“Wow. That’s heavy bud.”
I hadn’t actually thought she’d agree to do this, and it’s only now finally really registering.
Holy crap. We’rereallydoing this!
“Aidan,” I say, almost in awe, “I’m gonna be adad.” The thought is at once terrifying yet also … exciting. I’m going to get to watch this little person grow and have a hand in raising them.
“Oh-kaaay, and now you’re smiling–that’s really fuckin’ weird dude.”
“Well, I asked her to consider keeping it, to consider us raising this child together.”
His eyes are huge. “Youdid?”
I nod.
“I’m … surprised,” he says slowly.
I let out a dry laugh. “You and me both. But after she told me the news–and then promptly left me standing like a lost fool in the parking lot at The Open Door–I realized that this might be my only chance to be a father. And … I want it. Despite the circumstances of its conception, this baby is a part of me and I can’t turn my back on that. I want to know him or her. In fact … I kind of can’t wait.”
“Well, in that case, congratulations. I’m happy for you Noah.”
“Thanks.”
The grin that stretches across my face is almost painful in its rareness, but I can’t stop it.
Lucy and I have a lot to figure out, and I know it won’t be easy but …
I’m going to be a dad.
CHAPTER 7
NOAH
“Are you sure it’s okay if I tag along?”
“Yeah, I told you, Piper won’t mind. Plus, we need to celebrate your news.”
“Aidan,” I say warningly, “This was only just decided today. Lucy and I havebarelyspoken about it and I’m not sure she’s ready to tell people yet. Isn’t there some kind of rule about that stuff? A time frame? Like an out-of-the-woods deadline for that sort of thing? I don’t know if we’re there yet. I’m gonna need to do some research ...”
He stops on the sidewalk outside the restaurant, holding up his hands in surrender. His eyes are bright and he chuckles, amused. “Okay, okay.”
Aidan is meeting his wife for dinner and convinced me to tag along so that I wouldn’t go home alone and spend the night ‘all up in my head’–his words. No doubt that’ll still happen later, but I admit I could use a few more hours of company before I allow myself to succumb to it.
“You can’t tell anyone yet!” I continue, picking up my train of thought, then add in a mumble, “I probably shouldn’t have even told you.”
Aidan snorts. “I have a feeling Piper already knows. Besides, it’s not like you had a choice. We both know I was never going to let it go, not with the crazy way you’ve been acting.”
“Can you blame me?! My head was spinning–still is.”
He shakes his head.
“So, has Lucy forgiven you for blacking the whole thing out?”he asks, holding the door open for me. “Because that’s fucked up bro.”
“Iknow, believe me, I feel terrible about it. And … I’m not sure. I’ve apologized, but the whole thing kind of got swiftly overshadowed by the pregnancy, so … I don’t know. I’m sure it’ll come up again and bite me in the butt at some point.”
“No doubt,” Aidan agrees with me, rolling his eyes at my use of the word ‘butt’. He steps over to have a word with the woman at the hostess stand. She leads us to a table for four by the window.
“I don’t even know how it happened,” I continue.
