Page 8 of One Pucking Life

CHAPTER

FOUR

MAX

Itake a steadying breath, still holding Caroline close, and turn back toward the house. The sounds of the party feel distant now, muffled, like I’m walking in a dream. This is real, though. She’s real.

I step inside, the weight of my new reality sinking deeper with every step. In a matter of minutes, everything has changed.

The chaos hits me as soon as I open the door—loud laughter, slurred speech, and the sharp clink of Ping-Pong balls bouncing against red Solo cups. I blink a few times, trying to clear the fog in my mind, and scan the room for my friends.

Jaden and Cade are hunched over the beer pong table, half of the cups filled with beer. Logan is sprawled on the couch, phone in hand, while Miles, Finn, and Eddy are huddled around a TV, completely engrossed in whatever video game they’re playing.

“Max!” Jaden shouts, a grin on his face, still holding the Ping-Pong ball. “You’re back! Where have you been?”

I don’t answer right away. I stand there in the doorway with Caroline still in my arms. The room falls silent for a beat. Every person in the room notices me, then notices the baby.

“Uh, Max…?” Cade stares at me, his words slow, like he’s processing the scene before him. “What… is that…?”

“Is that a baby?” Logan asks, sitting up from the sofa, his voice wavering between confusion and disbelief.

I nod, swallowing thickly, still trying to piece everything together myself. “Yeah. This is… Caroline.” I glance down at her, unsure how to explain this.

“Why are you holding a baby?” Miles asks, raising an eyebrow, the beer can in his hand forgotten. He glances around at the others, looking for answers.

Ari rushes over, her hand gently resting on my clammy cheek. She's our resident doctor—well, technically a veterinarian—but I suppose it doesn’t take an MD to see that I’m not well. “Are you okay?”

I shake my head, still in shock. “I don’t know.”

“Want me to hold her for a bit?” She extends her hands toward the tiny human I’m clutching to my chest.

“Okay, sure,” I croak, swallowing hard. My mouth is dry. “I need water.” I let out a tired sigh.

“I got it!” Iris volunteers, rushing over with a bottle of water.

I chug half the bottle in one gulp, desperate to wet my throat.

Jaden is at my side now, his expression a mixture of concern and confusion. “Dude, what is going on? Why are you holding a random baby?”

“Well, do you guys remember that girl I was hanging out with a little over a year ago? Monique?” I address the room, still trying to make sense of everything myself.

“Was she the one obsessed with opossums orVampire Diaries?” Jaden asks, brows furrowed in thought.

“Vampire Diaries,” I reply. “I think opossum girl was Amber.”

He nods, snapping his fingers. “Yeah, that’s right. Amber.”

“Go on with the story, bro,” Bash urges, leaning forward, eager for the rest.

“Right. Long story short—she had a baby. It’s mine. And she doesn’t want her. She’s flying to France in the morning, and Caroline is staying here with me.”

The room explodes in a chaotic wave of chatter with everyone talking over each other.

“Holy shit.” Jaden blinks rapidly. “Max, man, I?—”

“You’re serious?” Bash asks, his voice skeptical but softening as he watches me.

I nod, my stomach still in knots.

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