“Ready?” he asks, pulling his shirt over his head. His hair is still wet, but he’ll still manage to make the girls swoon. Men, they don’t know how good they have it. Lucky for me, I’m not going in the hopes of picking up a male companion. I just want to see Evan’s face when he tells us what he’s having. I just need to know since it’s essential to my future shopping expeditions.
I follow Aaron out the door and hear Mom yell, “Be safe you two, and have fun.” I can hear the laughter in her voice. Being two years apart, Aaron and I have a close relationship. Don’t get me wrong, I annoyed the hell out of him and Evan when I was younger. I followed them everywhere, but when push came to shove, my big bro was always there for me. As we became older, he didn’t seem to mind so much. That is unless his friends were hitting on me. Mike, the owner of Mike’s Tavern, has tried many times. Aaron and Evan both made it known I was off limits. It’s not that Aaron didn’t want me to date; he just didn’t want me to date his friends. Guys talk, and he didn’t want to hear or see anything that had to do with me, his little sister, in “that kind” of a relationship. At least that was the excuse he gave me. Obviously, Evan, being his best friend, backed him up in all things.
Mike’s a good-looking guy. My teenage-self was interested but knew better than to push Aaron when he meant business. All he would have had to do was say the word and Dad would have shut it down anyway. Those two had some type of agreement. If Aaron approved, all was good in my world. If not, there was no use in me even attempting to date the guy. He would have Dad using his veto power. I could have rebelled, but didn’t. I love them both and know Aaron was just looking out for me. To be honest, he probably saved me from a lot of heartache.
Within minutes, we are piled into his new truck and on our way. “So, I know why I’m excited to find out, but I didn’t expect you to be,” I say.
Aaron throws a hand over his chest, as if he clutching his heart. “Sister, you wound me. Of course, I’m excited my best friend is going to be a dad,” he replies.
“You’ve just never been one who’s been much on kids.”
“Well, I’ve not really been around many. It’s not that I don’t like kids, but guys are different than girls. You want to cuddle, hold, and kiss on them no matter whose kid it is. Me, I’m going to be Uncle Aaron to this kid. Of course, I’m excited. I’ll be the same way when you have kids.”
“And what about you?” He’s never mentioned really wanting kids before. I know he’s waiting for “the one.” He’s been vocal about that. At first, I used to think it was just a cop-out to keep from getting serious with anyone, but over the years, he’s convinced me to his way of thinking.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s not like I’m itching for them or anything, but when the time is right.”
“You know, what happened to Evan could happen to anyone. Not many would handle it the way he has.” It’s true. Evan has fought for his unborn child since the minute he found out about him or her. Gah! I can’t wait to find out what he’s having. This “him or her” stuff is for the birds. Evan took to calling the baby peanut, but it seems odd for me to use the nickname and I hate when people say it. It’s a baby, people!
“You’re right, it could. I don’t know that there are many guys out there who would have fought as hard as he did.”
“Would you?” I ask him.
I watch him as he furrows his brow. He’s really considering my blunt question. “I would like to think so, yes,” he finally says. “It’s hard to put yourself in someone else’s shoes though. Walk a thousand miles and all that jazz.”
Just like that, we’re in the parking lot of Mike’s. My excitement simmers back to the surface; that is until Aaron turns the questioning on me.
“What about you? What if you were in Misty’s shoes?” he asks.
“Never!” I say with conviction. “Never would I ever give my baby up. It might be a hard struggle if the dad didn’t want to be in the picture, or my family for that matter. Not that you all would ever turn your back on me; but I can tell you with complete certainty that I would never make the choices she has. I don’t know many women who would.” I end the conversation by climbing out of the truck.
I stop at the front door and wait for Aaron. As soon as he reaches me, he throws his arm over my shoulder and pulls me close. “You’re good people, McKinley Rae.”
I can’t help but chuckle as I elbow him. “Right back at ya, big brother.”
Chapter 9
Evan
After I told my grandparents, I called my parents to give them the news. Today has been…life-altering. I’ve known Misty was pregnant for a while now, and I’ve seen the slight swell of her belly with my baby. However, today was an experience I will never forget as long as I live. I’ve heard women—my mom, both of my grandma’s—talk about ultrasounds and everyone always seemed to be so excited about them. As a guy, I never really paid much attention. It didn’t affect me, so why would I?
I don’t have words for the onset of emotions that flooded me the minute my baby appeared on that screen. Misty kept her eyes closed and earbuds in her ears. She literally wants nothing to do with this. I still struggle with that, especially after today. Ten fingers, ten toes, and a strong heartbeat. The tech assured me the baby is healthy. Still measuring a little small, but Misty has not gained a lot of weight either. The doctor counseled her once again about eating more since she’s eating for two. It took extreme effort to bite my tongue and not lash out at her. She missed her appointment this week. Took me two days to get her to call me back and get the appointment rescheduled. She doesn’t look strung out, just too thin. I handed her some money today after the appointment. She tried to argue that she didn’t need anything from me, but I made her take it. I meant it when I said I wanted to take care of whatever she needs.
Aaron was my next call. However, I didn’t tell him. Instead, I told him he had to meet me here for a drink. It’s been a long week and I could use a little downtime with my boy. Not to mention that even though I’m ecstatic to have seen my baby, I can’t help but feel like I’m missing out on something. I should be sharing this night with my significant other, you know, the one I don’t have. That thought alone causes panic to build inside me. I want my baby, but I have no fucking clue what I’m getting myself into. Live and learn, they say.
I choose a booth at the back of the bar. I don’t feel like fielding questions about Misty and me, or the baby for that matter. I want to kick back with my oldest friend and celebrate. I’m startled out of my thoughts when Aaron slides into the booth across from me. He’s wearing a huge-ass grin. My brother.
“Gah! Tell me now!” I hear that sweet southern voice that can only belong to one person. McKinley Mills.
She slides into the booth next to me, watching me, waiting. “Evan! You’re killing me here.” She leans her shoulder into mine.
She and I have spent some time together since she’s been home from college. She’s always been a part of my life, but just recently I have learned to value her friendship as much as I do her brother’s.