“Sure,” he says, tone unsure. “Come in.”
We walk in, Noah wheeling in our cases. Ali leaps up from her spot on the couch and runs towards me.
“Tor, aaahh. It’s so good to see you.” I throw my arms around her. She pulls back, hands clamped on my shoulders, and eyes me suspiciously. “What’s wrong?”
“I umm, need to talk to Harry. There’s something I need to tell him,” I whisper, hoping she understands the unspoken words in my tone.
Her mouth falls open, and I nod slowly. I know she doesn’t grasp the full weight of what I am about to ambush Harry with, but I’m so thankful she gets it.
“I got you, girl.”
“Noah,” she says louder than needed. “Always a pleasure. Harry just got a new wide screen fitted in the den. Wanna get some beers and see, so these twins can catch up.”
Noah glances over at me, and I give him a subtle nod.
“Sounds good,” Noah says, following Ali down the hall.
“So, what’s wrong? Tell your big brother all about it,” Harry says, walking towards the large sectional couch in the middle of the giant space they call an apartment.
I take a seat beside him, shrugging off my jacket and clasping my hands together.
“Nothing’s wrong,” I declare,” I just wanted to see you.”
“Victoria May Walker, my twin senses are tingling. Something’s wrong, and it must be big if you have flown all the way here to tell me.”
I cross my legs and take one of the large decorative cushions and hug it to my body as if it were a shield. A layer of protection for myself.
I close my eyes, searching for the right way to drop this bomb on him. When we planned this trip, it was just to tell him that Noah and I were together, but now, with a baby in the mix, this feels harder to say.
“Tori, you’re scaring me. Are you sick? Is everything okay? Is it mom or dad?
I open my eyes. “No, they’re fine. It’s about me, and…” My words trail off.
“And…” he says.
Come on, Tori, just rip the band aid off.
I take his hand in mine and squeeze it tightly.
“I’m pregnant,” I say, my words rushed.
Harry’s mouth opens, making an O shape, and when I see he’s about to speak, I blurt out, “And Noah’s the dad.”
He blinks animatedly. What feels like minutes pass, and he says nothing, just stares straight through me.
“Harry, please, say something.”
He clears his throat. “I’m, umm, just processing.”
“I know it’s a lot to take in.”
He presses his lips together and nods, eyes bulging. Then, he stands up and begins pacing in front of the window. “So, you and Noah?”
“Yes.”
“My twin sister and my best friend, Noah?” he says to himself, but I answer anyway.
“Yes.”
