Page 7 of Delay of Game

“No, J. Tonight! We’re gonna be aunt and uncle tonight!”

My eyes widen and I scramble out of the bathroom to my closet, tripping in the process. I mumble another “sorry” to my girlfriend and hightail it out of my apartment.

“Which hospital? And isn’t it a little early? I thought Tangela wasn’t due for another two weeks.”

“St. Mary’s. And I don’t know, my mom just called and said they’re at the hospital already. I’m pulling up in front of your building now.”

I open the front door just in time to see Alice park her brother’s Jeep and wave at me excitedly. I hang up the phone and make my way to the passenger seat, and as soon as I enter, the smell of Alice’s floral shampoo hits me. She’s wearing a navy sweatshirt with a pretty bow embroidered on the front and black leggings. Her hair looks damp and her face is free of makeup, and the smile she wears is so huge it brings out both her dimples. How did I never notice she has dimples before? She looks beautiful.

“Are you excited?” she asks, and the question brings me out of my haze.

“Terrified,” I say, refocusing on my phone and texting Jess to let her know I’m headed to the hospital. How did I not think to tell her?

“Why terrified?”

“I don’t know about you, but I don’t have much experience with babies. I wouldn’t know what to do.”

She laughs brightly, “You think Michael knows what to do? If anyone should be terrified, it should be my brother.”

I laugh along and say, “Yeah, you’re right. I just know Tangela, and she never asks for help, even when she most needs it. So I guess I’m worried about her more. What if she needs my help and I’m bad at it?”

“Oh, J,” she says softly, reaching out her hand and grasping my forearm on the center console. “You’re gonna be an amazing uncle. I promise.”

She can’t possibly know that, but the conviction in her words helps soothe my anxiety. I think back on all the times I’ve been around her in the last year, at holidays and family gatherings. She has this way about her that makes me feel comfortable, more at ease, and I’ve never understood why.

“Thanks for being here, and for picking me up,” I say, my hand twitching to cover hers. “I would have kicked myself if I missed it.”

“Of course. I got your back, J,” she says with a smile, and takes back her hand. I bring my arm to my lap and rub at the spot she was holding.

The drive to the hospital is short and I refrain from commenting on Alice’s crooked parking, even though she is taking up two spaces. I look back at the car, sighing because that’s a huge pet peeve of mine.

Alice turns back and rolls her eyes at me. “It’ll be fine, let’s go!” She grabs my hand and starts running through the parking garage, and I have no choice but to follow.

Alice

This isthe most exciting thing to ever happen in my life!

Okay, that may be an exaggeration, but I am so thrilled to be an aunt. Ever since I was thirteen and my parents let me get a job as a babysitter, I’ve loved working with kids. They’re so curious, funny, and smart, and I want at least five of them in the future.

I’m buzzing with excitement as we ride the elevator up to the fourth floor and I realize that I’m still holding Jordan’s hand, squeezing tightly. He doesn’t say anything, just smiles down at me, the same excitement showing in his eyes.

The elevator dings, and Jordan squeezes my hand once more before letting go. I miss the warmth of his hand but recover quickly when I see Robbie walking with a four pack of coffees in his hand.

“Roro,” I say, calling him by the nickname I came up with when I was young and couldn’t pronounce his name.

He turns around, stifling a yawn and waving at me. “Hey, Al. Glad you made it. And you brought Jordan.”

“Hey,” Jordan says, fist bumping Robbie’s free hand.

“What’s the update?”

Robbie grimaces and says, “Well, we might be here for the whole night. The baby is not quite ready to join us. But we’ve got coffee!”

We nod and follow him into the waiting area, saying hello to my parents when we take a seat.

“I know they live like three hours away and it’s late, but do you want to call your parents, J?” I ask, pulling my kneesup to my chest on the wide waiting room chair and getting comfortable.

“I’ll call them in the morning. If I tell my mom now, she’s going to go in helicopter parent mode and call Tangela nonstop.”

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