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Chapter Twenty-Two
Ethan
Istarted the next day with a new outlook on life. I didn’t try to block thoughts of Riley from my mind, but I did corral them into the corner while I was in class. At lunch, I sent her a text checking on her, and we bantered back and forth for a little while.
Jim, one of my classmates, slapped me on the shoulder. “You look like a different man. Most guys would be depressed for weeks after their mother passed, but you're sitting there grinning.”
“Man, I am doing everything I can do, not to think about my mother.”
“I wasn’t sure you’d come back.”
“My father would have kicked my ass if I hadn’t. My parents are proud of me and want me to follow through on my dreams. He told me he would have dragged my ass back here if I had refused to come.” I chuckled.
“Good parents. I’m sorry about your mom.”
“Thanks.” I stared at my phone for a moment and then decided I might as well tell him why I was in a good mood. “I got some unexpected good news when I was home.”
“Yeah, does that have anything to do with the bruise on your cheek?”
I laughed. “Actually, it does. I found out I’m going to be a father.”
Jim leaned back, looking a little shocked, but not quite as much as Sam as she stepped around me and took a seat. “Did you say you’re going to have a kid?”
“Yeah, I found out when I was home.” I glanced at Sam, hoping that she didn’t cause a scene. She was smiling at me, albeit not as widely as she usually did, but she was still smiling—and it looked real.
“Wow! I assume it is with Riley.”
“Yep,” I replied.
“I didn’t know you were in a relationship,” Jim said, taking a minute to glance at Sam as if saying, dude, you screwed around on your girl?
“I’m not married, and Riley and I weren’t even really a couple.”
“Friends with benefits,” Sam said with a grin.
“Ah.” Jim grinned. “Nice.”
“So, what did she say?” Sam asked as she scooped a spoonful of salad into her mouth.
“Said she was going to tell me last weekend, but then Mom passed, and she didn’t want to tell me then.”
“Who punched you?” Jim asked. “Her father or a brother?”
He laughed. “Her brother, who is actually my best friend.”
They both laughed. “So you going to marry her?” Jim asked before he slurped from his soda cup.
“Well, I have no clue about that. I told you we weren’t a couple before, and she’s not one to be tied down, but Riley said she’s willing to try and see how things go.”
Sam studied me and then nodded. “Good for her, and you, too, of course.”
“Thanks, we’ll see. It’s going to be rough while I’m here, but we’ll figure it out.”
“How far along is she?” Sam asked.
“Nine weeks, so she will be sixteen weeks when I see her again.”
“Ah.” Jim grinned. “That’s when things get fun. You’re not missing anything now, except the hormones that are on a spin cycle and will make you dizzy, and complaints about not fitting into her clothes.”
