Page 107 of Gone for You

“Yes?”

“Congratulations!” I shout, beyond excited for my friend. My mom’s eyes widen and she lightly claps. My mouth quirks because she looks like such a dork right now. “You’re going to be amazing parents.” She bursts into tears. “Whoa. You really are hormonal.”

“I…” she hiccups a cry “really… am.”

“From what I hear, that’s very normal.”

“I don’t feel normal.”

“Lily, you’re pregnant,” I gush. “Oh my gosh! I’m gonna be an auntie!”

She starts giggling. “I know. I’m so excited.”

“I take it you weren’t expecting this?”

“Ha! Not by any stretch of the imagination. But, it turns out, having sex without protection has consequences.”

“You don’t say?”

“Mm hmm.”

Laughter fills the air between us and I sit down on the couch, happy to talk about something else other than my parents having sex with other people and my own failed love life. One can only wallow in their self-pity for so long before it’s just… sad. And super annoying — not only to myself but everyone around me. And I’m tired of being sad (and annoying). Tired of accepting life as it comes at me and not stepping in and doing something about it. Tired of playing the martyr and not taking control.

For now, though, I’m going to talk to my best friend about her pregnancy and plan for when I can see her and hug her and rub her (what’s sure to be) adorable baby belly.

This phone call couldn’t have come at a better time to help pull me out of my funk. Reminding me there’s a giant world out there much bigger than having a nympho as a parent. Just the thought makes me shudder.

“What was that about?” Lily asks.

“What?”

“You just went silent then made a sound like you were gagging.”

My eyes widen. “I did not.”

“Oh, you did, too. What in the world?”

“I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Mm hmm. Anyway, as I was saying, we think we got pregnant the night of the wedding, based on our due date.”

“Is Drew freaking out?”

“Nah. He’s so ecstatic he can barely contain himself,” she laughs.

“Oh boy. What about Grandpa James?”

“Oh he’s on cloud nine. I think he’d get number one grandpa tattooed on his forehead if Carly would let him.”

“But then he’d cover up his gorgeous face!” I shout then cover my mouth. No one needs to know their best friend thinks their dad is a hottie. But it’s James Cole.Everyoneknows he’s the hottest dad around.

“Gross.”

I giggle. “I’m sorry.”

“No you’re not.” I know she’s rolling her eyes as she says it. “Did your mom help sort you out?”

“Umm.” I look over at Mom and do a double take. At some point when I was talking to Lily, Mom gave herself a charcoal mask facial and she’s sitting next to me, reading as if her face isn’t covered in dark gray goop. She grins and the mask around her mouth cracks when the skin wrinkles.

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