Page 73 of Mending Scars

“Damn, so two and a half months, huh? Bet you’re excited.”

“I am. Nervous, too.”

“I’d be shitting bricks if I were you. I know nothing about babies.”

“Thanks,” I replied sarcastically. “That makes me feel so much more confident.”

He slapped me on the shoulder. “I’m sure you’ll be a great dad. That kind of shit comes naturally once the baby is born.”

“I hope so. I’m in the same boat as you.”

“Maybe you should buy some parenting books.”

I gave him a look of disbelief. “You’re kidding, right?”

A teasing grin lifted his lips. “Not if you’re that worried.”

I scoffed. “I’m not going to read a parenting book. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

He shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

I noticed a woman at the end of the bar eyeing me seductively. In the past, I would’ve have been all over her in a second, buying us a few rounds of drinks before taking her home later that night. But I wasn’t that guy anymore. Instead, I ignored her signals and directed my attention back to Drew, who was back to analyzing his feelings for Nori again.

An amused smirk curved the corner of my mouth.

How things have changed.

After a few more drinks, I looked at my phone to see if Kaiya had text me. Nothing.

I wonder what she’s doing.

My mind conjured up images of Kaiya in bed with another man, her girls’ night with Nori just a ploy to get away from me without suspicion.

I pushed the thoughts back as I turned to Drew. “Hey, has Nori texted you?”

He took his phone out of his pocket, then looked at the screen. “No. Why?”

I laughed inwardly at my crazy imagination. Kaiya fucking another man with her huge, pregnant belly.

I slipped my phone into my back pocket. “No reason.”

By the time we left, I had a nice buzz. “We have to do this again soon. It’s been too long, bro. You’re all domesticated and shit,” Drew teased as we walked to the parking lot.

I punched his arms. “Just wait until you have a kid on the way, dick. Things will be different.” We clasped hands once we reached our cars. “I’ll hit you up next weekend.”

No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t completely push out the thoughts of Kaiya with another man as I drove home. The way she’d been acting lately, along with the lengths she was taking to keep her phone from me made me suspicious of her.

And the same question kept plaguing me.

What is she hiding?

When I got home, my muscles tensed in anticipation as the images of me walking in on Kaiya having sex with someone played in my head.

I exhaled and unlocked my front door before entering. I hoped that my fears were unrealistic, and that I wouldn’t be made a fool twice.

When I walked in, I found Nori and Kaiya both sleeping on the couch. Brownie was balled up in between them on top of the blanket that covered their legs. Their feet were propped up on the coffee table and Kaiya’s head rested on Nori’s shoulder.

I laughed lightly at my ridiculous thoughts from moments before.

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