Her Bundles Of Joy

Even though the singer had texted or called at least once every day while she was traveling the world, it was infinitely better having her best friend home, helping her with everything concerning her pregnancy. Nicole, Brandi, and Evan had picked up their former friendship, going out together, watching movies together, shopping for baby stuff together. Brandi was beyond happy seeing her two best friends so in love with each other, especially after she’d experienced first hand their pain and suffering for months. The only part she didn’t enjoy about seeing her friends dating, or whatever it was that they were doing—Brandi wasn’t sure how to call their relationship; they were going to be parents, but they weren’t married, and people in the dating stage of their relationship usually aren’t about to bring two children into the world, hence the singer’s confusion was that the couple were obviously trying to make up for their lost time by acting like two hormonal teenagers, making out and sneaking intimate touches whenever possible. Brandi, unfortunately, had witnessed many, many of those touches. She was still traumatized from the day she’d walked into the kitchen to find Evan giving Nicole a vigorous bre*st massage. At 7 in the morning. That was the day she realized how often the blond man crashed at her apartment. He was always there when she went to bed, and he was still there when she woke up. Brandi figured he’d gotten used to staying around and keeping Nicole company while the singer was on tour. It was like he didn’t have his own apartment. Brandi didn’t mind, really, but she figured that, at this point, with Evan and Nicole being very domestic, very much in love and expecting their first children, they should really just move in together. She could see no reason as to why they hadn’t done that yet, but Brandi still offered the other guest room, the one not occupied by Nicole, for the happy couple to set up their babies’ nursery. She knew her apartment was large enough that the soon-to-be family of four would be able to live more than comfortably together.

It was then that Brandi had an amazing idea. During one of their dinners together, the singer suggested that the couple should permanently move in together. Brandi couldn’t tell which one of the two got more anxious when she made her suggestion. Nicole stammered, Evan almost choked on his water, it was quite the funny sight. They came up with a lame excuse of how they were taking things slow and whatever other bullsh*t lie they could come up with on the spot, while Brandi listened quietly, pretending to believe them. When they were done, the singer laid the facts on the table, and told them that they were already living together, even if they hadn’t realized it yet. Not only that, but they were living together in her apartment while Evan’s had been forgotten. Nicole asked if Brandi was trying to tell her she wanted her to move out, and the singer laughed at such a suggestion. She’d never kick Nicole out, she loved her best friend too much. The only thing she wanted was for her friends to live together and start their own little family in their own space, without having to give up on their privacy simply because Brandi was around. The singer then asked Evan if he’d be willing to swap apartments with her. He seemed shocked at the offer and Brandi explained the many reasons for them to stay in her apartment while she moved to Evan’s. The two places had cost pretty much the same, they were about the same size (in fact, Brandi’s apartment was slightly larger than Evan’s), and, most importantly, the couple had already set up the nursery in her apartment. It would be a really dumb decision if they moved everything back to Evan’s apartment.

And that was the story behind three people, a world-famous singer, a handsome billionaire heir, and a very pregnant dancer, sitting on the floor of a messy apartment, among boxes and personal items such as clothes and shoes that were scattered all across the place, laughing and happily eating pizza as they took a break from all the work they were having with the apartment swap. Evan’s stuff had already been brought to the apartment, and now it was Brandi’s turn. She hired a moving company to take all her bedroom furniture, but her clothes remained as she browsed through them and chose which items she’d keep and which items she’d donate.

Nicole finished drinking her juice and got off the floor with a grunt, intending to go to the kitchen and refill her glass. The brown-skinned dancer was supporting herself on the couch in order to get up, but halted when she felt liquid running down her legs. Brandi grimaced at the sight.

“Okay, Nicole, you’re not a dog, girl.” The singer chuckled. “No need to pee on the floor to mark your new territory.”

“Fu*k off,” Nicole groaned. “Guys, I think my water just broke!”

Evan and Brandi stared at Nicole for a few seconds before the two of them sprinted out of the living in room in different directions. Evan came back a few moments later carrying a large duffel bag. Brandi returned with a yellow backpack slung over her shoulder, her car keys in the other hand. Nicole shot Evan a questioning gaze. She knew that the backpack Brandi had brought contained the baby stuff such as clothes they’d set aside for when she went into labor. The dancer didn’t know, however, what was Evan doing.

“Are you leaving or something?” She lifted an eyebrow.

“What? No!” he exclaimed. “These are your clothes and towels and shoes and personal hygiene items—”

“Okay, baby, I get it!” Nicole smiled at Evan’s nervous ranting. “I’ve already got that covered, honey. There’s a bag, not a duffel bag, a regular one, at the bottom shelf of my dresser. Please, drop this one and get the other, okay?”

Evan did as he was told, and the three friends made their way out of the apartment. Nicole’s contractions kicked in as they were in the car trying to get to the hospital.

“How come you’re going into labor? There was another month to go!” Evan all but screamed.

“Why are you freaking out like that? I’m the one in pain!”

“Why are you two shouting!” Brandi interrupted the couple. “It’s distracting me,” she said in a softer voice. The remainder of the ride was quiet, the only sound being Nicole’s elaborated breaths as the pain cursing through her body only increased. God, if she was in so much pain already, she wasn’t looking forward to knowing how painful it would be when she was pushing not one, but two babies out of her va*ina. Nicole wondered why she hadn’t asked for a c-section.

When they arrived at the hospital, they were immediately directed to a more exclusive wing of the hospital, where only those who had money could afford to stay. Nicole didn’t mind staying a regular room, but Evan insisted that she had to stay in the best room, where she’d be taken care of by her obstetrician, Dr. Ali, and state-of-the-art equipment. The dancer had rolled her eyes when he’d initially proposed this, claiming that she was going to a hospital and not a hotel, but eventually accepted. Nicole didn’t want Evan spending loads of money on her, but this wasn’t money being spent on her per se, it was being spent on their children. There was no doubt she wanted her children to be born without any complications, and if she were staying in a luxurious hospital apartment with top-of-the-range equipment and the best medical team in the hospital, Nicole knew her babies would be safe. To her, that was all that mattered.

It was a long and careful process, going into labor a month before originally expected. Nicole didn’t know what triggered her contractions, but she guessed her babies were just as impatient as she was and wanted out immediately. She was itching to hold her children in her arms, her baby boy and her baby girl. They’d been more than happy to find out that they were having fraternal twins. Nicole hadn’t told Evan yet but she’d already picked the kids’ names. She wanted to surprise him and was planning on letting him know once he held his son in his arms.