“Are you joking?” Kaya begins, and I already know what the two of them are going to say, so I answer them both.
“No, this isn’t a joke. And yes, that guy from the bar is the father. I’m keeping the baby, and no, I haven’t told Baseball Guy, whose name is Quentin, by the way, that he’s the dad. But, oh, I did run into him at work yesterday because it turns out he’s the uncle of one of my students. So you could imagine my fucking surprise when he showed up to pick her up. And of course, it gets better.” I hold up a finger when I notice their slacked jaws. “He plays with my brother. My brother, Ian, whohateshim.”
Kaya’s hand flies to her mouth as Clara screeches in excitement.
Before I know it, she’s off the stool next to me and is wrapping me in a hug. “Teags, this is the best news. I know it sounds like a dumpster fire, but it’s all going to work out. And we’ll be here for you as much as we can, right, Kaya?”
Gratefulness washes over me at her support and love, making my throat tighten as tears prick the back of my eyes.
“She’s right,” Kaya says from beside me as she too hugs me.
Being sandwiched between my best friends as they express their excitement for me is too much for my emotional heart these days, and a tear nearly escapes.
Do. Not. Cry.
I’ve never cried in front of anyone, and I don’t plan on it now. Even if my little Blueberry is making me more emotional than usual.
“All right, all right,” I huff, letting them know that they can let go now, and they do, returning to their spots.
“We’re going to be aunties!” Clara claps her hands together. “I can’t wait to have a mini, but maybe less grumpy version of you.”
“Hey!” I shout, shoving her playfully, using teasing as my way of pushing away my emotions.
“We love you, even if you are short-tempered,” Kaya reassures me. We all laugh at that, and it feels good to have that out of my system with my best friends.
Telling Ian was easier than I thought, and although he’s concerned and annoyed that I wouldn’t tell him who the father is when he called me back, he’s been nothing but supportive. Just like I know Clara and Kaya will be.
Quentin, though? I’m not sure how he’s going to react. And that makes me more anxious than I’d like to admit. Will he want no part in this? Leaving me to raise a baby all on my own? Or will he want to be involved? And maybe we’ll butt heads, making me dread having to deal with him for the next twenty years at least.
There are so many ways this could go, and I’m on edge as I wait to find out.
“How did Quentin take the news?” Clara asks, as if she can read my mind.
“I haven’t told him yet,” I say as I wipe a hand over my lips. “We’re getting dinner tomorrow, so I plan to tell him then.”
“What do youwanthis response to be?” Kaya asks, making me pause, because I’ve never really thought of it.
“Uhm,” I ponder as I blow out a breath. “I would like for him to be involved in the baby’s life. I know what it’s like to grow up with parents who don’t want you and it sucks.”
“I love how we’ve evolved in society that casual trauma comments are dropped in conversations without anyone thinking twice of it,” Kaya says matter-of-factly, which in turn makes me chuckle.
“It is what it is.” I shrug. “But yes, I’d like him to be involved as much as he can. If not, of course I can do this on my own.”
“We know you can,” Clara tells me with a bright smile. “You’re Teagan, the girl who can throw herself in the air like no one else can. If you can do that, you can raise a baby. But we’ll always be there by your side no matter what.”
“Thanks, Clara.” I shake my head as I smile to myself at her compliment. Knowing they believe in me makes me believe in myself, and ultimately more confident in the situation.
“Do you want him to be inyourlife?” Kaya asks, hitting me with all the hard questions.
“Kaya!” Clara snides.
“What? These are things she needs to think of before she goes into this conversation tomorrow,” Kaya defends herself as she dips her pita bread in hummus.
“You’re right,” I agree, even though I hate that she’s right. “I don’t even know him. We had one fun night together, but I don’t really knowwhohe is. And I’m not looking for a relationship based on duty and pity. I would want someone who wants me for me, not because we’re having a baby together. Plus, I prefer to be single anyways. Being in a relationship is never really something I’ve longed for.”
“Good, so you know what you want now. That way tomorrow night there’s no confusion,” Kaya says happily, as if she’s solved a complex puzzle.
“Buuut, what if he’s a really great guy? Just because you’re united by the baby doesn’t mean it’s forced nor a bad thing. Maybe it’s the universe’s way of bringing you guys together finally,” Clara says with so much hope in her gaze that it almost pains me to say what I’m about to say because I don’t want to crush her dreams.
