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“I don’t understand why she just wouldn’t stick it out? A kid is a kid. Of course, they’ll complain.”
“It’s not the same,” Mom informs me. “He had difficulties communicating. It was a hard time for her family. Noah, maybe you should spend some time researching this. I may not be the best person to ask.”
I don’t answer her. It stresses me out even to think about it. Morgan doesn’t come alone. She comes with a husband and a son who has special needs. It’s too complicated. I want to go back to my old life when I didn’t worry about anyone else but myself.
“Mom, there’s something I need to do.”
I stand and grab my wallet and keys. I move to where she’s sitting and kiss the top of her head. I hate to admit it, but I’m glad she’s moving to the West Coast.
***
The drive isn’t long but gives me enough time to think carefully about my next move.
I park the car and walk toward the house. The lawn is overgrown with garden beds requiring a good weeding. The porchlight is broken, but it doesn’t matter since the Christmas lights are still up. I keep the smile to myself—the same lights have been up for the past five years. Tom had a Clark Griswold moment, and since then, he’s left them up at his parents’ house because he can’t be bothered removing them.
The porch wraps around the house, and I can hear their voices while making my way around the back. Benny and Rose are sitting on a lounge chair, his arms casually wrapped around her. Tom is leaning against the pole, laughing along with them. They turn and watch me approach. Benny immediately looks straight into my eyes, keeping his expression rather still.
Rose offers me a warm smile—nothing sexual. Just a friendly welcome-back type of grin.
“Well, look what the cat dragged back,” Tom says, folding his arms with a pensive gaze.
I keep my distance, just in case Benny’s ready to take me out again. I probably shouldn’t have worn my favorite t-shirt and shorts.
“Can I talk to you guys, please?”
Rose stands to leave. I place my palm forward, motioning for her to stay.
“I don’t even know where to begin. I know I fucked up. There’s no excuse behind that. Fuck! I can’t even think straight,” I babble incoherently.
Benny hasn’t changed his expression, and Tom continues to watch me with curious eyes.
Rose is the first to speak up, “Who is she?”
“Excuse me?” I ask, narrowing my eyebrows.
“Who’s the reason why you can’t think straight?”
I don’t say anything, and Tom interrupts, “Maybe I should fuck her, so you see what it feels like?”
The mouth on the fucker.
I want to punch his cocky grin but know full well he’s egging me on to get some sort of reaction from me.
“A wise woman once asked me if I believed in karma. I do. Fuck me up, that’s fine. But if you touch her, I’ll pretty much rip your balls out and feed them to the coyotes.”
“So then whip out your balls, and we’ll call it even,” Benny challenges, followed by a roaring laugh.
Tom joins in, and then it dawns on me that I can finally relax. These boys will always be my brothers. We had our rough patch, but we’ve gotten through it. I just need to chill the fuck out and let all of us be, have faith in our friendship, and make better decisions moving forward.
And stop screwing around with strange women because you never know what’s around the corner.
“So, should we tell him the news?” Benny looks at Rose. She nods, and I wonder what the big surprise is.
“We’re having a baby,” she announces with a contented smile, happily holding onto Benny.
I’m happy for them yet sad at the same time. A baby means that Benny will be tied down with parental duties and zero time to hang out with Tom and me.
“Congratulations,” I say with a smile. “Who would’ve thought… Benny, a dad?”
