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Joe looks like a kid caught with ahand in the cookie jar.
My brain clicks. “Is she…?”
“Yes!” He blurts out, unable tocontain the excitement. “But shh! I’m not supposed to say anythingyet, since it’s still early, but yes! Liz is pregnant.”
“That’s great, man! Comehere.”
He puts down the chair for thesecond time and I give him a solid bro hug, with two pats on theback. When I pull away, his eyes are filled with tears.
“Thanks,” he says and sniffs. “Ireally needed to tell someone, you know? I’m so damn happy.”
I make the gesture of a mouthzipped shut. “You two will be the best parents in the wholeworld.”
“Hell, yeah, we will,” he saysproudly. “So grab that beer for Liz and let’s get this partystarted!”
When we get outside, a big smilelights up Roxie’s face when she sees me.
“Here you go, Rox,” I say as Igive you her drink, “and here is yours, Liz.”
But me handing over a drink with apurple tag doesn’t escape Roxie’s notice.
“What the hell are you drinking?”Roxie asks as she snatches the bottle.
Liz’s eyes shoot open with terrorand a flicker of excitement.
Roxie looks up at her friend.“Nonalcoholic beer? Liz, are you…?”
Liz stretches her mouth in anembarrassed grin and nods rapidly, like she’s trying to convinceeveryone around her it’s true. “Yes! I’ve been dying to tell you,but it’s early, so we shouldn’t, but I really really wantedto!”
“You’re having a baby!” Roxie setsher beer aside, then screams and jumps in place with her handsclasped together before she launches herself to hug Liz, almostknocking her to the ground. “Oh, my God, Liz, that’s so great! I’mso happy for you!” She pulls herself apart from Liz for a secondand calls out to Joe. “Joseph, get in here!” He comes over frombehind them and Liz brings them all together in a three-person hug.I think I might cry a little. “Guys, I am so so happy foryou,” says Roxie. “And I don’t care that it’s early, it’s gonna begreat, unless you make anyone else the godmother, in which case itwon’t be great because I will murder you both, but argh! Ababy!”
All three laugh and cry while Istand to the side, feeling left out, when Roxie unfurls, extendingan arm toward me, and says, “What are you waiting for? Get inhere!” and I join them in a tangle of arms. “Congrats, man,” I sayto Joe for the second time, and “Congrats, Liz. This is wonderful,”and my heart feels full.
When we break the hug, Joe wrapshis arms around Liz and gives her a brief but deep kiss on thelips, and the way they gaze at each other is how real lovelooks.
Standing to my side, Roxie slidesher arms around my waist and puts her head on my shoulder. I wrapmy arm around her and kiss the side of her head as I whisper, “Itake it I can touch you in front of Liz and Joe?” She smiles andnods, and I kiss her on the lips.
“I see you’ve got some news ofyour own.” Joe chuckles, and I extend my arm to swat him withoutopening my eyes or breaking the kiss.
This has been a very good day.
Chapter Eighteen
Chris
October
It’s early Sunday morning, and Iam wide awake in Roxie’s bed. She’s asleep on her stomach next tome, her hair spread over the pillow and bare shoulders.
You’re so fucked, man. You’re socompletely fucking gone.
I’d managed to go to the bathroomand back without waking her. I know I shouldn’t disturb her, butthe urge to touch her is overwhelming. I reach out and pick up astrand of hair off her shoulder and rub it between my thumb andforefinger, enjoying the silky texture. I place the lock back downas gently as I can, and she doesn’t stir.
While she sleeps and I’m alone, Ican allow myself to face the full disturbing depth of my feelingsfor her, let them wash over me and fill me with absolutebloodcurdling terror. I am so completely gone for her I didn’t evenknow I had this in me, and the fact that she probably doesn’t feelthe same, the fact that this is likely just a temporary distractionto her makes my gut spasm so hard I want to puke.
I don’t know how she sees this,how she sees us. I know I am supposed to talk about it, but I’mterrified of bringing it up. What if she laughs at me for thinkingthis was all more than just a fling? What if she decides shedoesn’t need the complication of my feelings and just ends it thenand there? A chill runs through me at the thought of her endingthis for any reason.
But she does care about me.Doesn’t she? I mean, she seeks me out as much as I do. She likesspending time with me, that’s certain, but she did that even whenwe were friends.
