7 | three of cups.

                                    

                                          
My knees bounced anxiously underneath the table as I sat alone in a coffee shop called 'Three of Cups' located in Soho. Gracie messaged that she was running late from work, but it's been close to thirty minutes that I've been waiting and probably looking like a loser who's been stood up to every passing stranger. 
The place grew louder and busier by the minute and I begun to earn a few looks from a few of the waiters. It's lunch time, therefore fairly busy and I was originally going to wait until Gracie arrived to order but I got the impression that I was going to be asked to leave if I sat at an empty table for much longer so I ended up calling a waiter over and asking for a chai latte.
As it's just my luck, Gracie stumbled through the door less than a minute later, her bangs a mess and her hair pulled back into a high ponytail, absolutely drenched from the downpour of rain and crazy thunderstorms in the city today. Her puffer jacket is soaked and the ankles of her bell bottom jeans are slightly damp too, yet somehow she still looks so perfect. 
Ocean blue eyes wander the coffee shop until they finally find mine and a smile creeps upon her lips as she moves her way through the crowd and settles across from me at the table, sliding the tote bag off her shoulder and resting it in her lap. 
"I'm sorry I'm so late. Work got super busy and there was a problem in the kitchen, then one of the coffee machines stopped working so I had to call someone to fix it. My little cousin started today too and I had to teach him how to make latte art. It was crazy," she explains in a state of frenzy until she finally pauses to take a breath, "hi."
"Hi."
"How are you holding up?" She queries, crossing one knee over the other as she leans her elbows on the table and rests her chin in her hands. 
"I'm doing alright. You?"
"I'm good." 
An awkward silence takes over our conversation—or lack thereof—for a moment whilst I nervously adjust my position and tuck my hands under my thighs. 
"How are you feeling about the whole baby thing?" She asks, curling her lips into her mouth. I breathe and turn the question back to her. After all, it's why we're here. "How are you feeling about the whole baby thing?"
Her expression becomes more playful as she raises both her eyebrows and sends me a small smirk. "I asked you first." 
With a heavy sigh, I turn my gaze toward the window. "Well, I already suspected I was pregnant during my first week of rehab so I was kind of already mentally prepared for the fact," I look back at Gracie, "and it probably sounds stupid to anyone who knows me or hears what the last five months of my life have been like, but I feel like raising it is the right decision. It's the only option I had peace about." 
She nods, her eyebrows drawn together. "It doesn't sound stupid at all. It's so important that you do what you feel is right and I think it was an incredibly brave decision to make, Kenz."
Oh, that feels nice to hear. 
"Also, thank you for telling me so soon after you knew for sure," she adds, "I can imagine it wasn't an easy thing to do." 
Half-heartedly giggling, I shake my head as the waiter places my chai latte down in front of me. "Can I have one too, please?" Gracie asks politely. He nods and I say a quick 'thank you' before he heads back behind the counter. "Sorry, I was going to wait to order but I didn't want to lose our table."
"Don't worry about it," Gracie reassures me. I send her a small smile in response.
"How are you feeling about it all?" I ask, bringing the warm mug between my hands and taking a sip of the beverage. 
She sighs and rests her hands on top of the bag in her lap. "I think I just needed time to process because I really wasn't expecting it and I've never been great when it comes to being put on the spot," she says with a gentle giggle, "I understand it's probably going to make things a little complicated, but we can work through it. I really want to be with you, Kenz."
For the first time since reading her message yesterday afternoon, I finally feel myself relax. My eyes tear up too, but I'm going to blame that on the hormones. My go-to emotion with everything the last few weeks has been to cry. "Are you sure?"
"I'm sure," she smiles, passing over a napkin which is quick to replace the mug in my hands. "I think it might be a good idea though if we take things slow and we can work it out as we go?"
"Yeah, of course," I agree with a nod as I wipe my eyes. 
When Gracie's chai latte arrives the two of us sit in a comfortable silence for a few moments whilst we sip on our drinks until I notice that she's grown slightly tense.
"Are you okay?" I ask, eyebrows drawn together.
She nods and places her mug down on the table. "I just...I have a question about the father of the baby?"
"Okay."
"You two weren't still together when you kissed me, we're you?"
"Oh no," I assure her, "god no. It all happened before I went to rehab. It's been over three months now."
Once again she nods as she begins to twist the bracelet on her wrist. "Is he going to be involved in the baby's life?"
I lift my shoulders to my ears before relaxing them with a sigh. "I have no idea. I told him two weeks ago and we haven't spoken since. He doesn't even know that I'm keeping it, although due to his flip out, I think he knew that I would."


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Hiiii!
It's so weird because I have this entire book planned but am severely lacking in prompts to fill the some gaps so if you have any ideas please let me know!