Page 45 of Falling Together

“We’re not, but we have something we want to tell you,” I say.

“Okay.”

I thought we’d have more time before getting to this subject, but it might be the only opportunity we get. Otherwise I’m likely to blurt it out.

“Georgia and I met a few months ago,” I say.

Luke doesn’t say anything, but is eating his dinner.

“I was there the night of the wedding,” Georgia clarifies. “My friend was the one getting married.”

At that, Luke’s eyes go wide. “Were you spaghetti Betty?”

Georgia laughs. “I had a nickname? That’s rough.”

“I didn’t come up with it,” Luke defends. “It was another one of the teams.”

She points her fork at him. “Well, I’ll give them points for originality. If only Georgia rhymed with spaghetti.”

“Does anything rhyme with Georgia?”

She looks thoughtful for a moment. I don’t want to break this up because I’m thrilled she seems to be connecting with Luke.

“I don’t think there is anything that rhymes with my name.” She laughs. “Luke is an easy one.”

“Just don’t make it puke.”

“Got it.” Georgia smiles at him.

“So you two already knew each other before we moved here?” Luke asks.

“We do,” I say. “We met the night of the wedding and we bumped into each other at the store again when we got to town.”

“But you’re not dating?” Now he looks confused.

Here we go. Time to rip the Band-Aid off.

“No, but we are going to be having a baby together.”

Georgia’s hand rests on my knee, giving me a comforting squeeze. At least I know I’m not alone in this.

“A baby,” Luke repeats. “You’re going to have a baby?”

“We are,” Georgia answers, because I’ve apparently lost the ability to speak.

Luke looks back down at his plate, pushing his food around. Shit. He doesn’t look thrilled. I mean, I didn’t expect him to look overjoyed, but at the same time I was hoping for a little something more.

Or maybe this is the new normal with him as a teenage boy.

“I know you’re probably feeling a lot⁠—”

“You have no idea what I’m feeling,” Luke snaps.

“Luke,” I try again but he cuts me off, his voice louder this time.

“You took me away from all of my friends and school and brought me to this hick town all so you could take a new job. And just because Mom decided she wants to travel with her new husband, I couldn’t stay with her. It’s not like I want to be here, and now you’re having a baby with some chick you barely know. I mean, do you even know her last name? She barely knows you and she’s having your baby!”

“That’s enough,” I fire back. Luke is glowering, much like myself. “I get you’re not happy about this, but that doesn’t give you the right to treat Georgia or me with so much disrespect.”