Page 107 of You Again

“Which means,” Callum says, “no oversharing, Lucca.”

“I do not overshare.” Lucca sits next to Maggie on Fran’s couch, one arm wrapped around her. “Everyone loves what I have to share.”

“Yeah, not everyone,” Roman grunts.

Lucca laughs like Roman has made a joke. “You love me so much,” he says to Roman.

Roman shakes his head, but he’s smiling. “I do.”

“Guys,” Maggie says, standing and facing us all. “We’re here for Rosalie. So, Lucca you will not overshare. Roman, you will simmer on the grouchiness. Fran, I love you to death, but you will not plan Zev and Rose’s wedding today⁠—"

Fran holds up one finger. “Okay, but⁠—”

“No, Fran. Don’t even plan a date for them.” Maggie shakes her head. “No one startle her. We aren’t loud, crazy, man-boys today. We are civilized adults. And Zev.” Maggie presses her lips together, and it seems as if everyone turns their heads to look at me.

I lift my brows, waiting for her instruction—her rule book note for me.

“It’s going to be okay. We’re with you.”

My throat clenches a little. It might have been better if Maggie had scolded me, telling me not to hold Rosalie’s hand, to kiss her, or to touch her in any way.

Lucca crosses his arms and looks at her with so much adoration. Our once-ladies’ man is quite whipped by his authoritative girlfriend. He has decided he now loves all of Maggie McCrae’s rules. Still, he’s Lucca. So, he lifts one brow in challenge. “You’re not going to tell Ivy she isn’t allowed to cry?”

“Hey,” Stella barks, pointing a finger at Lucca.

Roman pats Stella’s leg, then threads his fingers through hers. Lucca’s kidding—it’s possible we all know it except Stella.

I glance down at Ivy, who is currently drooling all over my pant leg.

“No, I am not,” Maggie’s voice turns sweet as she looks at the baby. Ivy grins at her, waving both her chubby hands in the air. Maggie steps over to where I sit and picks her up, taking her away from me. “Because Ivy is perfect,” she says, hefting her up in her arms and nuzzling her cheek. “Aren’t you?”

Ivy giggles and snags a fistful of Maggie’s long brown hair.

“She really is.” Stella sighs, gazing at her chubby blonde baby girl.

We’re all peering at the baby when⁠—

“Hello, everyone,” Rosalie says from the doorway of Fran and Callum’s living room.

“Rosalie!” Maggie yips, clutching Ivy closer to her chest. I think she just broke her no startling rule.

Rosalie slaps a hand over her heart, and in some weird universe, it makes me want to laugh. Because there’s my girl. The only one I will ever love or ever want. She’s so close, but I’m not allowed to go to her. I’m guessing that’s against all of Maggie’s rules, too, even if she left that one out.

Maggie squeezes in next to Lucca once more and Stella reaches for Ivy. We are a very attentive audience.

“Go ahead,” Fran says, nodding to her best friend.

Rosalie’s hair falls around her shoulders, and she nervously shoves her hands into the pockets of her skirt. “Right.” She glances around the room, blinking when her eyes fall on me.

I stay quiet and attentive, almost afraid to speak.

And while she’s scared—because I know my girl and this isn’t a comfortable or easy moment for her. She’s also brave.

“I know I’ve separated myself from you all. In some ways, even Fran.”

Fran shakes her head, but she’s obeying Maggie’s rules, too. We’re listening.

“It’s been a weird year⁠—”