Page 37 of The Bartender's Baby

“Sorry. I’m not used to…any of this,” I said by way of explanation, hoping I didn’t sound like a total loser. It had been a long time since someone had taken care of me the way Nate—and, by extension, his sister—had. I’d been alone for a long time, shutting people out to keep what was left of my heart intact, butbeing here with Gen was wonderful. And yeah, I guess I could use more of it. “But I’m happy you invited me.”

She grinned, and we talked about things like the dance classes she taught and how she’d been getting a funny pain in her hip lately. I told her I did too, but that it was a round ligament pain from Frogger growing. That had her very interested and led into some questions about my pregnancy, her chin in her hands as she listened intently to the tidbits of information I offered.

“But you’re feeling good?” she asked as we were led out of our pedicure chairs to tables for our manicures.

“Yeah. I’m feeling really good. Aside from the emotional stress, physically, I feel really great.”

She eyed me, and I could see her wheels turning at my admission of emotional stress, but she didn’t offer me her pitch yet. Instead, she jutted her chin for me to sit and enjoy my manicure, which I did. And when we were both finished, she talked me into taking a selfie with our new nails. “Proof of life,” she said, sending it off to Dylan and then to Nate with, “He wants to make sure his money is being well spent.”

“And that you’re convincing me to move in with him in a timely manner?”

She laughed. “Yeah, that too.”

We made our way outside with the intent of grabbing lunch at the Panera at the other end of the strip mall, but I’d only taken two steps when Gen tugged on my arm. “Hey, I actually need to tell you something.”

I pivoted and tipped my head up since she had a few inches on me, waiting as she seemed to gather her words. “No one knows besides Dylan, but I’m pregnant.”

I stared at her with my mouth slightly agape. “You…what? Really?”

“Yeah.” Her giggle sounded relieved, her smile practically radiant. “It was a complete surprise. Well, not a surprisesurprise,” she said in a stage whisper I assumed was because those two were doing it like rabbits. At least, that’s what Nate always made it sound like. I thought they were merely two people very much in love.

“When did you find out?”

“I took a test two weeks ago, so I’m only about eight weeks along now, but I’m excited and kinda feeling like I could jump out of my skin.”

I understood that feeling. “You didn’t even tell Nate yet?”

She shook her head. “We wanted to keep it to ourselves until the second trimester, but since you’re…” She motioned to my stomach then to her own. “I thought we could, like, go through this all together. You know? I don’t have any pregnant friends, and I don’t want you to feel like you can’t talk to anyone and?—”

I stopped her rambling with a hug, throwing my arms around her without thinking. “Yeah,” I breathed, nose stinging with the unrealized longing to have people around me. She was offering me what I’d always wanted; I only had to be brave enough to accept this new family. “Yeah, I want that. You and me going through it together.”

She laughed, all watery, and so did I. When we broke apart, we held hands, smiling through elated tears.

“Frogger is making me so emotional,” I said, wiping my cheeks.

Gen pulled tissues from her purse, handing one to me and using the other one herself. “Frogger. That’s adorable.”

“Your brother.”

She nodded, needing no further explanation. Once we pulled ourselves together, we walked to Panera, ordered our meals, and found a table by the window.

Gen picked at her salad. “Okay. So. Ready to hear it now?”

I swallowed down a spoonful of the French onion soup, pulling on a string of melted cheese. “Sure.”

“I know you know Nate in ways I never could. You probably know things about him that I wouldn’twantto know. I also don’t think you really need any convincing about moving in with him because, like I told Nate a long time ago, he’sright there. And I feel like you already knew but have been waiting for him to catch up.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I shook my head, but I couldn’t pretend. According to her wry smile, she didn’t buy it either.

“You two complement each other. You’re both smart, driven, and stubborn, but you also even each other out.” She waved her fork around with a cucumber stuck on the tines. “He’s all outward emotion and brash acts, while you’re more thoughtful and… I wouldn’t call you gentle—” I snickered at that “—but maybe tender…in a way you don’t let many people see.”

I hated that she was right and stuffed a piece of bread in my mouth to keep from telling her I didn’t appreciate being read this way.

She ate her bite of food and sipped on her water. “Nate’s mostly a big golden retriever, but when it comes to the people he loves, he turns into a Doberman pretty quick. Right?”

“Yeah.” And I didn’t need to ask who she meant by “people he loves.” The implications there, about me and this baby, were clear.

“I know he’s been an overbearing dick,” Genevieve went on. “But when Nate chooses someone, that’s it. They’re his for life. They’re his family, and I’m sorry to say he’s chosen you.”

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