Page 29 of A Bossy Surprise

I sigh. “Okay. I fucked up. How do I get Lucas to forgive me? Because he is furious. I’ve never seen him so angry before.”

“Just give him some time. If you guys are as close as I think you are, he’ll get over this eventually. I’m sure it couldn’t have been easy to see his sister go through what she went through. Right now, all the anger he has had pent-up has all of a sudden found a target.”

“That makes sense…”

“Eventually, he’ll get over it. Especially because you’re his nephew’s father. He’ll have no other choice.”

“I don’t want him to forgive me because he has to. I want him to forgive me, because we are friends.”

Arthur shrugs. “You can’t dictate that. At this point, you’re going to have to accept whatever you get.”

“I guess you’re right.”

I finish my drink, thank Arthur for hearing me out, and let him get back to work.

I retreat to my office where I try to make sense of all this. When I’m unable to, I drag my ass to the couch to rest my eyes for a moment. Next thing I know it’s 7 o’clock in the morning. It’s a good thing this is a 24-hour news organization and it’s not that uncommon for people to sleep at their desks. No one will suspect I’m having a crisis if they see me here at this time.

I put myself together as best I can and head out.

I feel so out of control.

Life, man… Just when you think you have your shit together, you are thrown a curveball.

I hope I can rise to the occasion.

9

KAYLA

The last time I was this nervous was when I went home to Vermont to tell my family I was pregnant.

I’ve had a tough couple of days at work and I am basically running on fumes. This is an interesting time to let everyone know about Adam, but the longer I wait the likelier Lucas will blab.

I can’t have that. Only God knows how he will break the news.

By the time I get on the five-way Zoom call, Mom, Dad, Sammy, and Kathleen are already there.

I wave at the tiny Webcam on my laptop. “Hey, you guys.”

They all wave back, and Dad says, “So we’re waiting for Lucas?”

I clear my throat. “No, Lucas isn’t joining us.”

“Why not?” Kathy asks.

“He already knows what I’m about to tell you.”

“What? You’re not pregnant again?” Dad jokes.

“Jim!” Mom swats him on the arm.

“I’m sorry. That was in poor taste.” Dad says.

“Actually, it kind of has to do with that.”

Four pairs of unmoving eyes stare at me. Then Sammy says, “What is it?”

“It’s about Brady’s dad.”