“I don’t need that kind of lecture, Keegan. I’m well aware of how much commitment a child is.” I felt tears pooling in the corner of my eyes. “And it’s going to be one hell of a learning curve.”
Keegan jumped from where she was sitting and came to me. Sitting down and wrapping her arms around me it felt like she was trying to hold me together. She kissed the top of my head and I could hear the smile in her voice.
“Yes, it will be. Holy shit, a baby.”
“A baby.” I repeated.
“Now what?” She almost laughed still holding on to me.
I shrugged.
“Do you know who you’re going to use to give you care?”
Nodding, I said, “Yeah, Dr. Carrie will be the best. He already told me to call his office and make an appointment.”
She didn’t acknowledge the fact that I made it sound like someone else knows about the pregnancy. But her next question was the one that I knew was coming and I didn’t want to answer.
“Have you told the father?”
Sniffling, I wiped my nose and shook my head. “No.”
She sat back completely, looking at me skeptically. “Are you going to tell him?”
I wasn’t exactly sure how to answer that. Technically I had already tried, but he was too busy smiling and having a grand ol’ time with someone else. I scowled. “I’m sure it will come out at some point.”
“When? When your belly is protruding and you’re waddling around?”
“I’m not going to waddle.”
“You know what I mean.”
I sighed. “Yes, I do know. And yes, I’ll tell him. Just not now.”
“Who is it?” she asked, with genuine curiosity.
I almost laughed. “The question of the hour.”
“Macie.”
She said my name and I knew she wasn’t in the mood to goof around about it. “Do we really need to talk about it?”
“You avoiding telling me, is enough cause for concern.”
Boy, she had no idea just how right she was. “I’m just saying I’d like to not talk about it.”
She shook her head. Stubborn Keegan, was just as difficult to deal with as when I turn into a raging bitch. She wasn’t going to let it go.
“Who?”
Here goes.
“Dodger.” I said, quietly.
“I’m sorry what? I didn’t hear you.”
I glared at her. “You heard me just fine.”
“No, actually I didn’t.”
“I said, the father is fucking Dodger. Did you hear me that time?” I got up from the couch and paced. I felt like a buildup of anxiety was wracking my body, and I had nowhere to put it.
“Oh shit,” she said softly.
Shit was right.
“OKAY, WE NEED TO come up with a game plan here. Some way to break the news to him gently.”
I stared at my best friend across the room. I was leaning up against a wall, giving her some time to process what I’d just told her. Her brother-in-law was the father of my child and if it was humanly possible to shit a brick, I’m pretty sure I’d have one in the middle of my living room floor.
She ran her fingers through her hair and scrubbed her hand down her face. “I mean, it’s Dodger. He’s the reasonable brother. He should be fine with the news. In fact, he will be happy.” She paused. “Yes, he will be happy and everything will be okay.”
Who was she trying to convince, herself or me?
“The reasonable brother?” I asked. “Did you really just say that?”
She halted in her tracks and looked at me. “Yes.”
I let out a sarcastic giggle. “Keeg, I get that you are with the world’s biggest brute, but have you seen Dodger when he’s with me?”
“Of course I’ve seen him with you.”
I blinked rapidly. “Okay, then you know he is not always reasonable with me. In fact, he’s downright male chauvinistic and caveman.”
“Since when?”
A real laugh bubbled from my lips. “Are you kidding? Since always.”
Confusion was etched into her features. “I’m not following.”
Rolling my eyes, I said, “Clearly.”
“I’ve only seen him be a complete gentleman to you.”
Okay, now I was confused. “Uh, have we been around the same guy? Sure, Dodger can be sweet, and opened doors for me. But if any guy talked to me, he would grumble about it. He’d spank me when we went to bed as punishment, even though he knew I loved it.”
“You probably went out of your way to speak to another male just so you would get your spanking,” Keegan stated sarcastically.
I winked, and she laughed.
“But seriously.” I shook my head trying to get back to the subject. “Dodger is capable of being just as much of a hard ass as Camden. And I honestly have no clue how he is going to react when I tell him. What’s he supposed to do? Smile, pick me up and swirl me around while I squeal with joy, and he says it’s the best news ever?” I pushed off the wall I was leaning against and flop down on the couch. “Argh!”
“Hey.” Keegan softened her tone, and tried to speak to me in a more sensible manner. “I get it. I know that telling him won’t be the easiest thing, but he needs to know. And the sooner the better.”
She was right about that but, how are those two little words supposed to come tumbling out of my mouth? Dodger and I haven’t been a couple for a long time. We had a one night stand during my best friend’s wedding night. Coming out and saying “I’m pregnant” probably makes my top ten list of the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
“Are you sure he needs to know right away? I mean, we both know that the first trimester is a tricky one. I could always end up having a miscarriage.”
She gave me a pointed stare. “You’re a healthy woman in her early twenties. Yes, miscarriage may happen, but that’s no reason to not tell him. He has a right to know.”
“Fine.” I crossed my arms like a petulant child. “When would you propose I spill the baby beans?”
She shrugged. “Now.”
“No.”
I was firm. No way was I in any kind of mood to talk to him at the moment. Telling Keegan took a lot out of me. All I wanted to do was take another nap after eating a bowl of ice cream.
“Ever heard of the saying, ‘there’s no time like the present’?”
“Ever heard of, ‘go to hell’?”
She jerked back like I had just slapped her. “Jesus, Macie, no need to get so angry with me. It was just a suggestion.”
I sighed, feeling completely defeated and wanting to be alone. “I know.” My shoulders sagged. “I’m sorry, that was uncalled for. I’m just not feeling well, and seeing anybody today isn’t the best idea. Especially if he doesn’t receive the news well.”
“Understandable.”
I thought for a second. Maybe just letting him know now was the way to go. I’d considered waiting until I was in the second trimester, the morning sickness would have hopefully dissipated, and I’d have seen the doctor at least once or twice to make sure the pregnancy was viable and healthy. But maybe giving Dodger the full nine months would be beneficial. Knowing him, he’d need all the time he could get to adjust to the idea of becoming a father.
“Okay, maybe I’ll text him later this evening and see if he is free to meet up with me tomorrow.”
She let a small smile show. “Good. Do you want me to be there when you tell him?”