie's lips.
- You're more than enough, baby. – she whispered to her wife while their lips were still touching.
- Guys, my little single heart hurts. Please stop. – I said, let out a little laugh and pretended to cover my eyes.
- Oops, sorry. I'll introduce some of my friends for you as compensation. – Melvin winked playfully.
- Why yes. Best idea ever. Thanks, Mel. – I joked in response.
Alyssa and Mellie looked at me as their smiles faded since I guess they were sharing the same thought about me. They kind of looked over at each other and let out a little sigh. The sighs weren't obvious however I caught them instantly as soon as they started to show unnecessary pity for me again.
- What? – I asked with a laugh and pretended like I didn't know what their sighs were for.
They shrugged:
- Nothing. – they smiled faintly.
- Come on guys. I'm just single, I'm not dying. – I said.
- Are you sure? – Mellie asked but then got nudged in the arm by Alyssa.
The "oops sorry" reaction of Mellie's as soon as she realized why Alyssa did that to her made me laugh once again.
It's ok, guys. I'm ok. Really.
- Let's go in. Everyone must be waiting for us. – Alyssa gave the trolley to Mellie, then stepped forward to wrap her arm around my shoulders and led the way.
- Liz, really. I'm fine. – I said, reassuring her while smiling to the brightest.
For real, I am really fine.
Liz nodded with a faint smile:
- We know, Tobs.
- You don't sound like it.
I punched her stomach playfully, then turned my head to send help from Mellie:
- Mellie, I'm really really ok. I'm very extremely happy to be alive. Please tell her that.
- Of course, you are happy. You have all of us in your life forever, so how can you not? Right?
Mellie immediately gave in to be on my side and comforted me, which is so sweet of her.
- Right! Thanks, Mel! – I responded enthusiastically.
- You're welcome. – she winked.
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- Do you have the password ready? – Mellie asked Lyz.
Alyssa shook her head and tried to find her phone in the pocket while handling a few baggage of baby stuff.
- Don't worry about it. I got this. – I smiled at them and pressed the password of Ali's and Ash's door.
So what Ali does every year is that she would give all her guest the password that she was gonna set on the party day on the day she sent out the invitation by email, so everyone could entered freely and that no one wouldn't need to run in and out to open door for anyone. And then she would change it back to the normal password after we all left.
- Tobin! Alyssa! Melvin! We missed you! It's been a looooooong time, honeys. – Pinoe threw herself at us as soon as we entered the door.
- We ain't got time for this shit, Pi.
Lyz coldly grabbed Pinoe's face by her big hand and indifferently pushed it out of hers, then reached her head to find the owners of this house:
- Ali? Ash?
- I'm sorry, but we need to change the diapers, let's be sweet and greet after their butts wiped. – Mellie awkwardly smiled at Pinoe, which made her throw all source of being sweet to them down the damn dark hole.
Alyssa and Melvin had to change the diapers and warm up milk for the twins so they had already been led into a guest room by Ali.
Pinoe's eyes kinda followed their backs as they walked away from her, which helped entertain Skylar and me so much that we laughed and laughed and laughed.
Pi's face looked hilarious when the Naehers chose wiping their children's butts instead of hugging her.
- Come here, I'll hug you. – I comforted this poor thing and opened my arms widely to give her the biggest hug.
- Only you deserve me. – Pi's extra ass hugged me so tight that it tickled my laughing bone again.
- Wifey, you literally met Tobin two days ago at re-inc office, and Alyssa and Melvin came over to visit us just a week ago. Stop being so damn extra. – Skylar slapped Pinoe's back while unstoppably laughing at Pinoe's clown ass, then pulled her off of me.
Pinoe side-eyed Sky and gave her wife a pout just like a little kid feeling unfair.
- Thanks, Sky. – I smiled to Sky and got so satisfied to see Megan's hilariously pissed face.
- Hi, sweetie. How are you?
I turned over to the new voice to see HAO open her arms to hug me, so I hugged her back. She then gave me a kiss on the cheek.
- Couldn't be better. – I said, smiling back at my senior.
After that, Sky and Pinoe went back inside the kitchen to do the things that they needed to do to prepare for the birthday party.
When I was about to find something to help everyone out, something so adorable got in the way and I wasn't even mad.
- Aunt Tobin! – Hermione Krieger and Kai Rapinoe ran to me and hugged me with their little arms.
- She's mine! – Hermie tried to break Kai's embrace on me, which made me laugh.
These kiddos are just so freakin precious. I love them to death.
- Ok, yours. – Kai sighed and gave in.
They are one year a part. Hermie is older than Kai but Kai is always the most mature one of all the kids in our big family. Kai's always tolerate, kind and sweet, because he might be Megan's and Sky's biological son, but his personality takes after Ali Krieger A LOT since he has been sleeping at Ash's and Ali's house more than his own house just cos Megan and Sky would never drop that honeymoon phase of their relationship, even though they've already had a whole ass son for themselves. And what can I say about Hermione Krieger? She's a mini Ashlyn Harris. In conclusion, Ashlyn and Ali have two kids, but one of them carries Megan's family name.
