Page 239 of Champagne Nights

“Are you sure you’re okay? You know you can talk to me,” she said.

“I’m fine, Ellie. I just want to apologize for having an attitude with you earlier. I didn’t mean to.”

“You did?” She cocked her head. “I guess that’s one of the perks of dating a deaf person. We can’t hear the attitude in your voice.” The corners of her mouth curved upward and made me smile.

“I love you,” I spoke as I signed.

“I love you, too. I’m going to take a quick shower to get this suntan lotion off me before Ben and Frankie get here.” She kissed my lips.

“Okay. I’m going to change and head up on the deck.”

A sickness washed over me, and I felt like my head was going to explode. The phone call I took earlier was from Kirsten. She’d been blowing up my phone all day, and when she left a messagesaying it was an emergency. I called her, and I never should have.

I changed my clothes and went up to the deck where the captain had just docked the boat. The chef and his crew had arrived to cook a gourmet meal for the four of us. Pouring myself a scotch, I threw it down the back of my throat and poured another one just as I heard Frankie’s voice.

“There you are,” Frankie said.

“Hey, bro. Pour me one of those.” Ben grinned.

“I need to talk to you guys, and we need to make it quick before Ellie is done getting dressed and comes up here,” I said as I handed each of them a drink.

“What’s going on?” Ben asked.

“Yeah, Henry. You don’t look so good.”

I swallowed hard as I spoke the dreaded words that would change my life forever.

“Kirsten is pregnant.”

“Damn. She sure moves fast,” Frankie said.

“Oh shit, bro. Is it yours?” Ben asked.

“Yeah, so she says.” I leaned against the railing.

“Jesus, Henry. Now what?” Frankie asked.

“How the fuck should I know?” I spoke through gritted teeth. “This ruins everything.”

“You still haven’t told Ellie about her, have you?” Ben asked.

“No.”

“Damn it, bro,” Frankie scowled. “We told you?—”

“I know what you fucking told me. It just wasn’t ever the right time.”

“No.” Ben pointed at me. “You should have done it at the beginning. We warned you, and now look. And you’re sure it’s yours?”

“It has to be according to the timeline she gave me.”

“You weren’t using protection?” Frankie asked.

“We always used a condom, but there was one night we didn’t. I had been drinking?—”

“Hi, guys.” Ellie smiled as she walked over.

“Hi, Ellie,” Frankie signed and gave her a hug.

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