Page 27 of No One Else Can Have Her

Nate followed Reese around the baby department.

The man’s shopping cart was already set to heaving with everything he had placed inside. Nate was shocked that he’d gone from being terrified at becoming a dad, to suddenly excited. It was a good change. Nate hoped he stayed on that path and didn’t freak out again.

“So, what is the plan now?” Nate asked.

“I want to get everything. Diapers, bottles, the sterilizing kits, breast pump.”

“Breast pump?”

“Yeah, Misha is going to breastfeed, or at least she is hoping to do that.” Reese ran his fingers through his hair. “A pacifier, and lots of other shit that’s on the list.” He slapped it with the back of his hand.

It was then that Nate noticed the palm at Reese’s side, tapping himself, constantly.

“Do you want to tell me what’s going on there?” Nate asked.

“Nothing is going on. It’s all good. All fine.” He started to click his tongue.

Nate took the list from him, and his friend went to snatch it away. He folded it up and shoved it into his pocket. He didn’t care where they were, only that he helped Reese.

“Talk to me,” he said.

Reese took a deep breath and then expelled it. “There is nothing to talk about. There is a lot to get ready.”

“And you’ve got another five months to get ready,” Nate said.

“Yeah, but the sooner I get this stuff done, then I don’t have to worry in case I…” Reese stopped and then pressed his lips together.

Nate waited.

“You know, I don’t think it was a good idea to bring you along. Maybe Dalton would have been better.”

“Dalton has another STI, and is moping about it, and he’d get on your nerves.”

“Mitch then,” Reese said.

Nate rolled his eyes. “Mitch would be miserable and just follow you around, which makes you nervous, especially when you’re in one of these weird moods. Do you want to talk about it?”

“No,” Reese said.

“Do you want to bottle it all up so you don’t have a clue what to do or what to say, and then hope for the best?”

“Yes,” he said. “That is exactly what I want to do. I’m going to be a father in less than five months, and I don’t have the luxury of losing it anymore, or going out and sleeping with random women. I have to stay focused and do the right thing.”

Nate folded his arms across his chest.

“Don’t,” Reese said. “Not all of us are like you.”

“Like me?”

“Yeah, only have your eyes on one woman. Like Carly is the whole freaking world.”

“Don’t bring Carly into this. Have you cheated on Misha?” Nate asked.

“No, I haven’t, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t had offers.” Reese stepped away from his cart and began to pace a little up and down the aisle. “I don’t know how you do it, or how you can stand to do it.”

“Do what?”

“With Carly. Let’s face it, you two have been dancing around each other for nearly two decades. I get it when we were kids, but now, I mean, what is the holdup? What is stopping the two of you from getting it on?” Reese stopped and looked at him.

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