Page 63 of Bad Boy for Hire
“Cribs?” Xavier interjected. He’d sort of dared himself to say it, and now there it was. He drank his beer while his buddies remained silent and watched him carefully.
Griffin was the first to speak. “No fucking way.”
“I wondered when you were going to tell us,” Ant said.
“I figured he’d mention it tonight,” Brady told Ant.
“You both knew and neither of you gave me hell about it the second I arrived?” Xavier asked.
“Lou told me to be cool.” Ant shrugged.
“Elliott told me I shouldn’t even know.”
“Nobody told me shit.” Griffin was clearly butt-hurt about being the last to know.
“You knew it was a possibility,” Ant said. “That was more than Brady and I knew.”
Griffin’s shoulders straightened with pride. “Oh. Carry on.”
“When did you find out?” Ant asked Xavier.
“Girls’ night last week. May came over. I was planning on having a fire on the dock, and then she showed up and we…” He trailed off, deciding not to go there, but Griffin was apparently clairvoyant.
“You found out she was pregnant and then had sex?”
“But before that, you talked, right?” Ant asked, his gaze boring into Xavier’s head. “Established boundaries so she didn’t assume you were caught up in the joy of fatherhood?”
Xavier frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you’re sealing a tender moment with intimacy, dumbass,” Griffin answered.
“We have plenty of time to talk about the particulars. I don’t want her to worry about it.”
“You tell her that?” Ant asked flatly.
“Yeah.” Uncomfortable, Xavier rolled one shoulder.
“And she’s okay with it?” Brady was wearing a smile of doubt. “She seems like the type to have a spreadsheet timeline for each trimester that links to a pie chart of her work schedule…and yours.”
“We didn’t talk much after that, which I take to mean she’s cool with it.” They hadn’t talked much at all, unless Xavier counted May shouting his name on repeat.
Brady’s expression grew more incredulous.
“Have you seen her since?” Ant asked.
“We’ve texted,” Xavier answered, more nervous now. “Why? Did she say something to Lou?”
Ant shook his head. “Not that I know of.”
Xavier turned to Brady. “To Elliott?”
“None of my business.” Brady held up a hand.
“I’m happy for you, man,” Ant said. “It wasn’t expected, but it’s good news.”
“I’m not sure the news is that good,” Griffin muttered. When Xavier slid him a look, he was quick to add, “But it’s cool. If you’re cool with it. I’m just saying for me it wouldn’t be ideal.”
“I’m happy for you too,” Brady chimed in. “It’ll work out. It’s a little unfair that you beat Ant and me to the punch, though.”
