I’m glad she finds this whole thing funny, and I wish I had her faith that this won’t ruin Hayes and Foster’s relationship.
I weave through the tables in the bar. Some Colts fans are filtering in now, probably because all the other bars are filled. Then again, there are a few tables of women who look me up and down. It’s obvious from their judgmental expressions—they know who I am.
I push open the door and glance around, but Foster and Hayes are nowhere in sight. Then I hear Hayes’s laugh, and my head snaps toward the security gate. The two of them walk through it. Foster sees me first and halts, smiles, and nods.
My shoulders drop as all the tension that’s been there since we first found out about the pregnancy dissipates.
Hayes sees me next and opens his arms. “We’re good.”
I had no idea how much I needed to hear that, but the two of us still have some things to sort out between us as brother and sister. I force myself to walk to Hayes, grab his hand, and tug him back through the security gate.
“We’ll meet you in there,” I tell Foster over my shoulder.
“Callie, he’s cool. It’s all okay.” Foster is frowning.
I crack the security gate and peek my head out, pointing toward Peeper’s. “He’s my brother, and I want to clear some things up too.”
Foster holds up his hands, turning and going into Peeper’s.
Don’t get upset that he’s about to weave through those tables with all those single women who would love to be his next conquest.
Hayes is leaning against the brick wall when I turn around, and the gate clicks shut behind me. “Callie, we’re good.”
“Sit.”
His eyebrows lift.
“Please.”
He sits on the concrete step, and I sit next to him, both of us silent for a second.
I want to say my piece, have everything out in the open so that we can move on. “I was just as big a part of this as Foster.”
He nods. “I know.”
“And it’s my life, you know.”
“I get it.”
“I’m sorry we didn’t tell you, but we were coming to terms with it ourselves. And then I wanted to wait until I was out of the first trimester.”
“I know. I’m sure it’s scary.”
“Yeah… but now.” I shrug. “I think I’m coming to terms with it.”
“I knew something was off when he had you move in with him. It’s a very un-Foster-like thing to do.” He turns his head and looks at me.
“I was just as surprised. He’s been a little alpha male since I told him.”
He laughs and bites his lip, as if he’s unsure how much to tell me about his best friend. I want to drill him with questions, but I’d rather have Foster trust me enough to tell me himself. “That tracks.”
“You think? I’m kind of blown away by it all.”
He nods. “He didn’t have the best childhood. He’s never told me much, but his dad is… I’ve met him a few times, and let’s just say he’s about as far from our dad as you can get.”
I figured.
“And then you have the whole Decker thing. He’s told me bits and pieces, but they’re brothers… twins… how could it be that bad? Anyway, I think overall, he’s lived a pretty lonely life.”
