“Five years.” Eight months, three weeks, five days, thirty-nine hours, twenty-five minutes. But who’s counting?
“Fuck, man. No wonder you’re all fucked about this kid.”
“Uh-huh.”
“And why you’re always such an asshole.”
“Yep.” Except I can say with confidence, I’ve always had asshole tendencies.
“You told her, right?”
I look over at him and stare. “No.”
He stares right back. “Man. You need to tell her. She’ll get it. She’ll understand. She deserves to understand why you’re so fucked-up about this baby.”
I suppose she does. “You can tell her.”
“Fuck, no. That’s your responsibility. You knocked her up.”
I sure did.Fucking vasectomy.Fucking everything. Raising my hand, I wave over the bartender.
“What’ll it be, Nate?”
“Whiskey.”
“Sure thing.”
I watch him turn his back. “And keep ’em coming,” I say loudly.
“Not a good idea, man.”
“Who asked you?” I growl at Gus.
Seriously. Who fucking asked him?
“Whatever.” He grunts as he turns and leaves me.
Just like everyone else.
20
Maggy
“You needto get over here to EZ’s”
Uh. I’m not going there. “Why?”
“Your man is drowning his sorrows.”
My man?“I don’t have a man.”
“Just get here.”
“I’m not supposed to be out and about. Bed rest, remember?”
“Oh. Right.” He hangs up.
“Shit.”
