Page 91 of Worlds Collide

For ten minutes I hear them talk excitedly about Sebas and Adam becoming parents while I wonder what the hell I’m doing here. This is their moment, I shouldn’t be intruding. Adam for sure doesn’t want me here, I know that.

But still, when Adam comes in looking crazed and lost, I stand as fast as Mike and Theo do, waiting to hear that the baby is here.

“I need to call everyone,” he says in a scared voice.

“What’s wrong?” Mike asks at the same time as Theo.

“What happened?”

“Nothing,” he tells them and pants. “Nothing’s happened yet. The doctor said it could take a while but I need to call everyone and they kicked me out of the room to make the calls and because Josie said I’m breathing too hard.”

“Okay, we’ll help you. You call Sebas’ family, I’ll call Derek and Glenn,” Theo lists off. “Mike you call Adam’s family.”

An offer of help gets lodged in my throat when Adam turns to me, and for the first time I see something other than hostility.

“CJ will be the godfather,” he says apologetically and way too gently. “I’m calling him too.” There seems to be regret in his face and I don’t know why but it chokes me up.

“I’ll leave,” I whisper.

“No, stay. Sebas and Josie—” He stops himself and shakes hishead. “We all want you here. At least until...” He trails off but I get what he means. I can’t believe he amended his statement, that it’s possible he actually does want me here, but I’m not about to argue with him, not today.

“Okay,” I agree easily and nod. “I can call my brother and he can make sure everyone in LA flies together.”

“Thanks.” Adams sighs out the word, but he’s already putting his phone to his ear.

It’s been ten hours... and nothing has happened really.

Except that the waiting room they shoved us into? Well it’s full now.

Sebas’ whole family—they’re a loud bunch—plus all the friends are here. Of course my brother, Derek, Adam’s parents, brothers, and Clive and CJ are still not here.

Because of course they’d be the last to get here.

Adam’s been freaking out every time there’s news that there’s progress because he doesn’t want his family to miss the birth, but they won’t actually be in the room so I don’t really get it—it’s none of my business.

Not my clown, not my circus.

I’ve just been keeping my head down, my mouth shut, and acting as butler for everyone here. Someone wants coffee? I go make a coffee run to the Starbucks down the block—in the clever disguise of a hat, sunglasses when the sun is down already, and a Kings puffy jacket that Theo happened to grab on his way out of the house.

If someone’s hungry, then Mike and I go to a restaurant heselects and with the help of Connor and Rich we bring in bags of food for everyone.

Eventually though, Adam is called into the room. It’s time, and Sebas and Josie have apparently reached the point where how loud Adam breathes isn’t relevant. He’s still a mess, but I understand why, better than they do as far as I’m concerned. If I were becoming a dad I’d be going insane too.

The door opens and everyone deflates when it’s not Adam but his grandfather who comes into the room. I, on the other hand, freeze completely.

CJ comes in right behind him, wearing a soft-looking white sweater and black pants, his hair mussed as always, and his face set in the usual smirk. It looks happier this time as he greets Adam’s cousins, and everyone in the room as well.

I wait by the corner while he makes the rounds only to be jostled when Birdie throws himself at me for a hug.

“I missed you,” he whispers by my ear and I close my eyes and hug him back.

“Missed you too, Birdie.” I enjoy the embrace more than I have in a very long time, and I just saw him a couple of weeks ago when we went snowboarding—just us two—in Aspen. We had a great time for two days. Goofed off, ate only junk food, and we even worked on a few songs.

But it wasn’t like this time, for some reason it’s different.

And then I feel a big body standing behind my brother and it’s time to face the music—or more like face the bull of a man that’s my brother’s husband.

I open my eyes and gasp at what I see.

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