Page 39 of The Complication with the Best Man

My head rears back. “Wait. You’re excited?” I look between my parents.

“Of course. A baby is always a blessing. You know how hard it was for your dad and me to have you and your brother. We’d never look at a grandchild as anything but a gift. Oh my god, I’m going to be a grandma!”

Tears well in her eyes again as she laughs to herself and looks at my dad. There’s so much love between them when they look at each other like that. It used to gross me out as an adolescent, but now as an adult, I realize how lucky they are to have found each other.

“I can’t wait,” my dad says. “Do you think they could call me Pops instead of Grandpa?”

I can’t help but laugh myself. “If that’s what you want.”

“Don’t look so surprised, sweetie. Jeez, are we really that bad?” My mom shakes her head.

“No, I just… I thought you’d be upset with me. Angry maybe.”

She takes my hand again. “Honey, if you mean would we prefer that you were happily married when you had your first child, then of course we would. Only because it would mean you’d have the full support of the father, that’s all.”

I guess that makes sense. It hadn’t dawned on me.

“Does the father know?” my dad asks.

I nod. “I told him last week.”

“It’s the guy from Buzz Wheel?” my mom asks.

“Finn, yeah.”

“How did he react to the news?” My dad’s voice is gruffer now, like if Finn acted poorly, he’d be hunting him down and making sure to set him straight.

“Surprisingly well. I mean, it’s not like he was excited or anything, but he didn’t lash out at me.”

“And he’d better not in the future either,” my dad says.

I roll my eyes “I know, Dad.”

“He’s quite handsome,” my mom says with a grin.

“Eww, Mom. Gross.” I cringe.

She shrugs. “I’m just saying.”

“Well, stop saying.” A full body shiver works its way through me. “I don’t know what is going to happen with Finn at this point. He lives in Vermont, so…” I shrug. “I’d like him to be involved, but we’ll see what he says. He plans to return to Alaska this week. It might take some time to figure out.”

“Well, you know your dad and I are here for whatever you need.Anythingat all.” My mom drills me with her eyes.

I smile at them both. “Thanks.”

Now that my parents know, this pregnancy feels more real than ever. I stay for a while longer, and when I get back into my car, I check my phone. It’s blowing up with phone calls and texts—no doubt I have Buzz Wheel to thank for that.

But I don’t want to deal with anyone else tonight, so I turn my phone onto silent, then back out of the driveway. There will be plenty of time to deal with all of that tomorrow.

sixteen

HARPER

The next morning when I turn on my phone, there’re even more calls and texts. It all feels overwhelming.

Scrolling through my phone, I ignore all the other messages in favor of one from Finn.

I’ll be back in town this evening. Think we can meet up?

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