Just The Boy Next Door

~27~

After the initial ultrasound, I began what was called nesting. It had been about a week since my first time visiting Dr. Shelton, and she had already called to schedule my 12 week appointment; my first appointment of the second trimester. She said she enjoyed having us as patients, so to speak, and said further down the line, she could be our OBGYN for all of our children if we had more.
Naomi had been helping me out a lot lately; I had no idea this pregnancy would bring us closer than what we were, but she really began feeling like a sister to me. Not only did she help me plan for the baby's arrival and the baby shower, but she helped me start planning the wedding.

"Have you and Andy set a date yet, ladybug?" She loomed over my shoulder as we browsed the net for nursery sets.
"Not yet," I chuckled, and looked up at her, "I think he is still trying to process being a dad."
"Ha, that sounds like Biersack; overwhelmed by everything he can't really control." Naomi nuzzled my head, "OH shit! Deege!"
My spastic best friend pointed at a black and red nursery set, complete with a mobile that had black cats, bats, and black mini disco balls.
"This... is fucking epic," I nodded in approval, "And it is available at Burlington Coat Factory? Holy shit, it is in Chesterfield; the store by the Chuck E. Cheese!"
"Grab you jacket, sister girl," Naomi stood up and put her hands on her hips, "Auntie Naomi is making her first of many baby purchases."

Andy had been bust with the guys designing the wall art for the nursery. While we had talked about the whole super hero and Batman deal, we decided on black and red; a very punky rock star feel. Our baby would be born into a subversive culture, so we didn't see why not. Showing him the picture of the set on Naomi's iPad, he fist bumped her and kissed me deeply.
"I take it you are going to pick it up now?" He looked at us for confirmation.
"Yep," Naomi snapped bungee chords in her hands, "Auntie Naomi is feeling pretty super right now."
"You two be careful out please." Jake said before kissing his crazy girlfriend goodbye.
Getting in the car, Naomi driving, we made out way to my parent's side of town to pick up the nursery set; and pay for it, of course.
Midlothian Turnpike was a bitch at this time; we had left the house at 4:30 in the evening, forgetting about rush hour traffic. After a few slurs and curses from my lovable dread-head, we made it to Burlington in one piece.
"Next time," I shot a glance at Naomi, "I drive."
"What? Richmond drivers are idiots!"
Laughing, we entered the store, making a beeline for the nursery and crib department.

After some browsing and diaper bag shopping later, there is sat in front of us: The punk rock and roll Nursery set.
"Dude, it's on sale," Naomi pointed to the price tag.
"That is still steep, Nay," I grimaced.
"Not for me," she pulled out her wallet, "I save my money, remember?"
"Funny, bitch."
"You love me."
I smiled and nudged her with my elbow.

"Excuse me, ladies; how may I help you?"
A salesman with "David Clark - Asst. Manager," on his name tag stood behind up, waiting to see what we needed.
"Yes," Naomi flipped a stray dread from her face, "I would like to purchase this nursery set."
"The set, miss?" The man was wide eyed, looking at the mass of furniture before us.
"Yes," she giggled, "And we would like to have it delivered today, if possible."
"So, the entire set," he walked over to a register in the department, "The crib, the changing table, rocking chair, mattress, bed liner, and bed clothes; you would want the decorations with it?"
"Yes, please." Naomi nodded, winking at me.
"Okay, and yes, we can have a delivery truck follow you, Miss..."
"Sparks; Naomi Sparks."
The man entered the price tags into the computer.
"Alright, since you are purchasing the entire set, plus this diaper bag, we are giving you a 35% discount. That brings your total to $1,467.89."
I chocked on the total while Naomi happily handed the man her debit card.
"My best friend here is having a baby," she smiled as me and turned back to the man, "Only the best for my god baby."
"And who is this best friend of your, ma'am?"
"This is my best friend," she showed me off to the now familiar looking man, "DJ Martenson."
"What?" he looked up and then at me, "DJ? Deanna Martenson? It's me, David. We dated in high school."
"Why don't you just stop with the casual jabbering and finalize our purchase so I can get home to my fiance, please?"

I realized why he was so familiar looking; he was my abusive ex-boyfriend from high school into freshman year. I stayed silent the rest of the time, pissed he recognized me and pissed at myself for his name not ringing a bell.
Finally in the car and heading back to the house, delivery van in tow, I sat in the passenger seat and scowled out the window.
"DJ, I told you I was sorry," Naomi pouted, looking over at me, "How was I supposed to remember him? You told me to forget his name and face, remember?"
I sighed heavily and shrunk in my seat.
"Yea, I just wish I would have remembered him."
She giggled and rubbed my knee.
"Maybe it is a good thing you forgot."

