My second cousin gave birth this morning to a baby boy. Now I have third cousin. The boys are slowly catching up to the girls in my family.

***

I am woken by someone pounding on the door and yelling. "Valentina, open the door."

I groan and climb out of bed. I open the door to find my cousin there.

He hugs me. "Hey, Cuz."

I step away from him. "Why couldn't you come later?"

"I wanted to see you before you went to work."

"I don't work in an office. I am making my own children's line."

"Are you pregnant, Cuz?"

I nod.

"Have you told your parents?"

"No, I want to tell them when I visit with Austin."

"The man you brought to the wedding. I thought he was your husband."

I laugh. "About that."

"Yeeeeah,"

"I hired him from a company called 'Hubby for Hire."

He shakes his head. "Damn, I need one of my own but a female."

I pay his back. "Good luck, Chase. I got lucky with mine."

"What are we doing today?"

I shrug. "What do you have in mind?"

"I want to see the walk of fame and the Hollywood sign. I have to get ready. make yourself at home."

Chase sits on the lounge and turns on the TV a football is on and he yells at it.

I leave him to the game.

I jump in the shower and quickly wash my body.

I turn of the shower and wrap a towel around me.

I enter my bedroom and search my cupboard for something to wear.

I find a flows dress and I put that on.

I really need to go shopping for new clothes.

Chase looks away from the game when I enter the lounge room. "Are you ready."

"Yeah, do you mind missing the game?"

He shakes his head. "I've seen this game already it's just a repeat."

I laugh. "Your just yelling at the TV for a game you've already seen. Are you nuts?"

"When it comes to football, yes."

I pick up the keys from the table. "Let's show the New York Man around Los Angeles."

We exit the apartment building and I show him to my red BMW convertible.

He whistles at the car. "Nice car. You must have a great job before your quit."

"I did. This is what Dad brought me when I moved here. He wanted me to fit in with all the famous people."

I climb into my car and pull out of the parking lot.

"It has the new car smell. When did you get it?"

"Last week. Dad asked me how I was getting around town and I told him I walked everywhere. He said 'its unsafe for my daughter to walk around town.' He called his Best Friends dealerships and told them to drop one off."

I pull into a parking lot and point at the sign. "There's your Hollywood sign cuz."

He jumps out of the car takes photos of it. "Can you take a picture?"

I take the camera from him and I take it for him.

He turns to me. "Selfie,"

I stand next to him and he takes the picture.

A car pulls into the parking lot. I can hear rocks hitting the back of the car as it approaches us.

The car pulls in next to mine.

Austin steps out of it. "Hey, baby." He pulls me into his side. He kisses the top of my head.

I hit Austin in the stomach. "You don't need to be jealous this is my cousin, Chase."

Austin fist bumps Chase.

Austin goes to the back of his car and pulls out a blanket, cooler and a plastic bag. He finds a place on the ground.

The wind starts to blow rustling the leaves around me. It's not a cold breeze but a warm one.

Austin walks over to me and grabs my hand. "I got enough food for your cousin as well."

Austin and I move toward the blanket. I sit on the blanket and Austin sits behind me. I lean against him.

Chase sit next to us and opens one containers. The container he opened has fried rice in it.

After lunch we head to the Hollywood walk of fame and look at all the names in the path.

Chase pulls put his camera and takes pictures of them.

I yawn.

I'm so tired.

"Do you want to go home?"

I nod.

Chase turns to me. "I don't want to go home. Can I borrow your car?"

I give him the keys. "Look after the car. I hope you remember how to get back to my place?"

He waves his phone at me. "My GPS can take me back to your place. I'll see you tonight."

Austin and I walk back to the car. At the car he opens the door for me and I climb inside.

He closes the door behind me.

I buckle up.

Austin climbs into the and he pulls into the traffic.

I lie my head back on the leather seat and I fall asleep.

***

"Val, we're home baby." I keep my eyes closed.

"Leave me alone. I'm sleeping." I mumble.

Austin chuckles. He leans over me and unclips the buckle.

I can feel his hands on my back and underneath my legs.

At the door he bends down with me in his arms to retrieve the key.

I open my eyes. "You can put me down. I don't need you to hurt yourself there, old man."

He picks up the key and opens the door.

Nico steps out of his place.

"You're finally back home. I missed you." I hug my best friend. "Do you want to come in for a tea?"

Nico shakes his head. "You look tired. Get some rest and I'll come around for dinner?"

I walk into the house and shuffle toward my bedroom. I pull back the covers and crawl into my bed.

***

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