***

Looking myself in the mirror, I put my hand on my stomach. I smiled at the thought of Jeff referring to the baby as a girl. Our little girl was in heaven, and she would always being looking over us. She was our very own special angel. I knew that with all my heart.

“I will never forget you, baby girl…ever.”

I heard Jeff walk into the house, arguing with Ellie. Those two…I swear. Rolling my eyes, I reached for my sweater since there was a cold front moving in. I knew my ass would be buying one if I didn’t bring one.

I walked into the kitchen, and Ellie and Jeff were in such a deep conversation that they didn’t even see me standing there.

“She’s in rehab and asking to see us both. What was I supposed to say, Jefferson? Grace and Jack were standing right there when I got the call.”

“You should have told them to tell our mother to go to hell.”

“Believe me, I wanted nothing more than to say that, but instead, I said that I would talk to you about it.”

“I don’t care that she’s in rehab, Ells, or that part of her recovery process is to say she is sorry to us. She can f**k off for all I care.”

I cleared my throat so that they both knew I was there.

When Ellie turned to face me, the smile that played across her face spoke volumes. Well, holy hell, I must have a just-got-laid look on my face. She glanced back at Jeff and smiled even bigger at him.

“Do you still want to do a girls’ day? I packed my gym stuff, so we could hit Lifetime Fitness; I just want one good workout in a real gym!” Ellie said.

“Fuck yeah, I still want a girls’ day! I have my stuff packed, and I’m ready to go.”

I looked over at Jeff and gave him a wink. I was so happy to see that smile on his face. I knew he’d been so unhappy the last few months, and it was now going to be my goal to make him happy every damn day.

***

It had been so long since I’d laughed as much as I did on the drive into Austin. God, this feels good.

Ellie picked Magnolia Café for lunch. She talked me into getting a chicken salad sandwich on some wheat-ass looking bread. Ugh, healthy shit.

The waitress brought out our food and put my sandwich down in front of me.

I looked up at Ellie.

“Really? All I wanted was some mac and cheese today, Ellie.”

“Stop bitching. We’re going to the gym, and if you really want to get married in December, it’s time to start eating healthy.”

“What the f**k is this green shit in here?”

Ellie raised her eyebrow. “It’s spinach.”

“I can’t eat this shit.” I picked it off the sandwich and set it to the side.

“After this, we’re going to get ice cream.” I said before I took a bite of my sandwich.

“No way. No, I’m putting my foot down.”

“Stop being such a bitch to me, Ells. If I want ice cream on my girls’ day, I’m getting ice cream, damn it.”

***

After lunch, we got back into the car. Ellie looked at me and smiled. She reached over to hit play on her car stereo, and Christina Aguilera’s “Vanity” started.

We both looked at each other, and at the same time, we said, “Hells yeah!”

The moment Ellie pulled into Baskin-Robins I wanted to reach over and kiss her ass! Oh god. I wanted ice cream so damn bad. I practically jumped out of the car and ran into the place.

“Shit, Ari, it’s just ice cream. You act like you’ve never had it before.”

“Listen, bitch, I haven’t felt this good in months. If you’re draggin’ my ass to the gym, I’m gonna at least have something to celebrate that shit.”

Ellie hung up from talking to Gunner and raised her eyebrows at me.

“Holy hell, Ari, that’s the biggest sundae I’ve ever seen. You’re going to get sick.”

I just grinned at her and took a giant bite. I looked up and watched a girl walk in. She was covered in tattoos. I looked back at Ellie with a smile.

“Oh no! There’s no f**king way, Ari, I’m going to let you…or me…get a tattoo! No. Way.”

“Come on, Ells! I’ve been through hell the last few months. You know I’ve always wanted one. Please!”

“I’m not getting one. I’d get a nose piercing before I got a tattoo.”

I jumped up and walked over to the trash can.

“Come on, let’s get a fast workout in, and then let’s get some ink and get pierced!”

Ellie just looked at me. “Have you lost your damn mind?”

“Come on, Ells. You have the perfect nose for it.” Reaching for her hand, I pulled her and lead her out of Baskin-Robbins. “Think about what you want for a tattoo while you’re working out. I already know what I want.”

***

The whole time I was on the elliptical, I kept thinking about my morning with Jeff. I closed my eyes and could almost feel his lips on mine.

December. I was going to marry him in three months. My eyes flew open, and I looked over at Ellie.

Oh. My. God. I’m going to get married in three months, and I haven’t started to plan a damn thing. Nothing! I needed to call my mom. Where should we get married? Austin? At the ranch?

On a beach... far, far away from everyone and everything. That would be the perfect wedding. It was too bad my mother would say hell no and then throw a damn Katharine Hepburn quote at my ass.

I hit Ellie on the arm.

She looked over and pulled her head phones out. Britney Spear’s “Toxic” was playing from her earbuds.

