Page 46 of Hitched

I see a car parked in her driveway when I arrive, and I suddenly feel bad for showing up unannounced. But I have to see her. It’s super late, which adds to my guilt, but after what my da told me, I have to know. She’s going to think that I’m a lunatic for even suggesting this, coming over so late, when she’s clearly got company. As I press the button on the security panel, I wave to her, and she opens the gate. Laney and Brandy immediately appear outside, as the exterior light comes on.

“Hey, Caleb. I wasn’t expecting to see you tonight.” Laney comments, walking up to me, giving me a kiss hello. “Did he eat you alive?”

I chuckle nervously, raking a hand through my hair. “No, not at all. I’m sorry if I interrupted you two. I meant to call, but I just…I just drove.”

She picks up on something. “Are you okay?”

Brandy interjects. “It’s okay, Caleb. I should go. Laney was just bringing me up to speed on all the craziness that’s been going on. I’m glad to see that my life isn’t the only one that’s nuts. Congratulations on becoming a dad.”

My face pales. “So, it’s true?” Then I stop myself. Idiot. She’s talking about Peg, stupid.

Brandy’s neck cranes. “Of course it’s true. What are you talking about?”

Laney has a concerned look on her face. “Caleb, seriously. Are you okay? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”

I swallow. “No, I’m okay. I just…with everything that’s going on, I just…I don’t know. I should go. I shouldn’t have come.”

Brandy’s voice is firm. “It’s okay, Caleb. I get it. It’s okay to freak out. You’ve just dropped a bomb on your dad, right after a bomb got dropped on you, you laid a woman to rest, took responsibility for her child, and fell in love with my best friend, all in, what…a month, month and a half’s time? Hell, I’d be knee deep in therapy.” She scoffs. “I am in therapy. And that’s just because of a stupid divorce. Hats off to you for keeping yourself sane after all that’s happened.”

Laney wraps her arms around me. “Yeah, baby. It’s okay to freak out. Frankly, I don’t know why I haven’t freaked out yet myself.”

“Because you’re a woman.” Brandy adds succinctly. “We’re built to take on shit like this in a moment’s notice.”

I look at Laney. My eyes search hers. If she’s having my baby, and she knows it, she wouldn’t be looking at me the way that she is. Not a sign of fear is in those eyes, not a sign of trepidation, nor of elusiveness. This is Laney. She’s not hiding anything from me. I feel it in my bones that she doesn’t know. And I start to wonder if maybe my da’s just said all that shit as part of his plan. Maybe it’s his way of manipulating the situation yet again. Maybe him making up the story about Laney being with child is another piece of the puzzle to somehow make me do something permanent with Laney, despite how clear she’s been with her desire to stay unmarried and without bairns.

“Well, the way that you jumped right in and helped Peg and Gretchen, I’d say that that’s true.” I concede. “I can’t imagine doing all this myself.”

“Please.” Laney states. “Before I came into the picture, you were.”

“Yeah, but now I’ve got to raise her on my own, Laney. She’ll need a mama.”

“I don’t intend to leave her, Caleb. I love her, too. My mama loves her, and my whole family is going to adore her, just like yours will, too.”

Brandy interjects. “You two keep talking like that, people are going to start thinking that you’re going to get hitched.”

I smile at the thought. “Laney doesn’t want to get married, and I’m okay with that.”

Something changes in Laney’s face, but she diverts it from my glance. “Shouldn’t we go inside? Grab some tea?”

“God, could you make it any more obvious, Laney?” Brandy scoffs. Laney gives her a look.

“Am I missing something?” I ask Laney, following her and Brandy inside.

“No, you’re not missing anything, Caleb.” Laney says, chiding Brandy. “My best friend just likes to meddle.”

“How is she meddling?” I ask.

Brandy pipes up. “Yeah, how is she meddling?”

Laney gives her a warning look. “Brandy, can it.”

Then I see it. The half bottle of wine on the table. And my heart skips a beat. “Laney, did you drink any of that?” I ask too quickly, panic rising in my chest.

“That piss water?” She gripes, setting the kettle on the stove. “No, that’s Brandy’s shit.”

I let the breath go that I was holding. “Oh, thank God.”

They both look at me, raising a brow.

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