Page 24 of The Curveball
“You’ll be a great dad.”
I blink at Barrett’s simple words. He doesn’t talk much, but when he does, fuck, he knows what to say. My eyes are burning, but I’ll be damned if I let any tears fall.
“Thanks, B.”
Blair sniffs and turns her head to the side, and I know I’m not the only one feeling emotional. But then she wipes her face and looks back at me. “Alright, tell me everything about her.”
“About who?”
Blair rolls her eyes. “The baby mama, duh. Is she pretty? She better be, my nibling needs to be cute.”
“What the hell is a nibling?” I ask, completely baffled.
“Well, since I don’t know if it’s a niece or nephew, it’s a nibling for now,” she answers matter-of-factly, as if this should have been obvious.
Nothing like a younger sister to make you feel old as dirt.
“Anyway. Tell us about the mom. What does she do? Where does she live? Are you guys going to live together? Ooh, are you dating her?”
Jesus, her questions are coming hard and fast and I don’t know how to answer them. Which is making me appreciate Sage’s insistence that we need to get to know each other a hell of a lot more. Because the fact that Ican’t even answer the question about what Sage does for work is not acceptable.
I want to be a part of my kid’s life, which means I’ll be a part of her life, too. And that opens the door to possibilities I haven’t let myself think too much about…
“She’s very pretty, she’s staying with a friend in a nearby town, and the rest is none of your business,” I say firmly, staring at Blair through the screen. “I’ve already told you more about my personal life than I ever wanted to. So you’ll stop asking about it unless you want me getting just as nosy about yours. Got it?”
Blair rears back, holding her hands up. “Okay, geez, no need to go bro-dad again.”
She says it a little too quickly, and I narrow my eyes at her. “So, there’s no fake ID or sneaking into bars?”
“Definitely not, bro-dad, sir.” Blair shakes her head firmly but judging by the sideways look Barrett’s giving his twin, I’m thinking maybe Idoneed to stay on top of my sister’s social life now that she’s out of the house. Then again, she’s smart. They both are. And right now I don’t have the mental capacity to worry about whether she’s drinking underage. I do, however, make a mental note to text Barrett separately later.
“Okay. So, moving on.”
The twins and I talk for a while longer, and while it’s always good to talk to them, it also makes me miss having them around, even if they were just here. When I close my computer, the apartment feels quiet and empty without their voices.
I get up and head to the bathroom, but as I’m washing my hands, I find myself staringat the sink. There’s none of Blair’s stupid long hair clogging the drain here.
It’s such a random thing to notice, but I guess with having just talked to the twins, they’re on my mind.
Back in the kitchen, I open the fridge to get a beer, and don’t have to move countless cans of Barrett’s favourite pop aside to get to one.
Damn, I miss them.
Beer in hand, I move back to the couch and drop down on it, grabbing the remote. I get to choose what to watch, every night. There’s no one here to fight me on it. I get to pick what I want at the grocery store and what to cook for each meal.
It’s great. For once, I get to be selfish. I don’t have to consider anyone else when I make day-to-day decisions. Hell, I can walk around naked if I want. I’m living the life I would’ve had all along if my parents were still alive.
And it feels so empty.
11
SAGE
BRADY: Can I take you out for breakfast tomorrow?
SAGE: Sure, that sounds great.
BRADY: Awesome. There’s a good breakfast place downtown I wanted to check out, if you like pancakes?
