Page 31 of Pretty Little Disaster

“I thought you were excited about it?” He looks confused.

“I am but it’s still two months away, we have a lot to get through first. Starting with this.” I take a deep breath as we pull up outside my mom and Kevin’s house.

NIC

“Come in. Come in.” Lorna’s mom greets us with a frantic smile, stepping aside so we can pass through the door. I notice the way she nudges her husband and gestures her eyes toward my car, but the 6ft brawn guy just frowns and looks far from impressed.

“It’s so good to see you, sweetheart.” She kisses her daughter before checking her over in the exact same way that Serena checks me if it’s been more than three days since she last saw me. “Wasn’t I just saying the other day how much I was missing seeing her, Kevin?” Her elbow digs into his ribs again, and I figure they must be hardened to it because he doesn’t flinch.

“You were, dear.” He steps forward to hug his stepdaughter, offering me a look of warning as he leans over her shoulder.

“Mom, college is only a forty-minute drive from here,” Lorna reminds her as we head into the living room.

“You know how I feel about driving into the city, sweetheart, and public transport gets me all paranoid, especially since I saw that movie. What was the movie, Kevin?”

“Speed.” Kevin scratches the back of his neck and shares a smirk with Lorna.

“That’s the one. Apparently, there's a sequel but I wouldn’t put myself through that again.” She shakes her head sternly.

“Mom, that movie is ancient, how have you only just watched it?” Lorna giggles.

“So, you’ve brought this nice, young man home to meet us.” She avoids the question and casts her eyes over me like she’s expecting some kind of announcement.

“I have. Mom this is Nic, you must remember my friend, Madalina… He’s her older brother,” Lorna explains, suddenly sounding very serious, and I feel the sweat on her palm when she takes my hand in hers.

“I remember you talking about her a lot.” Mrs James smiles sadly. “I think I only met her once or twice.”

That sounds right, Dad was always very particular about where he let Madalina go, it meant that if the girls wanted to hang out, it always had to be around our place. It makes me wonder how strict I would be with my own daughter. Madalina is convinced that Lorna is carrying a boy but we must be prepared for all eventualities.

“Mom, the reason we came here, is because we have some news.” That grip Lorna has on my hand gets much tighter.

“News? And here I was thinking that Nicwasthe news.” She giggles dramatically, causing Lorna to blush and get even more nervous.

“Actually, Nic and I…We’re…um…”

“Pregnant,” I say the word for her, then watch the couple in front of me drop their mouths open.

There’s a long awkward silence, which neither me nor Lorna break while they both take in what they just heard.

“Pregnant?” her mother repeats, trying her best not to hyperventilate.

“Yes, thirteen weeks today.” I take a copy of the latest sonogram photo out of my jacket pocket and hand it over so she can see for herself.

“Oh, wow. Ummm, Kevin, did you hear that, Lorna’s…” She can’t even say the word and when I start feeling Lorna’s hand tremble, I slide one arm around her back and rest the other proudly over her stomach.

“And we’re very happy about it, aren’t we, sweetheart?” I kiss her cheek and smile.

“We are.” Lorna’s eyes fix on mine, and she almost looks confused by the answer she gives. Then the smile she gives, just for me, convinces me that she really fucking means it.This girl really does like that she’s having my baby.

“I gotta get back to fixing the truck,” Kevin mumbles under his breath before heading straight out the front door and slamming it loudly behind him.

“Ignore him, I know he’s not her real daddy but he loves her like one, and he’s always been very protective of her.” Her mother focuses back on the photo in her hand and I wish I could read the expression on her face. Usually, I’m good at that.

“A baby. But, honey, you're just a baby yourself.” She shakes her head.

“Mom, I’m a year and a half older than you were when you had me. I’ll be fully graduated by the time the little one comes and…well, Nic is… He’s really got it together.” Lorna grips the hand I have resting on her stomach and looks up at me, adoringly. I don’t know if that's just for the benefit of her mother, but I like the way it feels.

“And this is what you want?” Her mom glares at her as if daring her to lie.

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