“What? We’ve only been going for thirty minutes.”

“I’m freaking out!”

“I would think so. Do you know how much shit you ate in the last few hours?”

I rolled my eyes. “Not about what I ate. It’s about the wedding. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I’m getting married in three months, Ells. One. Two. Three. Three months and I’ve done nothing.”

Ellie threw her head back and laughed. “Don’t worry. We have a secret weapon called Jenny. Ari, it will be fine. We got this thing. I mean we can.”

Ellie stopped mid-sentence and stared past me. The look on her face was not good.

I was almost afraid to turn around to see who or what she was looking at.

“Um, how about we call it a day and go get those tattoos?” Ellie stopped the elliptical and jumped off.

Now, I knew it was bad. I hit stop, got off, and turned just in time to see Rebecca standing there, talking to...Jason?

“Ari, let’s just go.”

Oh f**k no. I’d been dreaming about what I was going to say to her when I saw her again. She had been the reason why I’d lost the baby. It’d been her and her alone. I wanted to pound my fist in her face.

“It’s okay, Ells. I got this under control. Honest.”

“The hell you do! I can practically see the steam coming from your ears, Ari.”

What is Rebecca talking to Jason about? They sure seemed deep in conversation.

When I started to walk toward her, Ellie grabbed my arm.

“Ari, I really think this is a bad idea. There’s something Jeff didn’t tell you, and I really think you need to just walk away.”

I turned and looked at her. “What? What didn’t he tell me?”

“Aw shit, Ari! You don’t really need to know. It doesn’t matter anymore, so please, let’s just go, please.”

“You can’t say that to me and then just expect me to walk away. Tell me now or I will vag**a punch your ass right here in the middle of the gym.”

Ellie looked over my shoulder toward the bitch.

“Fuck me. Jason’s the father of Rebecca’s baby.”

“Wait…what? He can’t be. He was with me when...” Then, it hit me.

“Are you f**king kidding me?” I pushed Ellie’s hand off my arm and turned around to head over to the devil’s spawn herself.

It didn’t take her long to notice me walking up to her. She straightened her body and stood a little closer to Jason. He’s not going to save you, bitch! After I take his ass down, I’m coming after you.

“Ari.”

“Ells, please. I need to do this.”

Ellie took a deep breath and gave me a knowing nod.

Right before I got there, Jason turned to see me coming.

“Oh, hey there, Ari and, Ellie. How have y’all been?”

“Fuck off, Jason.”

“Listen, Ari, I don’t want any trouble. I tried to call Jeff, but he won’t take my calls,” Rebecca said.

“And you should probably take that as a sign that he’s never going to take your calls...ever again.”

“Fine. You know what Ari, I don’t have time to stand here and listen to you.”

I reached out and grabbed her arm.

“Oh, I think you do, and you will make time for me, bitch.”

“Don’t call me a bitch!” Rebecca said. She looked at Jason as he wisely took a few steps away.

“Oh, I’m sorry I offended you when I called you a bitch, Rebecca, I honestly thought you knew you were one.”

“Fuck off, Ari.”

I tightened my grip on her arm and pulled her closer to me. Her eyes widened in surprise.

“Because of you, I lost something very precious to me.”

She slowly let a smile play across her face.

The fact that she smiled was enough to make me want to hurt her even more.

“What’s wrong, Ari, you couldn’t keep Jeff around?”

“Oh, don’t you wish. Actually, we’re getting married in a few months. Don’t hold your breath for an invite.”

“Let go of my arm.”

“Listen to me, and listen very closely, Rebecca. If you so much as ever think of getting in contact with Jeff again, I’ll make sure you pay for everything you’ve ever done to me. You so much as look my way ever again, and I’ll kick your ass from here to kingdom come and not think twice about it.”

Rebecca looked at me and then over to Ellie.

“By the way, Bek, you look like shit. I thought motherhood made you more beautiful. Huh, it must not work for lying, scheming bitches.” I let go of her arm and gave her a small push.

I looked over at Jason and smiled. He took another step backward.

“Don’t worry, dickwad, you’re not even worth my time or energy.” I held up my middle finger and smiled at him as I started to walk away.

Smiling, Ellie came up next to me and bumped my shoulder.

“Really, I would’ve been okay if you kicked the shit out of her.”

I reached my arm around and pulled her closer. “Holy hell, girl, I’m so glad you’re my best friend.”

When we walked out of that gym, I’d never felt better.

***

By the time we walked out of the tattoo parlor, I was flying high. I ended up getting angel wings on my right shoulder in honor of our little girl. I couldn’t wait to show Jeff. The belly-button piercing was perfect. I looked over at Ellie and let out a giggle. She still looked like she was about to throw up.

She asked, “What the f**k did we just do?”

Ellie ended up getting a phoenix tattoo on the right side of her back, and I was damn happy she did. If anyone had been reborn, it was this girl.