Page 75 of Falling in Love with Two

“It’s alright. I’m sure you’ll find out eventually. My dad ran off when I was seven. Haven’t heard from him since. After he left, it was just my mom and I. Things were okay for a while, but she was determined to find a new man who would take care of her. It took some time—and a shit ton of losers—but finally, she met Larry.”

“I take it Larry was an asshole?” I interject.

“Not at first. He seemed perfect. He was always taking us out to do stuff, and it was like we were a real family again. Everything was great…until they got married. Then, he started to change. Suddenly, he had an issue with Mom’s makeup and what she wore. She had no problems changing because she was so in love. When she became a practical Stepford wife, he turned his criticism toward me. He’d say that I wasn’t good enough in school. My friends were all losers, and I must have been getting into trouble with them. I had too much attitude. We would argue, and Mom would take his side. I started rebelling, which only made things worse. Then, she got pregnant with his kids, and I became the spare. I moved out when I was seventeen. Mom and I stayed in touch for a while, but every time we’d talk, she’d just tell me how much of a colossal disappointment I was, so I decided to stay away.”

“Shit, Leah. I had no idea.”

She shrugs her shoulders. “It is what it is. I don’t need them. I’ve been doing alright.”

I set my hand on her knee. “Fuck them. I think you turned out pretty awesome.”

She smiles again, this time, a little bigger than before. “Okay, enough of the sad pity party. Let’s watch a shark eat some people.”

“You got it.”

As we start to watch the opening credits, I realize my hand is still on her knee. Leah doesn’t seem to care because she’s slowly nibbling on popcorn while looking at the screen.

I’m glad she opened up a little. It’s just another piece of the Leah puzzle coming together, and the more I learn, the more I like her.

Without looking at me, she asks, “So, I know you said that was your sister earlier. But really, will you be bringing any girlfriends home?”

Does she care?

“Why? Are you dating?” I ask.

Her eyes flick down to her stomach. “No. I don’t think I’ll be dating anyone new for a while.”

It isn’t lost on me that she added the word new.

I tell her, “Well, me either. There isn’t anyone else I’m interested in.”

I make sure to emphasize the word else.

I wonder whether or not she notices because she doesn’t give much indication. But as the movie plays, she sets her hand on top of mine, and I feel like we may be on the same page.

“Are you excited for the ultrasound tomorrow?” I ask.

“Definitely. I think seeing the baby will make all this seem a little more real.”

“The morning sickness isn’t enough?” I tease.

She laughs “Surprisingly not.”

“Well, maybe tomorrow will help.”

“Hopefully. You want to stay up for a while?”

“Think you can make it?”

“Me? Yes. The baby? That’s a whole other story.”

twenty-four

Nothing

Leah

My leg bobs up and down nervously as we wait in the freezing cold waiting room of the doctor’s office.

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