“This is a little more than a distraction, it’s a baby.”
“I’m aware. I just got scared. Trust me, I wanted to tell him, but what’s the point of making his life a mess?”
She massages my shoulder. “Is that what you think this is? A mess?”
Glancing to my side, a beaming smile hits me. “No, actually it’s great. I think that I can really do this.” I grab my phone lying by my side and swipe to show her the ultrasound photos. “Isn’t he or she cute?”
“For sure.” She examines the photo, and when her face goes slightly crooked, I have to laugh.
“You don’t see it, do you?” I ask.
“Sorry, I’m trying.”
I point with my index finger to the circle on the scan and outline the shape of a bean.
Her face brightens. “Wow, this is awesome. If you’re happy, then so am I. Everyone will help you, anything you need. I know my mom will want to plan a baby shower. I would, but I rely on my mom for actual decent food.”
“It’s way too early for all of that. I have bigger fish to fry.” I grab my dress from the bag at my feet. God, I wish I could stay like this and not dress up. I’m fairly confident that I’ll need a nap in about an hour.
“Bigger fish, as in…?”
“My brother,” I answer.
She offers me a sympathetic look.
* * *
Sittingat the counter in my brother’s house, I fear the next five minutes. I decided that I wanted to wait until after New Year’s to break the news. He’s still in the early days with Ivy, the woman that he has spent months trying to win over. I wanted him to enjoy his victory, and they’re good together. Plus, the last week, the only thing that I wanted to do was focus on work and sleep. They say it gets better once you head out of the first trimester, but that’s just not happening.
Briggs offers me a glass of water and joins me at the kitchen island. He seems content and relaxed, even though he had a game on New Year’s Eve.
“How is yournewgirlfriend?” I smile at him and nudge his arm with my own.
He couldn’t hide his grin if he tried. “It’s going well. I think she could be the one. She’s good for me.”
I like Ivy a lot. His interpretation of her being good for him is spot-on. I’m also fairly confident she figured out that I’m pregnant already at the team holiday party yet hasn’t told him, so she automatically gets another point from me.
“Enough about me. How are you? You seemed kind of off at Christmas, well, the last few weeks really. Quieter than normal. I wanted to press, but you seemed like you need a little space.” He examines me the way he always has when he feels that brother bear needs to come out of hibernation.
It’s why telling him seems easier than informing Vaughn. Briggs won’t leave me no matter what, I’ll always be his sister. Whereas Vaughn is free to walk away.
“Yeah, that’s kind of why I’m here,” I reply and look down at my fingers twiddling together. When I look up, his nose is slightly flared, and he seems angry, as though he should be worried.
“What’s going on? What haven’t you told me?” Pure concern is apparent in his voice.
I touch the top of his hand that rests on the counter and pause for a second to gather my courage. “The thing is… I’m pregnant.”
His face falls, and shock hits him at record speed. He croaks out a sound but can’t gather words. Until he does. “W-what?”
I roll my eyes as I wait for him to digest the news. “A baby. You know, those little humans that cry and giggle, plus wear cute little socks. There is a baby growing inside of me.”
“How?” He’s in disbelief.
“Really? We need to go over a biology lesson right now?” I’m cynical.
A hardened look hits him. “Who? Who the fuck do I need to talk to? You don’t have a boyfriend, so who is it?”
I rub my face in aggravation. In truth, I was kind of prepared for this. “Should we rewind and you ask how your only sister is doing?”
