Page 56 of Pregnant in Plaid
The guys are already here. Old Jim from the hardware store, nursing what's probably his first of many whiskeys. Jake, who runs the lodge, settingup drinks behind the bar. Tyler and Ben, both around our age, are already arguing about something related to fishing.
And then there's Derek, who's holding what appears to be a baby doll.
"Why do you have a doll?" I ask.
"Practice," he says seriously. "You'll thank me later."
"I'm scared to ask."
"You should be." Gage claps me on the shoulder. "Derek has three kids under five. He's basically a combat veteran."
"Four," Derek corrects. "Wife just had another one. That's why I'm here instead of home changing diapers."
"Congratulations?"
"Thanks. I think." He sets the doll on the bar. "This little guy is going to save your ass when that baby comes."
I stare at the doll. It's wearing a onesie that says "I'm what happened in Vegas."
"Where did you even get that?"
"My daughter's toy collection. She won't miss it." Derek grins. "Now, who wants to learn the proper swaddle technique?"
"It's seven o'clock," Tyler says. "Way too early for that kind of trauma."
"Trust me, you'll want to know this stuff," Derek insists, looking at me and Gage. "You are going to be a dad soon. Might as well learn now."
"Trace is having a baby?" Ben looks genuinely surprised. "Since when?"
"Since about seven months ago, apparently," I mutter.
"And you're just now finding out?"
"It's complicated."
"Sounds like it." Old Jim raises his glass. "To complicated situations and the poor bastards who navigate them."
Everyone drinks to that.
I grab my beer and settle onto a barstool. Gage sits next to me, already looking relaxed in a way I haven't seen in weeks.
"You nervous?" I ask him. "About the wedding?"
"Terrified," he admits. "But in a good way. You know?"
"No, not really."
"You will." He takes a drink. "When you stop fighting it and just admit you're in love with her."
I nearly choke on my beer. "What?"
"Patrice. You're in love with her."
"I barely know her."
"You knew her well enough seven months ago." He grins. "And you were moping around ever since she left."
"I wasn't moping."
