Page 81 of Do It Yourself
Total douche canoe.
Lola
Oh my god! I’m never introducing any of you to someone I’m dating ever again.
Four months after the confrontation
Paul
Congratulations, Mabel. You’re going to be an amazing mom.
Chapter Sixty-Six
MABEL
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!” Elle storms into my workshop, forgoing knocking. The door slams against the wall and poor Ali jumps nearly out of her skin. I know why she’s mad, but I’m so gutted by Paul’s text, I can’t even try to scold her for barging in.
“Sorry Ali. Did you see that motherfucker’s text?”
I nod, knowing if I try to talk right now, I’m just going to start crying. My Little Stinger, as I’ve come to call the baby, loves to play with my emotions and finally hearing from Paul is no exception.
To be fair, I think no matter if I was pregnant or not, his first text in months was guaranteed to wreck me.
“Hey Elle. How’s the paperwork going?” Ali asks. She started working for the Farm and with me again once we collectively determined that the combination of my pregnancy and Jude’s previous assessments from shadowing, it was time to hire more workers for the markets.
It was great having Ali back, it was like she’d never left.
“It’s the same as always. I love it. What I don’t love at the moment is my dumbass little brother.” Elle was pacing, her anger too much to contain at the moment.
My poor sister.
She had been my biggest supporter as I tried to navigate this new distance and disappointment with Paul. My sweet Lola did her best to remain neutral, trying to see all sides. I understood, I tried to as well but it still hurt every day he wouldn’t talk to me and this text felt like a punch straight to my cooter.
“I guess this means he got the baby shower invite.” I’m trying to add some levity to the conversation but my voice breaks on the last word and my vision blurs with tears. Two sets of arms wrap around me.
“I’m going to call Jude.” One of Elle’s arms drops from her hold on me as she digs around in her bra for her cell phone.
“Don’t you dare. Jude cannot keep dropping everything any time I tear up.”
“And why not? As the baby daddy, he needs to be there for you. Whenever you need him.”
“Please stop calling him my baby daddy.” I groan, I hate that nickname and Elle seems to love it more than Patrick.
“Why? It’s what he is. I certainly can’t call him your boyfriend.” She spits out the word like it’s a bitter bite on her tongue.
Ali chuckles, “Why can’t you call him her boyfriend? That’s what he is.”
Here we go.
“You get someone pregnant, you don’t get to be just a boyfriend. So, until Jude decides to nut up and make an honest woman out of Mabel, he’s the baby daddy.” Elle crosses her arms and nods, acting like her word is law.
Ali takes a moment to consider this, her pretty green eyes flashing with mirth. “You know what? That’s solid logic. Iagree.” Another groan escapes me but thankfully this turn in conversation has dried my tears.
“Where is BD anyway? Is BD better? I don’t want to offend your delicate pregnant lady sensibilities too much”
Groan number three.
“Jude’s with Lola. They’re firing Zeke.”