- You guys can share, I'm really big you know. – I joked while laughing with my kiddos.
At that same time, Crystal Dunn and Julie Ertz arrived.
- Hello everyone, Julie Ertz and I- America's sweetheart are here. – Crystal joked.
- Hi, Queens! How are ya? – Ash's voice raised out of nowhere.
Jules and Crys have been neighbors for a few years, how great? They always said they would buy a house close to each other after retirement, and would be pregnant at the same time, so they could give birth at the similar time, and they did it all.
Ash and Pinoe rushed out from the kitchen to give Julie and Crystal a hug as it's been months since the last time they all met. Crys and Jules are living a little bit far away from all of us.
Ash was in the kitchen to prepare the food with Skylar because Sky is just the best mothafacking cook, and Pinoe can't cook shit so she was just in there to be with Sky. It's been like that for ten years straight, this Pinoe is just painfully addicted to her wife, it's stinky uncomfortable. Kidding. They cute.
- You two, please take Jack and Liam to our backyard to play. – Ali told Kai and Hermie gently after approaching us from the dinning room.
Jack is Julie's boy, and Liam is Crystal's little one.
- Yes, Mommy! – they both replied and it was so adorable, which made me smile.
Walked away for a few steps, Hermie and Kai turned their adorable head around to look at me with those smiley faces.
- See you later, Aunt Tobs. – they waved while holding hands with Liam and Jack to lead them to the backyard as Ali asked them to.
- See ya. – I winked and waved back at them.
- Are Zach and Pierre comin? – HAO asked.
They both looked at each other and smiled mysteriously, then brusted out laughing.
- No. – Jules shook her head.
- They have their own party. – Crystal added.
- Since we're all here, where the fuck are Kelly, Kameryn, and Syd? – Pinoe asked with her frowny face.
- Wifey, there are kids here!! Stop swearing, will ya?! – Sky shouted out from the kitchen with slight strictness in her voice.
Pinoe bit her upper lip and gulped slightly as she apologetically smiled looking at us, which made us all hold in our laughs.
Pinoe's got the untreatable I-do-whatever-my-wife-says syndrome, so she shouted back, but very lovingly:
- I'm sorry, honey! I won't do it again!
- Kay! Good! – Sky decided to forgive Pinoe this time.
- Syd has three children, so would you give her a break? It'd be inhuman to expect her to show up early. – Julie said, which cracked all of us up.
- Yeh, Pinoe. Be a decent human, Jesus Christ. – Mellie teased Pi as she and Alyssa were approaching us and heard the story.
- Then what about Kelly? She has none. – Pinoe rolled her eyes at all of us, then tried to get one of the twins in Mellie's arms.
- My child, go and hold yours. – Mellie rotated towards another direction so Pinoe couldn't reach.
- He's too big now, I can't hold him anymore. Give me da baby! – Pinoe tried to fight for what she wanted as always.
- No! – Mellie said jokingly, she just tryna piss Pinoe off cos that's just her favorite thing to do.
They're 14 years apart, but Pinoe has never once acted like she's much older.
- What's wrong with you, you got to hold them all day all night. I haven't seen them for a month. There are my niece and nephew, hello! – Pinoe ran over to the other side to try and get the baby.
- Ok. OK. Whatever.
Mellie finally handed her baby boy to Pinoe, which made Pinoe receive him with her smile spread ear to ear. She was just so happy to hold a baby again since Kai has been completely over that phase.
Alyssa was holding the other baby and couldn't help but laughed at how childish her wife and Megan could be whenever they got together.
- It's Kelly O'hara, what do you expect? – Ash finally shouted something from the kitchen to join our conversation.
We heard Skylar's crackles in there and all of us cracked up at once after her.
Ash's right. It's Kelly O'hara. Why did we even bother to expect at the first place?
Everyone went off to do their things, the kids were outside as Ali requested and never showed up inside since then. I was all by myself since I couldn't find anything to do to be helpful because the early ones have done them all, so I walked towards the dinning table to check what I check every time I'm forced to participate the Kriegers' parties.
The same name tag positions that Ali and Ashlyn have set as they always do at their whatever parties, it made me smile. Deep down inside I know they would all be the same since Ash and Ali have never changed any of them, or switched seats even once. But still, it's like a tradition to me to go and have a quick look at them, and also I really wanna see them.
I smiled at the name tag next to mine, and kinda stood there very still like a statue to just stare at it for a very long time until someone caught me doing it again.
- I miss her, too.
I got startled a little bit, so I turned over to see Skylar Blue Rapinoe was also looking at that name tag. As soon as I saw the love in Sky's eyes, it drew a smile to my face.
- It's been 5 years. Damn, time flies, huh?
I smiled faintly and nodded.
