Page 72 of Mending Scars

What is she hiding?

The following Saturday, Drew texted me, asking to meet up for a couple of drinks at our old bar. I hadn’t been out with him since we found out that Kaiya was pregnant, so I decided to go, needing some guy time.

Maybe it’ll help clear my head.

A knock sounded on the door, breaking through my thoughts. I heard Kaiya greeting Nori, who had come over to have a girl’s movie night with Kaiya while I went out.

I checked myself one last time in the mirror before walking out to the living room, where Kaiya was scanning over the DVDs in Nori’s hand.

“I broughtSteel Magnolias,Dirty Dancing, andThe Sweetest Thing. Which do you want to watch first?”

Kaiya gave her an ‘are you serious’ look. “Nobody puts Baby in a corner.”

Both women burst out in laughter. A smile spread across my lips as I walked over to Kaiya and kissed her on the cheek. “You girls have fun.”

Kaiya linked her fingers with mine. “You too. Be careful.”

I squeezed her hand. “Always.”

Letting go, I traveled the rest of the way to the door and left. I took out my phone and called Drew as I trotted down the stairs. “Hey bro, I’m on my way.”

“You’re always late.” He chuckled. I could practically see him shaking his head at me through the phone.

“I know, I know. You there already?”

“Not yet. I knew you’d be late, so I took my time. I’m on the way, though,” he answered.

I unlocked my truck and hopped in. “I’ll be there in ten.”

“All right, see you then.”

Drew was already seated at the bar when I walked in. What I assumed was a Jack and Coke sat next to him on the bar top as he drank his beer. He tipped his chin up at me as I approached. “‘Sup?”

I patted him on the back before taking the seat next to him. “Not much. How’s everything with you?”

“Good.” He paused and took a swig from his bottle. “Things with Nori are getting kinda serious.”

I cocked an eyebrow. “No shit?”

His goofy, love-struck smile told me he was head over heels for her before his words did. “I think I love her.”

Nori and Drew had been dating since right before the shooting. They’d been pretty casual the whole time, and it had been awhile since Drew and I had really talked, so I had no idea they had gotten serious. “Have you told her?”

He shook his head. “Nah. Everything has been going so well, and I don’t want to jinx it.”

I nodded. “I feel you. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

He tipped his bottle to me. “And you? How are things with Kaiya?”

“Awesome.” That was partially a lie; a lie based on me making assumptions, but still. “Only a couple more months till Hayden is born.”

“Damn. I still can’t believe it sometimes. After Molly, I never thought you would settle down.” He made an ‘oh shit’ face, then rushed his next statement. “But things with Kaiya are totally different. She’d never do what Molly did.”

I wasn’t totally sure, but I agreed anyway. “Yeah. She wouldn’t.”

“When’s his exact due date again?”

“August 2,” I answered before taking the first swig of my drink.

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