Page 57 of Friend Zoned

“I do,” I confess.

“Blue only for you. Now, can you get us some more cake?” he asks.

“It’s downstairs. Why do I have to go get it? I asked my mother to make it, brought it over here, cut it, and served it, so you can get it.”

“I admit it. I’m helpless in the kitchen. Do we even have a kitchen in this house? This might get me canceled, but if I can come home like this every night to you and dinner, I’ll be a happy man. You can cook for me any day. And I’m really tired, baby. So tired that you’ll have to feed it to me. Please.” He pouts and I sigh in defeat.

“Fine, you big, tired baby.” I start to roll off his body, but he pulls me back on top of him.

“But I’m your big, tired baby. Your man-baby.” He grasps my chin, grins, and says, “Say it.”

“Hell no, and don’t start with that,” I warn him.

“It’s your fault. You planted the seed, and honestly, your dad has it good.” He squeezes my ass while I try to push him away. “I want that arrangement for myself.”

Chapter 33

Aiden

I turn off the television and toss the remote aside. If this is even a fraction of how Jeannie feels when I’m away, it’s torture. I was busy all day yesterday while she was at work. We had practice, and I had meetings and films to watch before the game. She was at home waiting for me when I arrived hours later. After making love, she fell asleep on top of me, exhausted but happy.

This morning, I was with her when Jimmy dropped her off before he dropped me at the training facility. I’ve been home for the past hour, and it feels like an entire fucking month. I call her office phone, but it goes to voicemail after five rings. I watch the last game New Orleans played, taking copious notes on their defense when my doorbell rings. I pause the game, sure that I misheard, but the bell rings again. A few seconds later, I open the door and Seth Wakowski walks in without an invitation. He goes down the hall to the kitchen, takes off his coat, and hangs it on a chair. We’re about the same height, but he’s lean and has the face of a baby still. His blonde hair is cut short.

He looks around, saying nothing. I don’t bother to ask him why he’s here or how he knows where I live. I go to the fridge, pull out a bottle of water and hand it to him.

“I hope I’m not disturbing anything.” He looks around the place almost as if he’s expecting someone else to be here.

“Nope. You okay?” Despite how crazy he gets, especially with the women, I can’t help but feel sorry for him.

“Not really.” He sits and rubs both hands over his face. “She’s disappeared. Just fell off the face of the earth.”

“Who?” I ask, unsure of what the hell he’s talking about.

“Charlotte. The pregnant woman,” he says.

“What do you mean she’s disappeared?”

“She’s gone. I talked to her a few weeks ago when she refused the paternity test. I’ve been calling for the past week and leaving messages. Today, I called and her phone is disconnected. I just came from her apartment, and her roommate said she moved out. No one knows where she is.”

I stare at him and debate whether I should call him an idiot for being so careless or offer a nonjudgmental shoulder. I decide on the latter.

“When is the baby due?”

“April fifth.”

“Okay. That’s less than three months away. She’ll want that DNA test, so she’ll pop back up. Are you worried that she’s doing drugs or drinking?”

“No, I don’t think she’s that type.” I hold my tongue and don’t ask him how he knows for sure. He’s not exactly discriminatory when it comes to the women he sleeps with. His only criteria are that they’re female. “I don’t know what to do, Coach. I can’t be a father. I know that. What the hell do I have to offer some kid?”

“No one is ready to be a parent until they become a parent. You’ll do fine, Seth.” I’m not sure if I believe that, but I don’t know what else to tell him, and he needs reassurance right now.

“I won’t. I have no role models other than you, Chastain, and some of the other members of the team. My own father hasn’t left the house in twelve years. Not since I was nine. He lost his job, which was a recurring thing, and sat on the couch and never got back up. The only reason why we weren’t homeless is because my grandparents owned the trailer we lived in. My mom left when I was fourteen and didn’t look back. She’s remarried and I have a little brother I’ve only met twice. She left me behind and started a new family. My uncles are all drunks, and most have been in jail at some point in time. And you know the worst part? None of them will speak to me anymore. The only person who talks to me is my dad, and that’s only because he needs me to send money. It’s like I broke a kind of code by leaving and doing something better with myself. That’s my life, and I can’t bring a child into that. Can you imagine? Hey, kid, come meet your agoraphobic grandfather and convicted felon uncles.” His face has turned red after his speech. I leave him in the kitchen and return a minute later with a whiskey for each of us.

“We’re all born into a set of circumstances. We have no choice, but Seth, if you are the father, I’m really encouraged by what you just said.” He stares and blinks rapidly. “We can’t do better if we don’t acknowledge our past. You know yours was shitty, and you want better for this child.”

“But I’ll never be around. I won’t have anyone to help me. I don’t know anything about babies other than they cry all the time and shit a lot.”

“Would you want the best for the kid? Would you want him or her to be safe and happy? Will you do everything you can to make that happen?”

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