The Complication with the Best Man - Ebook, page 13
“Basically, they’re like royalty around here,” Hudson says. “Everyone in town has a vested interest in their happiness.”
“Wonderful.” I guzzle back a few good swallows of my pop. “So what you’re saying is that every single thing I do around here will be under the watchful eye of Buzz Wheel?”
Hudson shrugs. “Just the interesting stuff. Don’t go getting caught in the alley kissing.” He laughs.
I sigh. “It just feels like a lot, along with everything else going on.”
“I promise you’ll get used to it. It might take a bit, but you will. It’s actually not done in a harmful way, but I only see that now that I’ve lived here as long as I have.”
“And what about fatherhood? Will I get used to that too?”
He studies me for a beat. “Honestly, yes. It will take some time. What I can tell you is that when you meet your child, you’ll know right away that you would do anything for them. Anything. If you let that lead you, you’ll be fine.”
Thus far, I haven’t let myself daydream about what it might be like to have a son or daughter. Taking them for walks in a stroller, pushing them on the swing, the first day of school or the last day of school when they graduate. Now that I am thinking about it, a warm feeling fills me and a weight settles on my shoulders. What if I fuck it up?
I have great parents, and I want to be that for my own child.
“How steep is the learning curve?” I ask.
Hudson chuckles and leans back in the chair, calling out to the bartender, “Hey, Van, how steep is the learning curve with a new baby?”
The bartender looks at us and sets down the glass he’s wiping, coming from around the bar and over to our table. He has dark hair and a sleeve of tattoos down his arm. In addition to that, he also has dark bags under his eyes and looks as if he hasn’t slept in a week.
“Who’s asking? You or my wife?”
Hudson laughs and looks at me. “Finn, this is Van. He’s married to Harper’s cousin Brinley.”
“The baby daddy.” He holds out his hand to me. “Good to meet you.”
I want to cringe at the moniker, but I suppose it’s to be expected given that we aren’t in any kind of relationship. “Good to meet you. I take it you have a new baby at home?”
He blows out a breath. “I do. And Ivy is the shit, believe me. I’d die for her, but I would’ve thought my military background prepared me more thoroughly for the lack of sleep and the constantly evolving situation. No such luck though.”
“Awesome.” I frown. I make a mental note to do my own research so that I’m better prepared for what’s to come.
“But it’s worth it. Every damn second of it, believe me. I’d do anything for my little girl,” he says.
Hudson gives me a look like, told you so.
It does make me feel a little better.
“I was just explaining to Finn here what it means that he’s having a baby with a Bailey,” Hudson says to Finn.
Van chuckles. “It should come with a warning label.”
My shoulders slump.
“I’m just kidding, man.” Van squeezes my shoulder. “It can be a lot, no doubt. But honestly, it comes with such a big support system that it’s worth the never-ending intrusions into your business. If you ever need anything, someone in that family is going to step up to help. Always.”
Hudson nods.
“That doesn’t sound so bad, I suppose.” I sip my drink.
“Once you get used to it, you’ll be happy for it.” Hudson takes a pull from his beer.
I take his word for it. As if I have a choice.
twenty
HARPER
“You all right?”
Finn’s deep voice draws my attention from the million thoughts swirling through my head.
“Yeah, why?”
His large hand lands on my knee, preventing it from bouncing up and down as it has been doing since we checked in and sat down.
We’re in the waiting room, waiting to see Aunt Stella for my first official doctor’s appointment related to my pregnancy, and I’m nervous. What if she says there’s something wrong with the baby?
“Sorry, nerves, I guess.” I give him a tight smile.
He fixes me with his hazel eyes, rimmed with dark lashes. “I promise, everything will be fine. Whatever happens in there, we will figure it out, okay?”
The weird thing is, I believe him. “Yeah… okay, thanks.”
A few minutes later, we’re called into the office, and the nurse tells me to remove everything from the waist down.
Finn’s eyes widen, and he looks away from me, thumbing over his shoulder. “I’ll um… wait outside.”
It would be almost comical if it didn’t highlight the fact that we’re having a baby together and barely know each other.
I undress and put the gown on before opening the door a crack and waving Finn inside. He looks at me warily when he steps in as if to make sure all my bits and pieces are covered. Finn sits in the chair, and I hop up onto the exam table, swinging my feet.
Before either of us can say anything, there’s a knock on the door, and it opens, revealing my aunt Stella wearing her white doctor’s coat, which contrasts with her dark umber skin and her red lipstick. She always looks so put together, even when she’s working. Her dark hair is in braids and pulled back into a ponytail, and her deep brown eyes flick between Finn and me.
“How are you?” She steps over to give me a hug, which I return. “How’s my girl? Staying out of trouble?”
I think my aunt would be happy if Maven continued living with her and Uncle Kingston for years, but she doesn’t seem to hold it against me that I gave her a place to stay.
“She’s good. Perfect roommate.”
“Glad to hear it.” She squeezes my upper arms then turns to address Finn. “And you must be Finn. Good to meet you.” She extends her hand.
