Page 37 of Orange Spell
“That’s not going to be possible unless you move in with me and my moms, and I wouldn’t suggest that.”
Marlin laughed.“I agree that doesn’t sound like the best idea.I’m not sure your moms really like me at the moment.”
“They do.That hasn’t changed, and I don’t think it ever will.”
“Even after what happened?”
“They know you weren’t the only one involved, clearly,” Curran said as he waved at his stomach.“They were a bit confused, but I explained everything without giving them too many details, and they get it.They understand this was an accident and that we’re going to be a strange little family, but a family anyway.”
Curran wasn’t sure what the expression on Marlin’s face was, but it vanished as quickly as it had appeared.He wanted to ask, but he didn’t dare.Maybe he didn’t really want to know what Marlin was thinking.Maybe he just wanted to focus on the baby and what would happen in the next few weeks.
Maybe he wanted to drag Marlin to his room and have a repeat of the way he’d gotten pregnant.
* * * *
MARLIN WASN’T SURPRISEDthat Curran wasn’t ready to talk.He wasn’t surehewas ready to talk, but he wasn’t lying when he said they didn’t have a choice.Curran was already showing, which meant it wouldn’t be long before the egg was ready to be laid.That was when Curran would need Marlin the most, and Marlin wanted to be ready for it.
He needed to know what Curran wanted that day.If he didn’t want Marlin anywhere near him, Marlin would need a moment to deal with that.He wouldn’t argue.Curran could decide who he wanted there, and Marlin wasn’t going to be an asshole about it.He just needed to know so he could prepare.
He had so many things to prepare for, actually.He didn’t know where to start, which was why a conversation seemed like a good idea.He never wanted to push Curran, but this wasn’t something they could wait forever to talk about.
“So, where do we start?”Curran asked.
Marlin cleared his throat.“How about with you laying the egg?Do you want me here when it happens?”
“Of course I do.Why wouldn’t you be here?”
“Well, you and I aren’t together, even after what happened.I don’t want you to be uncomfortable or do something just because you think you have to.”
Curran still looked confused.“Don’t youwantto be there?”
“There’s nothing I want more than to be there for you and our baby, but I’ll only do so if you’re sure you’re comfortable with it.I’m sure your mothers would be happy to be here instead of me.”
Curran snorted.“Oh, they would be.They understand that you’re the father, though.They won’t take that from you.Besides, I don’t want to lay an egg in front of mymothers.”
“So I can be there?”
“Youhaveto be there.If you’re not, I’ll ask Birch to hunt you down and bring you to me.”
The words made Marlin smile.“I don’t think you’ll have to ask him.He’ll hunt me down if I’m not there, and he’d make sure it hurts as much as possible.”
“That’s not going to be a problem because you want to be there.”
Marlin nodded.“I do, both for you and for the baby.”
Curran looked away.“You know you don’t have to do that, right?”
“Do what?”
“Be there for me.I know you feel responsible for knocking me up, but I’m a big boy.I can deal with it on my own.”
“You shouldn’t have to.”
“Yeah, but you have better things to do with your time than focusing on me, especially once the baby gets here.”
“There’s nothing I’d rather do than be there for you, Curran.Please tell me you believe that.”Marlin wasn’t sure what he’d do if Curran didn’t understand.
Curran shrugged.“I do.I’m just saying that you don’t have to.I mean, eventually, you’re going to meet someone you want to be with, and I don’t think they’d be all that happy if you spend too much time with me.”
