I arch a brow at her. “Ask me what you really want to know, Fi.”
She flops back against the couch with a dramatic groan. “Okay, fine! Did you get baby daddy’s number? Wait. Was he at the stadium?”
“I didn’t even make it that far.”
Her eyes widen. “Excuse me, what?”
“I had to stop at the store to get a snack on my way to the stadium, and he was there.”
“Stop. You’re lying. Seriously?” Fiona’s eyes bug out of her head.
I nod slowly. “Seriously.” I tell her everything.
She stares at me and then swallows. Gives her head a small shake, and then says, “Okay, that’s just…wow. Wait, how did he react when you told him about the baby? Swear to God, if he wasn’t nice about it, I’ll kick his ass.”
I roll my eyes affectionately at her protectiveness. “Down, girl, down.” My nose scrunches up, and Fiona, being the observant bitch she is, points afinger at me.
“What’s that look for? What happened?”
It’s my turn to let my body fall back against the couch, covering my face with my hands. “He was perfect, that’s what. I kept waiting for him to slip, for some hint of him being less than amazing to show through, and it didn’t. Seriously, he seemed excited about the baby. Like, fully on board, ready for anything. He wants to come to all the appointments and meet me weekly so we can get to know each other. Basically, whatever I need or want from him, he’ll provide.” By the end, my voice is sounding hysterical, even to my ears.
“And this is a problem, why?” Fiona says slowly.
I’m silent for a minute or two, not really wanting to voice my thoughts out loud. “If he had turned out to be a loser, I wouldn’t have to stay. The choice would be mine. But he’s not a loser, so I have to stay. I have to give him a chance. He deserves it, and our baby deserves it.”
“So him being a good guy so far is a problem because it makes the decision for you?”
“When you put it like that, I feel like a selfish bitch,” I force out a self-deprecating laugh.
“Well, I mean,” Fiona says, nudging me. “I’m kidding. It’s not selfish to want to feel some control over everything right now. But would you have really left?”
I roll my head to look at her. “No,” I say softly, lacing my hand with hers. “I was going to stay for a while anyway. I don’t want to go through this pregnancy alone.”
“Oh, Sage.” Fiona squeezes me even tighter. “You’re not going to be alone. This baby will have me, I swear.Even if you move away, I’ll be like a leech and never let go.”
I half laugh, half sob. “That’s gross, but thanks, I think.” I heave out a long sigh, wiping more tears that fall. “I’m terrified to think about the future too much. But I don’t have a choice, do I? A baby changes everything. I can’t pick up and move all over the country as easily as I did. I need a steady income, benefits, I’ll have to think about school districts and childcare, and?—”
Fiona slaps her hand loosely over my mouth. “You’re spiraling again. Breathe. C’mon, nice and slow. In and out through your nose.” She forces me to keep her gaze as we breathe in and out together several times. I swallow back more tears.
“How did I get so lucky to still have you in my life?” I whisper, and Fiona just pats my arm.
“I just told you, I’m a leech. Have been since third grade when we teamed up against Polly Santiago, remember?”
Grabbing a tissue out of the box on the table next to the couch, I wipe my face dry. “My favourite leech, that’s for sure. Even if you did steal my purple scented marker and try to blame it on Polly.”
“I swear, she took it!” Fiona protests, but her nudge down memory lane did the trick. I’m no longer spiraling.
I draw in a deep breath and square my shoulders. “So, I’m staying. Which means I need a job and a place to live in Cedar Creek. The agency that books my contracts emailed me back and said I can go in tomorrow to meet with HR at the hospital. It’s not a huge facility, but they do have a few positions open.”
“That’s great about the job, but why can’t you stay here with me?”
“Because I don’t have a car, and I can’t sleep on a couch forever.” The ache in my lower back agrees with that statement a little too strongly, but I don’t tell her that.
“Darn. Okay, well, we can find somewhere super cute in Cedar Creek, I bet.”
Spinning my computer around, I grimace. “You’d think, but the rental market is nonexistent over there.”
“Crap.” She scans the page I have open, shaking her head. “Well, maybe you can get a discount on a hotel room if you stay long-term. At least for a little while, and then maybe something will come up for rent.”
