Page 77 of Seven Ways Back

I swear this would be funny if it wasn’t about my life.

“Van,” I growl into the phone. “Shut the fuck up. I don’t have any damn sidepiece, dude. What the actual fuck?”

“Who’s Sasha then?” he retorts like he was ready for me to say that.

“How do you know her name?”

“So you do have a sidepiece?”

Fuck. My. Life.

I throw my head back and shout at the ceiling. I can’t deal with Van’s goofiness right now. I want to punch his lights out.

“Sasha is a flight attendant on Marco Cavalli’s private jet,” I explain when he finally shuts up. He is more likely worried about me losing my shit than anything, but I’ll take it. “She’s always flirted with me, but it was harmless. I had some shit happening at work with these fuckin’ microchips that we couldn’t get,” I further explain. “I slept at the fucking office. Next day, I went for lunch at the diner. Sasha came in. She hit on me, I told her I was married. She backed off right away.”

“Okay, makes sense,” Van sounds very understanding. “How do you explain Hunter seeing her about in your lap then?”

“Bad fucking timing, dude,” I sigh.

“Well, this is some shit. Now what?” Van sounds as confused as I feel.

“Do you know where she went?”

“To her parents’, from what I could gather. Chloe was mad that she couldn’t go with. I think I’m in trouble too, and I don’t know why. She said something about you not coming to one of my games once when Hunter wanted to go, and that you said you had a business dinner.”

Fuck, I remember that day. I explained to Hunter that it was an important deal, and I would’ve rather spent my time with her instead of with some stuffy suits. I thought she understood.

“Dude, guess what though?” Van is sounding really happy and upbeat now.

“What?” I indulge him, dropping my ass on the bed where I was hoping to ravish Hunter all night long.

“You can’t tell anyone yet,” Van warns, and I just can’t keep up with his end of the conversation anymore.

“Sure thing,” I promise. I got bigger problems now. Chances are that I am going to forget whatever Van’s got to tell me within five seconds after he finally says it.

“We’re getting a minivan.” He sounds positively giddy about it. This is going to be one of the stupidest secrets I’ll ever have to keep.

“Congrats, Van,” I rub a hand up and down my face. My only worry is how to get Hunter back after this fucking mess.

“I thought you’d be more excited for me,” he mumbles like I burst his bubble. “But I get it. I hope you and Hunter work things out, okay?”

I feel like I am missing something very important here.

“Van, I don’t know what else to say. I never knew a minivan would make you this happy. I thought you loved your sports cars…”

“Oh, not like that,” his deep laughter comes over the line. He laughs for so long, I’d be taking him out if he was in front of me. “Chloe said the same as you though, so don’t feel bad.”

“Fuck, man, I have no idea at all what you’re talking about right now.”

“Chloe’s pregnant.” His news drops like a bomb on me. “We’re going to have a mini Van,” he enunciates, and now I get it.

“Wow,” my eyes fill with instant tears. “That’s so great, Van. I am really happy for you both,” I murmur. I feel like such a shitty friend right now. I am jealous because he is getting with Chloe everything that I’ve ever wanted with Hunter.

We hang up and I fall back on the bed. I stare at the ceiling, seeing in my mind the life I want to have with Hunter. It’s really amazing that she hasn’t gotten pregnant yet. After she told me about her condition, I did some research. As it turns out, it is not set in stone that she can’t get pregnant. It’s just a possibility.

You know what though? I don’t need a baby to be happy with her. I will make it my life’s mission for her to always be happy and taken care of. And if she wants babies, we will adopt. If not, sounds like between her brother, my sister and now Van and Chloe, we’ll have enough nieces and nephews to spoil rotten. Life will be good.

One minor problem to solve first.

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