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Blake
Know any good jewelers?
Jada C
*gif of little girl squealing excitedly*
CHAPTER 38
Blake
“Are you doing it today?”Ethan asks.
I furrow my brow. “Always in the grown folks’ business, aren’t you, kid?”
“I wouldn’t have to be if y’all didn’t need my help all the damn time,” he retorts.
“Hey, watch your language,” JD says, reaching over to backhand Ethan in the chest. Then he turns back to me. “Areyou doing it today?”
I shove my hands in my pockets. “I don’t know if she’s ready.”
“It’s never going to be the right time,” JD reminds me. “You’ll just have to go for it, man.”
“I’ve also been having a recurring nightmare in which I barely get down on my knee before she runs away screaming ‘no,’ so forgive me for being a little gun shy,” I say sarcastically.
JD scoffs. “As if she can run in her condition. Look at her, she’s already waddling.”
My eyes scan the crowd at our co-ed, joint baby shower to find Loren sitting in a circle between Tenley, Jada, Mrs. T, her mom, and her sister. She sees me watching her after a while, and she stops talking to one of her coworkers to pucker her lips and blow me a kiss.
“Gah, what a freaking simp,” Ethan mumbles, taking the opportunity to snatch my cup and sneak a sip of my drink.
“And we all know you’re not man enough to handle your liquor, kid,” JD says evenly, holding out his hand.
Ethan groans and mumbles some unintelligible insult under his breath before he walks off and pulls out his phone.
“He and Caidence are on the outs again,” JD explains Ethan’s mood. “But you really should think about popping the question today. It’s the perfect opportunity, and she’s less likely to turn you down in front of everyone, right?”
I scratch the back of my neck. “I don’t know. My gut says she won’t take it seriously as long as she’s still pregnant. I think a part of her is still worried I’m going to lose interest in her once the babies are born. Not to mention, she deserves a big, romantic, grand gesture. And I haven’t figured out the perfect proposal yet.”
JD puts his hand on my shoulder. “You won’t know until you ask. And if you wait for the perfect time, you’ll never ask.”
I let out a deep exhale and let JD lead me on to a crowd of our oldest friends, most of them Camellia natives.
“I still can’t believe this, man,” Jase says. “I mean, JD’s corny ass? Sure. But Blake the Snake, a father?” He chuckles and shakes his head before taking another sip of his beer.
I force a smile, regretting my decision to invite him. “Yeah, well, it was just as much of a surprise to me.”
“Look at yourself, man. You’re driving around in a freaking minivan, and out of all the women in the world, you managed to knock up Coach Reed’s daughter.” He snorts. “It’s almost like a bad movie.”
I furrow my brow and take a swig from my own drink. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Before Jase can answer, my brother steps forward and puts one of his massive hands on Jase’s normal-sized shoulder. “Tread carefully, bruh,” JD says with a smile. But we can all sense the warning hidden behind his playful tone.
“Come on, Blake,” another one of my former classmates starts. “Loren Reed doesn’t exactly seem like your type, and it’s not like you’ve been dating her since high school or anything like that. I mean, who would have thought after so many years of playing the field, you’d getherpregnant?” Brock asks.
I huff out a laugh. “We’re not just having a baby. Wearetogether. And for what it’s worth, I did attempt a few moves back then. Loren shot most of them down.”
“Sheturnedyoudown? You’re shitting me.” Jase chuckles, and I see JD and the others staring awkwardly. “I don’t remember you asking her out.”