He takes it, telling her it’s good to meet her as well.
“So.” She claps her hands together. “Congratulations to you both. Should we try and find out when you might expect this bundle of joy?”
I smile. “Yes, please. Though I can tell you the exact date of conception, since it was a…” I trail off, not wanting to say it was a one-night hookup.
“That makes things easy. But I’ll still do a physical exam today if that’s okay with you, Harper, just to make sure everything is progressing as expected.”
I nod, thankful she’s not making it a big deal. I knew my aunt would probably be cool about it, but I’m happy that initial awkwardness is over.
My aunt asks me a bunch of questions about how I’m feeling and what I’ve been able to eat. “Are you taking prenatal vitamins?”
“Yup.” My gaze flickers to Finn’s.
“Oh, of course.” She laughs. “That’s how you two were outed on Buzz Wheel.” She shakes her head. “I haven’t talked to your parents since I heard the news. How did they take it?”
“Surprisingly well.”
She makes a few notes in the computer then looks at me. “Did you doubt them?”
I shrug. “I knew eventually they’d be okay with it, but I was surprised how fast it happened.”
She heads to the sink and washes her hands. “Maven tells me you’re staying with the girls until you can find a place, Finn?”
Finn glances my way, looking a little unsure. “Yes, that’s right. Hopefully it won’t be too long.”
Aunt Stella cringes. “Small town means that sometimes it can be difficult to find a place, but I’m sure it will work out.” She looks between us. “All right. Are you ready to get your first look at your baby?” She grabs some gloves from the box on the counter and pulls them on.
My stomach flutters with excitement and nerves as I nod enthusiastically.
“Lie down on the table and get comfortable, Harper. We’re going to have to do a transvaginal ultrasound since it doesn’t sound like you’re that far along.”
Once I’m lying down, she arranges one of the blue paper blankets over my lower half. Finn remains seated where he is, watching my aunt intently. When my aunt pulls out the wand for the ultrasound, Finn’s eyes widen.
“You’re going to put that in her?” He looks at me with something akin to horror. “Is that safe for her and the baby?”
His panic and protectiveness are kind of cute, and I can’t help but notice the way he included my wellbeing in that sentence along with the baby’s. My chest warms.
“I can assure you that it’s perfectly safe. I won’t insert the whole thing, and once Harper is further along in her pregnancy, we’ll use a different wand, but this allows us to get a good look now.” My aunt turns her attention to me. “You ready?”
I nod, and she wheels around the machine so I can see it better.
“Finn, if you want to see, you’re going to have to come around here.”
He gets out of the chair and comes to stand by my side near my shoulder. “Is it okay if I stand here?” he asks me.
“Of course.” I turn my attention back to my aunt.
“All right, open your legs a bit.”
I do as she says while she slips the wand under the paper and finds what she’s looking for, then she presses some buttons on the screen. It goes from black to black and white with some grainy visuals. I can’t make out what we’re looking at, but my aunt takes pictures with the ultrasound on the screen while I keep on trying to piece together what I’m seeing.
Finn bends down so he’s near my ear. “Do you have any idea what you’re looking at?”
I meet his eyes. “No.”
We both laugh, and when I notice the image on the screen flickers, I stop.
“Sorry,” I say to my aunt.
She smiles. “No worries. Honestly, there’s not much to see here unless you know what you’re looking for, so don’t feel bad about it.” She points at the screen with her free hand. “This bigger end here is the baby’s head, and this here is the body. And do you see that little flicker there?”
I nod, not removing my eyes from the screen.
“That’s your baby’s heartbeat.”
I suck in a breath.
“Should we see if we can hear it?” my aunt asks.
I glance at Finn, but he’s not looking at me. His attention is wholly fixed on the screen with a look of awe. “Yes, please.”
She does something to the machine, then a whooshing sound rings through the room.
“It sounds really fast, is that okay?” I bite my bottom lip.
“It’s perfectly normal. It’s a strong heartbeat.”
Finn’s hand slips into mine, squeezing it. I glance up to find him looking at me, a serious expression on his face, then he gives me a small smile.
I squeeze his hand back. “That’s our baby.”
His nostrils flare, and he nods before looking back at the screen.
My aunt finishes up the ultrasound, and it’s only then that Finn and I realize we’re still holding hands. He drops my hand, seeming uncomfortable, and goes to sit back down in the chair.
“Do you know the due date?” he asks.
She nods. “Based on when you said your last period started and when you’re sure you conceived, I think we have a pretty accurate date.”
She tells us the date, and I smile. An April baby.
“I’m going to send you to the lab to give a blood and urine sample to make sure everything looks okay there, though I don’t see any reason to expect any issues. You can make your next appointment on your way out.”
“Thanks so much, Aunt Stella.”
She smiles and gives me a hug. “I’m excited that there will be a new member of the family.” Then she turns to Finn. “It was wonderful to meet you. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you often.”
He thanks her, then she leaves us alone in the room.
Finn and I stare at each other for a beat, some kind of emotion swirling between us, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.
