Unconditional

20

Hollies pov:

In three weeks. Three weeks and Aug will get to see Westley again. I'll get to see him play again. We will be together again. October first can not come fast enough.

My favorite part about it? August doesn't know we are coming.

It's not just me and West either. It's all of us. Minus Aleksander and Wyatt.

I love watching August play. Ever since high school,
i've enjoyed it. He knows what he's doing on the field. His batting is always a treat to watch, and it's always a fan favorite when he gets on base.

I walk into the kitchen, after putting cleaning the bathroom. West, down for a nap. I need to do some dishes, and I'm waiting for Jayce and Ellie to come over. Why not kill time?

I realize that my life has changed so much in the last year. Last year at this time, I had just broken up Ethan. Jayce and Ellie were just about to get married. August and I were still just friends. And me, I was just enjoying my summer. Watching baseball every weekend. Going on trip with the team. Watching the Blackhawks blossom.

I miss it. Last year, it felt like nothing could happen. We'd all, always be one happy friend group. Now, I wish I could tell my past self how much things were about to change. How many things would be thrown at me. At all of us. Not all of them were bad, but each thing was something that would allow me to grow, to become more mature.

The knock on the door brings me out of my reminiscing on the past, and slams me back into my present.

"Hey!" I say, opening the door. Jayce and Ellie step in.

"Holls, it looks so clean in here oh my god." Ellie laughs, hugging me.

"I'm glad you think so, because it feel like it is so messy." I giggle.

"Where's the kid?" Jayce asks.

"Sleeping. I was hoping he'd be awake before you guys got here. But ya know, babies sleep a lot." I laugh.

"Babies gonna baby." Jayce smiles.

Ellie and Jayce seem, off. I don't know if that's the right word to use, but that's the only one I can think of that explains it. Maybe something happened between them, or maybe it's just me.

"Is everything okay with you guys?" I question. The vibe is unsettling.

"What? Yeah we're fine." Ellie blurts.

"Okay what's happening? This isn't normal, especially from you two. What happened?" I need to know.

"Jayce," Ellie looks over at him, softly smiling.

"Well uh, Holls," Jayce grasps Ellie's hand. Her small smile becomes bigger, her eyes slightly fill with tears. The mixed signals i'm getting here are crazy. "Ellie and I are... expecting," Jayce smiles.

"Oh my god! No way! Congrats you guys!" I wrap my arms around my brother, and sister-in-law. "When did you find out?" I question, still in shock. I'm so happy for them.

"What was it? About two weeks ago?" Ellie asks Jayce.

"Mhm. You're probably about 8 weeks right now." Jayce says.

"Oh my god you guys! Im so happy for you! Have you told anyone else?" I'm full of questions for them.

"Not yet. We're waiting for the best time. We trust you with our little secret though." Ellie winks at me.

"It's definitely safe with me. You two are going to be amazing parents." I smile at them.

"Thanks Holls. We thought you should be the first to know," I can hear Westley start fussing, from the baby monitor next to me.

"Hold that thought," I say, standing up, to go get him.

"Wait can I get him?" Jayce asks. I smile, as does Ellie.

"Go for it. Just don't drop him." I jokingly say.

"Wow thanks for the tip." Jayce rolls his eyes at me, and walks down the hall.

I take a second to process. My brother is going to be a dad. I'll be an Aunt. Mom and Dad will become grandparents for the second time. Ellie will be a mom. And I know she'll be an amazing mother.

I watch as Jayce walks back towards the living room, holding my son in his arms. He looks so precious. Jayce has always been so soft with kids, which makes me think he'll be so good as a dad.

"He's already gotten so big! Look at him," Ellie smiles.

"The time flies, so you have to cherish it." I say, reaching my arms out for Jayce to give me my baby.

Jayce hands him to me, and then sits down next to Ellie, caressing her thigh with his hand.

I rock West back and forth, trying to calm him down a bit. His big green eyes look up at me. Identical to August. I can't help but smile. This kid really is his fathers.

"Three weeks Hollie. Only three." Ellie says, placing a hand on my back.

"Yup." I hide my smile.