Page 78 of The Fake Play

“Wild is not how I’d describe my bachelor life. You wouldn’t be encroaching on anything—there’s nothing to encroach on. You’d be mercifully giving me someone to hang out with.”

“So, all this generosity is a little self-serving?” I tease.

“I prefer to think of it as a win-win.”

I laugh. “Either way, like I said, I appreciate the offer, but no. Do you remember what it was like when we were kids? Fighting all the time?”

“Pretty sure I remember it better than you do.”

“Yeah, because you’re old and all.”

He nudges my shin with his foot. “Hey, there’s only a ten-year difference between us.”

I grin at him. “AARP call you yet?”

“You’re lucky you’re pregnant, or I’d kick your ass for that one.”

The rest of the evening passes in a blur of long-dead sibling rivalry and reminiscing. We don’t have much in our past to look back on fondly, but what we do have is each other. He understands why I didn’t talk to Dad after he left Mom, and neither of us spoke to them anymore.

As things wind down, he asks, “Do you know if you want to keep it?”

I do but saying it aloud feels like a commitment I’m not ready for. “Still deciding. Any thoughts on the matter?”

“Just one.”

“What’s that?”

“You will make a great mom, whenever you decide to be one.”

A knot forms in my throat. “How can you be so sure?”

“Because you were a better mom to me than my own when I needed one the most.”

I start crying again, but this time, I manage to choke out, “Pregnancy hormones. They make me emotional.”

“Or, maybe you’re going through an emotional time and it’s okay to feel things, Keke.”

“Pfft. No wonder you’re single.”

He laughs again. “Thanks for that.”

“I mean it. Emotions are bullshit. And same goes for how you let me walk blindly into a public proposal.”

“Seriously? I thought that’s what every girl wants. A public declaration of love and devotion. You loved it when that kid did his big prom proposal for you.”

“That’s why you encouraged Luke to do the public proposal? Because of a prom proposal in high school?”

The line on his forehead deepens. “Well… yeah.”

“I was happy about that because Danny Chang had insisted we date in secret, so when he did that, it was a declaration of our relationship. I didn’t need that with Luke.”

“Oh, shit. I’m sorry, Keke. Wait. That twerp was making you date him in secret?”

“Yeah.”

“I should look him up and kick his ass.”

I snort. “You do whatever makes you feel better, as far as I’m concerned. Last I heard, he was running an identity theft ring, so go for it.”

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