Page 23 of The Curveball
“Thanks, Blair, I heard you. Now can I hear from your brother?”
She grumbles something, but I’m focused on Barrett. His soft smile comes quickly and easily as he jerks his head in a nod. “It’s all good, Brady. Really.”
“Can I talk now?” Blair moves back into the frame, her arms folded over her chest.
“Only if you’re gonna act like the adult you seem to think you are and stop pouting,” I point out. “How many times have I told you to stop talking for your brother? Let him answer sometimes.”
She lets out a huff but stays quiet. I look at the two of them, and it hits me. Their lives are also about to change in a major way when I tell them my news.
After all the awkward as fuck conversations I had to have with them about safe sex, now I have to admit that I managed to get a one-night stand pregnant.
Blowing out a breath, I sit up straighter. “I need to tell you two something. It’s, ah, kind of a big deal.”
I see them glance at each other, then lean in closer. Their faces look worried.
“It’s not a bad thing, I promise,” I hurry to reassure them. “Just big.”
“Okay, well then, freaking tell us already,” Blair says impatiently.
“I’m gonna have a baby.”
I blurt it out before I can lose my nerve. Blair’s mouth falls open, and Barrett leans back and runs his hand through his hair.
“Excuse me, what? Did you seriously just saybaby? You. My boring older brother who has no social life whatsoever. You’re having a baby? Since when? With whom? How did this happen!”
Blair’s voice gets increasingly higher pitched and louder until Barrett is visibly wincing next to her. He puts his hand on her leg and leans forward.
“What she said, bro.”
I give them the short version, that I met Sage when I was back in Manitoba tying up loose ends for my move. That we didn’t stay in touch, so I had no idea she was pregnant until today.
Am I cringing the entire time? Yep. Nothing like discussing your fucking sex life with your younger siblings to humble a man.
But by the time I finish, Blair’s grinning and even Barrett has a pleased expression on his face.
“I’m gonna be the best auntie ever!” Blair cheers. “Oh my God, this is so cool. So, when is it coming? Wait, it’snot anit. Is it a boy? Or a girl? I hope it’s a girl, we need to even things out in this family. Ooh, maybe it’s twins! They’re genetic, you know.”
My stomach plummets to the floor at her words.Twins?No, Sage would’ve said so. If she even knows… I pick up my phone and open her contact, typing out the message on autopilot.
BRADY: Do you know if it’s just one baby? Twins run in my family.
I stare at it without hitting send. I can’t say that over text, what if it freaks her out even more? I delete it and then set my phone back down and look back up at the twins, who are now talking quietly about something.
Clearing my throat to get their attention, I say, “I have no idea if it’s a boy or a girl. I just found out about the baby yesterday afternoon, so I’m still getting used to the idea. When I know more, I’ll tell you.”
“Brady, you better get used to it fast. Your baby mama has had a lot longer to adjust, and she’s not gonna want to wait for you to catch up.”
Blair’s words hit their mark.
“I know. Trust me.”
“How do you feel about it?” Barrett asks quietly.
I blow out a breath. “Million-dollar question, buddy.” I stop and try to make sense of all the tangled feelings swirling in my head. “I think at first I was panicked. A baby’s a big deal. An expensive big deal. And I’ve already got you two chuckleheads to worry about.”
Blair makes a sound of protest, but Barrett shoves her and she stays quiet.
“I definitely didn’t plan on having a kid. Not for a long while, at least. But it’s happening, and I’m not going to waste anyone’s time by being upset about it. There’s a lot to figure out, but I guess overall, I’m excited.”
