Page 107 of The One I Hate
“Okay,” I say, evening my tone. “Ask away.”
“How are you?”
Oliver’s question is sincere, and I appreciate that he’s the one kicking things off.
“I’m good.”
“That’s good. But you know, if you are feeling other things, it’s okay. Finding out you’re going to be a dad is a big deal.”
“I am.” Though now that he mentions it, there are a few things I’ve ignored that I figured would go away if I ignored them long enough. “I mean, I’m happy. I was immediately all in. And I still am.”
“Is there a ‘but’ coming?”
I shake my head at Wes’s question. “Not necessarily a but…it’s just…I think the shock and adrenaline is wearing off, so other feelings are starting to creep in.”
“Are you scared?”
I nod and let out a low laugh. “Fucking terrified.”
“Good,” Wes says. “Then you’re feeling the most appropriate response.”
“Thank fuck.”
“The scared comes and goes,” Wes adds. “Sometimes you’ll think you’ve got it and things are smooth sailing. Then something will happen and you’ll go back to terrified.”
“When does it go away?”
Wes shakes his head. “I’ll let you know when it happens.”
“Fuck…” I take another sip of beer. “Okay. How about this? Is it normal to never want to leave Charlie? Like, I want to be around her all the time. I haven’t talked to her for two hours and it’s driving me batty.”
“That one I can’t answer to. You knew my ex,” Wes says. “I think that’s a Simon thing.”
“Really?”
“Why do you never want to leave her?” Oliver asks.
“It’s everything,” I say. “Obviously the baby. I want to make sure they’re okay. Make sure she’s not going too hard or pushing herself too much. Or maybe she’ll need a hand at the restaurant. Or she needs me to get something for her off the top shelf because she’s short. Or…I mean, there’s so many things I want to help with but I know I can’t but I want to be there in case I can. And I want to make sure she’s eating. And staying hydrated.”
“That makes sense.”
“But it’s more than that. We didn’t stay with each other last night?—”
“Wow, now we know it’s serious. Simon Banks is having overnight stays.”
I shoot a look to Shane. “If I’m done with the smart ass, so are you.”
He laughs and holds his hands up. “Sorry. It was there. I had to take it.”
“As I was saying…We didn’t stay together because of the restaurant opening. And…I don’t know how to explain it…”
“You missed her?”
“Your bed felt empty?”
“You woke up in the middle of the night panicking she wasn’t next to you?”
“All of those! Why is that?”
