“I can’t believe I’m just finding this out. Some friends you guys are.”
Shaw pulls her onto his lap and kisses Sydney’s neck. “I’ll tell you the entire story. Every detail I remember.”
These two. I can’t get over them finally acting on how they feel. We all knew they were in love with each other, but I really never thought I’d see the day they figured it out and did something about it.
“First, can you tell me what the hell I’m supposed to do in…” I check my watch. “Fifty-five minutes?”
“No idea, buddy.” Shaw slaps me on the shoulder. “Congratulations, though.”
“Syd?” I ask hopefully.
“This is beyond my expertise, but I’d love to meet both of them. And we’ll be here for you every step of the way. Whatever you need.”
“You mean except now when I’m asking you to tell me what to do?”
She nods. “Sorry.”
“All right, well I have to go. Thanks for nothing,” I grumble.
“Hey, wait,” Shaw calls before I step out of the kitchen.
“Yeah?” I pause and hope like hell he’s going to provide some guidance because I’m lost here and desperately want to choose my next step carefully.
“You found her and maybe it doesn’t look like what you expected, but you have another chance. Take it. The rest will fall into place.” There’s a sincerity in his words and in his eyes. I don’t know if it’ll be as easy for me as it was him and Sydney, but he’s right about one thing – this isn’t going anything like I expected.
It’s late afternoon when I pull into the parking lot of Rylee’s apartment complex with two bags filled with baby stuff. I broke down in the middle of the store while trying to buy an outfit for Indie. I hope the unfortunate store employee that I melted down in front of, while trying to figure out the madness of eighteen month versus 2T clothes, works on commission because I bought out half the store to apologize.
I’m the oldest of four boys. My youngest brother is seven years younger than me, so I vaguely remember him being little. Mostly I remember that he got out of chores and people fawned over him a lot. Then, when he got old enough that my mother let him out of her sight, he followed me everywhere. Drove me crazy, little shithead. I’d have done anything to protect him though. Still would.
And it’s that sense of family that has me trudging up the stairs to Rylee’s apartment with determination to… I don’t know what. Whatever she needs, I guess.
Nerves set in again when I knock on the door. Surreal is the only word I can think to describe everything about this situation. Any moment now I feel like I’m going to wake up from the weirdest dream ever.
Rylee opens the door and gives me a shaky smile. “Hey. Come in.”
I follow her into the living room. She moves a rainbow-colored stuffed animal off the couch and motions for me to sit. “Indie is still napping, but she should be up any minute.”
“I brought some stuff.” I set the bags on the floor in front of her and then sit next to her on the couch.
“I see that.” One of her dark brows quirks up above her glasses. I dig her in them but telling her so feels weird now. Are there rules for hitting on a chick you accidentally got pregnant?
“I didn’t know what she might need or want. Also, I have some money. Not a lot, but I can help pay for whatever she needs. Daycare, food, rent—”
“Woah.” She places a hand on my thigh, which I now realize was bouncing up and down. “We’re okay. Part of why I waited two years to come to Valley was so that I could save up enough to keep us afloat while I finish my degree. I am not expecting you to do anything except meet her and be a part of her life if you want.”
I sense that she doesn’t like the idea of me coming in and trying to take over, not that I could even if I wanted to. I wouldn’t even know where to start. “I want to be a part of her life, of course. I also want to help you anyway I can. Sorry feels like the wrong thing to say, but I am so sorry.”
An uncomfortable silence hangs between us. My leg goes back to bouncing.
“She’s usually up by now, but my parents were in town so she’s a little off schedule.”
Parents. Shit, I gotta tell my parents. “What did your parents say? Oh my god, they must think I’m the worst.”
“They were surprised, of course, but I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Guilt punches me in the gut. I have no idea how my own parents are going to react, but they’re the least of my concerns right now because a little girl cries in the next room and my heart stops as I hear my daughter for the first time.
Rylee stands. “I’ll be right back.”
I wipe my sweaty palms on my jeans, stand, then sit again, then stand. The living room isn’t big enough to pace, so I settle back on the couch and grab the multi-colored stuffed animal. It’s a cat, no, a unicorn. It’s a caticorn or maybe a unicat?
I’m squeezing the marshmallow textured toy and watching it expand back to size when Rylee steps out of the bedroom with Indie in her arms.
I get to my feet, but she shakes her head and speaks softly, “It’s probably better if I come to you.”
My heart’s beating so fast I worry I might have a heart attack and traumatize my kid on our first meeting. The cushion dips next to me. Her dark head of messy ringlets rests on Rylee’s shoulder with her back to me. Her limp little body clings to her mother.
“Relax, John,” Rylee says, a hint of a smile on her lips.
I do my best to uncoil the muscles that are strung up so tight I’m about to break a sweat.
Indie raises her head and looks back to me as if she’s just realized there’s someone else in the room. Those dark blue eyes lock onto mine and I stop breathing.
“Indie, this is my friend John.”
I wave awkwardly while she looks me over and then hides back in her mother’s shoulder. Rylee motions for the stuffed animal still in my hands.
“Is this yours?” I ask hesitantly. “I was trying to decide if it was a caticorn or a unicat.”
Her little head slowly turns and I hold out the toy. Rylee situates Indie so that she’s on her leg facing me and ever so carefully, my daughter reaches toward her stuffed animal and pulls it to her chest. It’s nearly as big as she is.
“Does he, or she, have a name?”
Indie doesn’t respond but talking makes me feel like I’m doing something productive, so I keep going. “I brought you a few new toys and some clothes. Do you want to see?”
I look to Rylee for approval and she nods. While I lean forward to get the bag, Indie scoots off her mother’s lap so she’s sitting between us. I pull out each item for her. She looks them over. Most end up tossed on her mother, but she holds onto the small rubber ball. I smirk over her head at Rylee.
“I also got some books. I wasn’t sure which you already had. The receipt’s buried at the bottom of the bag so you can return anything that isn’t right.”
Indie brings the ball to her shoulder and tosses it. She watches as it bounces across the floor and her little face lights up with happiness. Off the couch she goes running after it.