He clears his throat and stands. “I’ll let you get changed. Meet you in the waiting area.”
Before I can say anything, he’s out the door, closing it behind him.
I can’t read him because I don’t know him well enough yet, but I plan to change that.
twenty-one
FINN
I plunk down in a seat in the waiting area knowing that today will be marked in my memory as a defining moment in my life. There will be a before and after to hearing my child’s heartbeat for the first time. For really comprehending that Harper and I are bringing another human being into the world.
Well, let’s face it, she’s doing all the work. I only participated in the fun part.
I couldn’t have predicted how much hearing the heartbeat would affect me. How close it would make me feel to Harper.
She walks out of the office, and I watch her make her way down the hall to check out, picking up the paperwork she needs for the lab and making her next appointment. When she’s done, she makes her way to me, smiling. God, that fucking smile. It’s like a ray of sun cutting through the thickest winter clouds.
I stand and meet her halfway.
“The receptionist gave me this to give to you.” She holds out a purple sticky note.
I take it and look down, seeing the name Kingston in feminine script and a phone number.
“It’s my uncle who’s the firefighter. Aunt Stella left it for you. Said he’ll be expecting your call.”
It’s hard to get used to what a large family Harper has. It’s as though she has a contact for literally anything. I wish I didn’t have to call in a favor this early, but I can’t afford to let my pride get in the way. There’s a baby coming this spring.
“That’s really nice of her. I’ll be sure to call him tomorrow.” I slide the paper into my back pocket.
“Okay, I just have to go to the lab on the main floor, then we can go home.”
I hold out my hand. “Lead the way.”
“I hope you’re better than me with needles because your first job is right now. You have to hold my hand,” she says as we make our way out of the waiting area. When I chuckle, she looks over her shoulder at me. “I’m not kidding.”
***
She wasn’t kidding about not liking needles. As soon as she sat down in the chair for the phlebotomist to draw blood, her head bobbed, and her eyes fixated on the tubes. Her breathing sped up, and she had tears in her eyes. When she reached for me to take her hand, a deep protective instinct in me took over. All I wanted to do was be there for her.
Then the nice lady smiled and revealed the needle she was about to poke into Harper’s arm, and she almost crushed the bones in my fingers, causing me to question my thinking.
But as soon as we walked out of the doors of the clinic, the Harper I know returned—bright, energetic, and funny.
Since we met at the clinic, we drive back to the house separately, and the entire drive, all I did was replay the sound of the baby’s heartbeat, the little flicker on the screen affirming life. It has become real. My baby. Not a baby, mine. Ours. Harper’s and mine.
If I think too long and hard about how much my life has changed in such a short time, I’d probably panic as much as Harper did while getting her blood drawn, but in some weird way, none of it feels wrong.
It will take time for me to get used to the size of Harper’s family, but if I’m honest, I like that she comes from a large family. I like knowing that our son or daughter will have so many people around, supporting him or her.
My family is small, just my parents and me. It sucks that they won’t be closer to me and their grandchild, but we’ll make the most of it when they come to visit. Maybe Harper will come with me to Vermont or allow me to take our child once they’re old enough.
I stop on the way back to the house to grab some dinner from Wok4U, and since it’s a small town, I’m able to ask the owner, Li—who already knew who I was—if he knows what Harper and Maven usually order. After the order is ready, I head back to the house and find Harper’s car already in the driveway. I texted her while I was waiting to let her know that I’d pick up dinner.
She’s coming down the stairs when I walk through the door. I almost drop the takeout bags. She’s changed into her pajamas—a short-sleeve button-up shirt with white and red stripes and matching shorts. But those shorts are short as hell and show off her shapely legs.
My dick twitches in my pants.
Harper seems oblivious to my reaction as she walks over, arms outstretched to help with the bags.
“I’ve got them,” I say and head toward the kitchen ahead of her, leaving her to follow me.
“Maven is out with Landry. She texted me back when I told her you were bringing home Chinese food.”
“That her boyfriend?” I set the bags on the counter, purposely not turning around to look at her. I’d only be tempting myself.
“No, just a friend. I feel bad. You bought all this food.”
I turn to take in her expression, and she’s frowning.
“Don’t worry about it. It just means more leftovers for tomorrow.” I lightly hip check her.
It’s an innocent enough action, but it sets off a series of chain reactions in my body. First my breath rushes out of my lungs, next my heart beats faster, then my dick perks up to pay attention. Our gazes lock and hold for a moment, and she licks her lips.
“I wanted to talk to you about something.” Her voice is soft and a little breathier than normal.
“Oh?” I arch an eyebrow.
“When we were at the doctor’s office today, I realized that we don’t know each other that well. Here we are having a baby, yet we barely know anything about one another.”
I know how beautiful you look when you come, I want to tell her. I think about her flush a lot. “Okay…”
“I thought that maybe we could get to know each other. You know, so that when the baby is born, we’re not complete strangers.”
I nod. It’s a good idea. It would certainly make coparenting easier.
