“Sorry, boys!” Kevin called after them. “The game’s probably on downstairs at the bar. And we’ll reschedule the poker match.”
They grumbled a few “yeahs” and “whatevers” before disappearing into the elevator, but not before shooting me a few glares.
“Come on,” Kevin said, looking at me and gesturing to his apartment where he held the door open.
I let out a laugh through my nose and shook my head as I walked inside. “You didn’t have to do that,” I said, pointing my thumb at the now closed door.
“Yeah, I did. I know when something’s wrong. And something iswrong.”He narrowed his gaze before walking to the kitchen. “Beer?”
“Yes, please,” I said. Nothing sounded better.
He opened the fridge and pulled out two bottles of beer, popping the blue tops and tossing them on the white countertop.
“Sit,” he said, nodding to the couch as he walked over and handed me a beer. He grabbed the remote and turned off the game before sitting on the other end of the couch. He took a sip of beer and looked at me curiously. I took my own sip, thecool, crispness running down my throat. I settled into the couch, feeling a little more relaxed already.
“It’s the redhead, isn’t it?” asked Kevin, cocking his head slightly. He read me like a fucking book.
“How did you know?” I sighed.
“Because when you’re mad about business, you look scary angry and want whiskey. Right now, you just look messed up.”
I ran a hand through my hair and looked up at the ceiling. I was messed up.
“That bad, huh?” he asked with a chuckle. “I never thought I would see the day where you, Jeremiah Mason, were this worked up about a woman.”
“That’s because I’m notthatguy,” I groaned before looking at him. “But Sadie is different. I mean, fuck, you saw her. But besides that, she’s…warm, sarcastic, stubborn, sexy, smart.”
“Good in bed?” added Kevin.
“Ugh. Don’t even get me started.” I groaned again.
“Then what happened?”
“I don’t know.” I took another sip of beer, feeling frustrated. “She moved in with me. Did you know that?”
“Fuck. No. Seriously?” asked Kevin, his eyes wide.
“Yeah, a few weeks ago. I asked her to. It was the right thing to do…” I said thoughtfully. I paused a moment before continuing. I realized I hadn’t told Kevin I was going to be a father.
“She’s pregnant,” I said.
“Holy shit!” Kevin choked on his beer. “Why didn’t you tell me?” His eyes were even wider now, as he wiped the spilled beer from his blue jersey.
“I hadn’t really told anyone. Likeanyone.”
“This is amazing, man. You’re going to be a fucking dad.” He shook his head. “I did not see that coming.”
“Yeah, neither did I.” I managed a laugh.
I told Kevin all about what happened during our trip to Dallas, the pregnancy test and the fight that followed, the private investigator, Anderson, the brawl in the park, the interview.Everything.Halfway through, he had to get up and get us both another beer. I could tell he was fully invested in this story, like it was some script from a movie playing at Cannes. Hearing it back, my mess of a life did sound like it could sell out a theater. Except I was playing the lead, and had just lost my co-star.
“I just can’t wrap my head around her.” I sighed. “She was planning on leaving today without saying a word. She was sohurt. So angry.” I remembered the look on her face, and my heart felt like it shrunk in my chest.
“Well, I can’t really blame her…” said Kevin cautiously. “You told the whole world you were single when the mother of your kid is watching at your shared home.”
“She just doesn’t get it.” I shook my head. “She can’t seem to separate our relationship, or whatever it is, from business. I don’t understand why they have to co-exist. They’re entirely different things.”
Kevin listened, but didn’t say anything.
