Ben looked up to see Cameron eying him warily. He could almost hear thewhat the fuck?
Ben didn’t say anything, waiting for Suzie to share her story.
“So when is the baby due?” Mel continued, obliviously determined to make Suzie feel comfortable by asking all the normal questions one usually asked when presented with such an announcement.
Suzie grinned and placed her hand on her belly, which was hardly showing yet. “I’m just over four months along, so a little while yet.”
She maybe had a tiny bump if you looked closely but mainly looked like she’d eaten too much pasta, in Ben’s opinion.Not that I’m any expert.
“You must be so excited,” Mel said, but Ben could hear the confusion in her voice. She looked to Cameron, who shrugged. They both looked to Suzie, then Ben.
Finally, Cameron asked, “So are you moving in together?”
Ben looked up, surprised. “What?” he asked, although he should have realised the conclusion his friends would draw.
“You know. With the baby and all. I thought you’d want to move in together, even if you don’t get married,” Cameron said while Mel nodded at his side.
Suzie interrupted quickly. “Oh, no. It’s not Ben’s baby.”
“Huh?” Mel’s brows drew together.
“I… ah…. The baby’s Paul’s. Ben and I aren’t… well, you know. Ben’s been a good friend about all this.”
With that announcement, the air seemed to clear.
“You’re having Paul’s baby? Oh, my God. But he’s moved overseas. Is he coming back? How will you manage? Oh, forget about all that.” Mel waved a hand, the excitement now evident. “Do you want a boy or a girl? Are you going to find out?”
Mel and Suzie started eagerly on the baby talk while Cameron just looked at Ben and smiled.
