Page 8 of Zac

“Did I hear boxing?” Oliver interrupts and Daxton is at his side.

“Piper is with Craig and Sonya too, so it’s a crashing at Zac’s place kinda night.”

I’m not sure if they are doing this for their own pleasure or because they feel like I need the company. But either way I’ll take it. These boys are my brothers, and in times of uncertainty it’s always good to have family close.

Things are about to change, but one thing will always remain, they have my back, and I know they always will.

* * *

“Ya know.” Daxton takes the barstool next to me, propping up his feet on the base and holding his beer before me. I can already tell this is going to be one of his pep talks where he breaks everything down. The once player gone soft and now the reasonable one of the group, still seems a little surreal how it’s all changed.

“I have two very incredible, life-altering moments in my life. Two that I wish more than anything I could relive over and over just to have the joy course through me again and again.”

Normally this would be one of the times that I’d make a snarky comment to him about him going soft or something. But I know he’s being real, and I know which two moments he is referring to.

“Marrying Bree, you already know is something I swore I’d never do. I wasn’t going to settle down, have kids, and be that guy that looks forward to family nights. That shit wasn’t for me.” He tips his beer up and takes a drink. “I’ve never been more glad to be wrong, because my nights with Bree and Piper are the best parts of my days. I am so in love with the two of them that it literally makes my chest feel like it could explode it’s so fucking full.”

The smile on his face says it all.

“I know right now, your head is spinning. I’ve been there, the shock, the worry. I know you have no idea how all this is gonna work, and you’re trying to be the guy that figures it all out for the both of you. But the truth is, whatever you conjure up, it’s gonna change ten times before the baby gets here.”

If anyone knows what they are talking about it’s Daxton. Piper was a shock to both him and Bree, but a blessing too.

“There isn’t a way to predict how it’s all gonna turn out. The only thing you can guarantee is that you are going to be a good father to this baby. Be there for her however she needs you to be, everything will work out, one way or the other.”

“How do you be there for someone that refuses to admit they need someone?”

“You keep showing up, even when they fight you, you suck it up, take the shit, and show up again.”

“Don’t you remember all the times Bree fought me? “

“I remember how moody your ass was ninety percent of the time.” He chuckles cause he knows I’m right.

We are both quiet for a minute and when my nerves get the best of me once again I say what’s on my mind, because I know with Dax I can. “What if I suck at it?” I glance over to find him watching me. “A dad, what if I somehow screw the kid up.”

“Well, you will screw up.” He shrugs. “I screw up daily, but you just keep going. And the part about not being a good dad, Zac, you are an amazing uncle. Piper adores you, she lights every time she sees you.”

“Cause Piper is cool.” She is without a doubt the coolest chick I know.

“Yeah, and your kid will be too.”

My kid. I still can’t wrap my head around that.

ChapterSix

Presley

Sitting in the waiting room, with Zac at my side, my nerves are bouncing all over the place. I love the idea that he wants to be here, but honestly I wish I was here doing this on my own.

I know how to be alone. That is a place I’ve spent a lot of time in. But this, the togetherness the having someone to lean on, it’s all new to me. I don’t know how to act, or what to say.

“Nervous?” I glance over at Zac to find him slouched back, his legs out before him, looking all chill and calm. I don’t even have to answer his question, because the smug look on his face already tells me he knows the answer.

“Presley Higgins?” I swivel around in my chair to see a cute little nurse with her hair all twisted up in a knot. She is looking in my direction, but not at me. I stand, step over in her line of sight blocking Zac from her view and that is when her gaze connects with mine.

“That’s me,” I say. Zac chuckles in the chair behind me before standing and moving in close behind me.

“Smooth,” he says under his breath and I elbow him in the ribs before walking in her direction. The sound of his rugged boots slapping the floor indicates he is close behind. I am half tempted to close the door behind me before he slips inside, but I know little miss freckles will hurry to let him in.

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