I shoot up off the couch to prevent them from saying something they’ll both regret later.Unfortunately, I have to hold on to Nick’s arm to steady myself when my head starts spinning.He holds on tight to my waist and leads me back to the couch.
“Babe, what’s wrong?”Nick kneels in front of me and brushes some of my hair back.”
“I’m fine; I guess I got up too fast.”
He sets his jaw and looks over at Ava next to him, the familiar muscle in his jaw standing out when he gets angry.This is all going south.
“Cat, I’m sorry if I upset you.I’m not upset with you.I wasn’t expecting you to tell me you’re pregnant,” she says, sounding panicked as she sits next to me on the couch.
“It’s okay.I wasn’t expecting to hear it myself the first time.”
Nick looks at her, rolls his eyes, and sits on the edge of the chair she was sitting in before.I run my fingers through the front of my hair and sit back with a big sigh.“If this is how you’re taking it, my family is going to burn me on a stake in the shape of a cross.”I’m trying not to cry, but I feel it coming.Ava foresees the flood of tears on my face while I try my best to smile to stop them.
“Cat, you’re my best friend; if you’re happy, I’m happy.Are you?”
My gaze turns to her then Nick.He’s waiting to hear what I say.“I think I am.”It’s the truth, these past few weeks with Nick, I’ve been happy.Sick and happy, except for when I think about my family, then I’m just sick.
Ava takes my hands in hers and rubs the back of my hand.“Then I’m happy for you.Don’t listen to what I said before…I was… Well, you’re moving out and leaving me by myself again.I’m not happy with that part; I love having you here.Your life is changing at warp speed, plus a baby is a big life changer.Next thing you know you’ll be getting married and leaving for the suburbs in Chappaqua.”
I laugh at the picture she’s painting.“Slow down, no one’s getting married!”
“I just don’t want to lose my friend to domestic life.Look at Isabelle, it’s all about Conner and Kevin.I had big plans for us this summer—it was supposed to be college 2.0.Now I feel bad ’cause I sound so selfish.”She releases my hands and puts her arms around my neck and I hug her back, both of us holding back tears.
“Ava, if anything, this baby is going to make our friendship stronger.We are going to be even more connected as family.If it wasn’t for you, Nick and I wouldn’t be together, and this unexpected but happy pregnancy, which brought us back together, wouldn’t have happened.”
“I don’t know if I want to take credit for all of that.But you’re having a baby with my bonehead cousin, and it’s going to take some time to get used to, which is totally my problem.And insecurities.”The last part she whispers to me.That’s something new, because Ava has few insecurities, unlike me.
She pulls back, smiling, and puts her hand on my stomach.“I can’t believe there’s a baby inside you.How pregnant are you?I haven’t been gone that long.Are you sure you’re pregnant?”
“She’s sure!”Nick snaps in a clipped tone.
Ava presses her lips together and makes a face.They are so much alike in looks and temperament.
“The doctor confirmed it when I was rushed to the hospital with a concussion and again when I went to both prenatal visits.”Ava’s eyes bulge and I rush to explain.I tell Ava the whole story, and she can’t believe all of this happened while she was gone.
“Whoa!I’m not going to leave New York again.Whenever I leave, you end up at the hospital.”We both laugh.“I’m serious!I can’t leave you alone for more than two days.”
“I know, right?”I say between giggles.
“I’m going to start packing some of your things,” Nick says, getting up and going to my room.
“Go talk to him, Ava.”
“For what?”
“You were kind of harsh.”
“I wasn’t the only one.Did you hear what he said to me?”
I tilt my head to the side, waiting for her to argue.
“Fine.I’m only doing it because you’re pregnant.”
Nick
“What the fuck is yourproblem, Ava?”
“You knock her up two months after her sister miscarried your baby, and you’re asking me what’s my fucking problem?Why the hell didn’t you use protection?”