It's been 5 years since the day she left all of us behind. And every damn year, Ali shot her an invitation through email and hoped she would get it and would come back to see us. But year by year, she never showed up, so most of us, including me, kind of gave up on the idea of seeing her again. However, Ali still has high hope that her consistence will touch her and she will consider coming back to be with us at one place once again. Her name tag will always stay there on every of Ali's dinning table. Doesn't matter at the end of every single one, it will have to end up in the bin at last without being seated in front of.
- Remember when I was her maid of honor? It still feels like yesterday.
I heard a sigh from Sky, so I shifted my eyes from the table to her face. My body immediately stiffed up as soon as I saw a drop of tears stuck on the edge of her eyes.
- Skylar. – I called her name softly.
She sniffled her nose and turned to look over at me.
- Every night before I go to sleep, I always tell Megan this. Do you know what it is?
I shook my head.
- I'll kill her as soon as I see her again.
- Sky.
Skylar tapped on my shoulder gently to comfort me; however she was the person that needed the comfort most. Sky then turned her back at me and walked away.
Sky was her maid of honor, and being someone's maid of honor means you're so important to the person to be one, and yes, Skylar Blue Rapinoe is Christen Press's bestest friend ever. Chris used to thank Pinoe for bringing Sky into her life and shit. And all of a sudden, she cut all the contacts with people around her, not even Sky being fortunate enough to be kept in touch by her. No one understands why she has done that.
Maybe she was just too desperate to start a completely new life.
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- Where do I put the flowers, Kriegs? – I asked Ali while she's setting up the candle.
- For God's sake, how many times have you done this? Come on, Tobin. Do better. – Of course, Pinoe had to stab my ass about something.
Ali only kindly smiled and pointed at the middle of our whole gang's long dinning table.
- Just there, Toby. Thanks, darls. – she said.
- Honey, what are you doing?! – I heard Sky's voice raising at Pinoe and my heart immediately felt happy that I laughed.
Pinoe couldn't have done anything better than me when it comes to things like this either. She totally deserved the scold from Sky.
Pinoe was scratching her head over there looking at Sky so innocently.
- Why are you putting the spoons in the soup bowls? You suppose to just leave them beside the bowls like this.
- Sorry, I thought we were...
Just when Pi was about to justify herself, Sky cut her off:
- You have one job, Rapinoe. Do better. – Sky then walked away with a few dirty spoons that Pinoe's dumbass put in the soups.
- You deserve it, bitch. – I tucked my tongue out to tease her.
She immediately picked a towel up to throw at me, which didn't get any near me, but almost knocked over the flower vase that I just put at where Ali instructed. It was "almost", cos fortunately my hands reached out to hold it back up in time, otherwise it would have fallen and sprayed water all over the place.
- Shit. – Pinoe covered her mouth and looked around to check if Sky was looking.
- Megan Rapinoe! Go to the backyard and watch over the kids! – Sky demanded.
All of us tried so hard to hold the laugh in. My lungs almost exploded, the Rapinoes are just so entertaining.
This happens every year in one way or another, but still, I have never gotten sick of it. It gets better every time Pinoe made a mistake and Sky would come for her neck, and Pinoe would transform into this kitten that followed Sky everywhere like a little uncuttable tail to apologize.
- No. You won't be staying here. Just go and join Kai and the kids.
Just as Pinoe was leaving for the backyard, Sky talked after her:
- And don't even think about getting the kids to do any dumb shit out there unsupervised!
- But I am the supervisor, Sky! – Pinoe showed her adorable frustration towards her wife as she turned her head back to maintain the last piece of her pride.
- No. Even Kai is more mature than you are.
- Do you love me? – All of a sudden, Pinoe gave Sky the puppy eyes and softly asked like she was gonna cry.
Sky couldn't help but went soft for her wife and let out a little laugh before she went:
- So very much. Now, get out.
- I love you. – Pinoe blew Sky a kiss and miserably walked out of the back door to join the kiddos.
The love the Rapinoes have for each other is so visible that no matter how hard you try to avoid, you will still subconsciously consider yourself to be third wheel whenever you're around them. Poor Kai. The kid was born to third wheel them until he's capable enough to move out of the house.
I smiled to how everyone laughed at the way Sky always has her full control over Pinoe, who wasn't born to be this obedient or patronized whatsoever. If you know Pinoe, you know what I'm talking about. She used to be a wildly free bird, until Skylar's got her ass whipped. Sky's just incredible in everything she does, so she probably got some skills up her sleeves, or Pinoe was just stupidly crazy for her.
We always teased Pinoe that she certainly got drugged by Skylar, that's why she can't seem to live without Sky, and Pinoe instantly nodded her head to show agreement cos even herself couldn't think of any other reasons to justify for that.
- Heather! Heather! Stop! Stop right there for me!
A strange yet familiar voice came out of nowhere and made my heart fluttered. It even made me question my whole existence in those short seconds of time, which is so strange. I've never felt that way for a long time.
I slightly rubbed my heart while turning over to the direction where the voice came from. The moment I knew the reason why my heart acted so strangely; a chain full of memories rushed through my mind which overwhelmed me to the extremity. So fortunate that I wasn't holding anything in my hands otherwise I could have dropped the shit out of it.
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