Making the turn down the main drag to our house, the van followed, hot on our tail. Smiling at her duties as auntie-to-be, Naomi pulls carefully into the drive way, moving the car up close to the house so the van could pull in behind her.
"Ok, Deege, where do you want it?" She looked at me in earnest, "I'm going to tell them where to put the boxes and stuff."
"The room next yo yours is fine, Mimi," I smirked, "And, thanks babe, for everything. I don't know what I would do without you."
"You either, Deege."
Making my way into the frat house, I glanced around at all the various hand made and hand painted decorations the guys and Selena had made.
"Wow," I put my hands on my hips, impressed, "You all have been busy."
Andy popped his head out from around the kitchen archway, hair filled with sawdust and face dotted with red and black paint; he was a mess.
"Are you a decoration, baby?" I plucked random wood chips from his hair, "I don't know if I want you away from me that long."
"Mmmm," he leaned in and kissed me passionately, "You would like me to be your decoration, wouldn't you?"
"Hey, hey now," Jinxx looked up from the Bat-Kitten he was drawing, "This is how you guys got into this situation."
I arched a brow, making him snicker as he turned back to his sketch.
"So, did you guys get it," Andy yelled over the buzz saw blaring from the back porch, "I am looking forward to seeing it all put together; at least, I'm assuming that it was you and Nay's thing."
"You have assumed correct," I hollered back over the noise, "And yes, she dropped some serious money on our already spoiled child today."

The buzz saw stopped, a cursing Ashley hurrying through the door, blood dripping from his hand.
"Shit, dude," I called after him, "What the fuck did you do?"
"I told him," the angered pretty boy hissed in CC's direction, "to turn the saw blade towards the house. But no; his ass wanted to damn near chop my fucking finger off!"
"Dude, I couldn't fucking hear you!"
CC blew in and was in Ashley's face within minutes, a shouting match about to get physical. Obscenities and accusations flew every which way, and before Andy or I could do anything, CC swung, catching Ash in the jaw.
"You fucking asshole," Ashley rubbed his now sore jaw, seeing red.

"FUCKING STOP IT!"
Selena was standing in the archway of the living room on the opposite side; her and Jake were busy stenciling in the other room when she heard the scuffle.
"Christian, you apologize!" she looked him in the eyes, "NOW!"
"Oh man," Andy muttered in my direction, "Remind me not to get on her bad side."
"Noted." I nodded in agreement.
"And Ashley," she turned to look the man in his face, "After he apologizes, I need you to go into the kitchen and run your hand under the sink; I'm not afraid to homebrew stitches!"
Both men were taken by surprise and apologized to one another, fearing the tiny woman in black might bow their ear and send them to bed without supper.
"I'm telling you," Selena wiped her brow, "Being with these guys while you were gone was almost a nightmare. Besides Andy; he was good as gold."
"I'm thankful for the good report," I chuckled, watching my fiance roll his eyes, "I think I will be taking him home; when should we expect you back?"
"When the stenciling is done; it is a surprise though, so you won't see it until tomorrow."

Selena smiled and shooed us out the door, waving goodbye to the rest of the bunch.
"Shit," Andy sighed heavily as the door closed behind us, "It has been hectic, babe/ The guys are trying to do so much; too much, I think. Not focusing on themselves, really."
"Yea," I shrugged, "CC had a good shot, didn't he?"
Laughing loudly, he wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me close.
"That he did, baby," he kissed my forehead sweetly, "That he did."

The night was enjoyable, for lack of a better term. Andy went to bed early, seeing as though he was sleepless most nights, head full of wedding and baby things, Naomi and I stayed up, talking and putting together the furniture.
"Do you remember when Liana was born, Deege?" Naomi looked up from tightening a bolt on the crib.
"Hell yea, like I could forget. The twins were three, which made me eight," I pouted, "I learned how to change dirty diapers that year."
"I completely forgot about that!" Naomi laughed so hard she nearly tossed the wrench, "Shit; you were so pisse. Like, I hardly saw you smile that year."
"Yea, well, you had your fair share in diapers, too, missy."
"God, don't remind me."
The last leg bolted to the framer, Naomi tilted the crib upright and placed it against the wall, but the window.
"Good work, bumble bee," I fist bumped my best friend, making her grin, "We do good work, even when one half can't do heavy lifting."
"I agree, lady bug," She brought me in for a hug, "I love you, Deege. You are going to be an amazing mom."
"Thanks, Nay, that means a lot."

After a few moments of silence, we decided to set the room up, complete with mobile above the crib.
"Now, all it needs are the home made decorations."
She rubbed my arm, and headed for the doorway.
"I will see you tomorrow?" she asked as we made our way downstairs.
"Yes, ma'am; enjoy your night with Jake. And tell Lena to come home; I'm locking the door in a few minutes."
"Sure thing, babe."

In my bliss of the moment, I failed to see the blue sedan creep by slowly, watching Naomi walk into the frat house.

Notes

It was a lovely night and day with the ladies, minus Selena. But had Mags come back around?