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“Why’d you call me then? You know I don’t know shit about babies.”
“And you think I do?” I chastise him.
“You’re the one with siblings blowing out your ass, man. I’m an only child.” He chuckles, looking at the instruction manual like it’s in a foreign language. “None of this makes sense. Which way is the top?”
I snatch the instructions from his hands. “You’re reading the fucking Chinese side, you idiot.”
King belts out another laugh. “That’ll do it.”
“Good thing I’m here then,” Cal hollers from across the living room, setting a box of pizza on the coffee table.
“Me too, seeing as I’m the only current parent between you dip shits,” Briggs bellows, shoving a slice into his mouth.
What an encouraging friendship we have.
“I’m workin’ on it, man. Two more months and little Magnolia is ours,” Cal responds, causing all eyes to find him.
“Two months?” I ask. “It’ll be here before you know it. How you feeling about that?”
It feels like yesterday Cal and Kodi announced they were beginning the process of adopting. Cal grew up in the foster system and knew from the start he wanted to adopt. Kodi has been nothing but supportive of his dream, wanting it just the same.
I’m stoked for them.
Cal shakes his head in disbelief. “I’m ready, man. Can’t believe she’s almost ours. Ready for this process to be over with, though, if I’m being honest. There’s been so many days it’s felt like we’ll never actually get to meet her. Hold her. Keep her. Dakota’s been so fucking strong throughout the ups and downs, and we’re ready to just enjoy our little girl.”
Fuck. I love that for them. After everything they’ve both been through to find each other, they deserve that kind of happiness.
“She’s gonna fit right in,” King tells him, patting his back.
“Addie’s gonna be stoked to have a friend her age to play with,” Briggs says.
“Shit. I forgot they’re the same age. I hear two is rough.” Cal laughs like he’s already heard the horror stories about the terrible twos and is ready for Briggs to prepare him.
“It ain’t easy, I’ll tell ya that. But it’ll help having Kodi to parent with. I’m solo, man, and some days I just feel like such a fucking failure.”
The room falls silent. We’ve all seen firsthand what a great dad Briggs is to Addie. Although Addie’s mom is actively in her life, the guy still works twice as hard to make sure she’s taken care of in every way that counts.
He’s the kind of dad I can only hope to be to my son.
“You’re doing great, Briggs,” King tells him. “Addie loves you.”
Briggs nods, accepting King’s compliment. “Thanks, man. I do my best. But let’s not forget why we’re actually here…”
All heads spin to find me knee-deep under the framework of this horribly constructed crib. “What?” I mumble.
“Dude, you’re about to be a dad!” King chants.
“Wild, huh?” I chuckle, setting the Allen wrench down. “Who would’ve ever thought?”
“I sure as fuck didn’t,” Cal exclaims. “But I’m no less happy for you and Tenley. Not gonna lie though, I don’t think I’ll ever fully understand how the two of you happened.”
“Your guess is as good as mine, brother.”
“Let’s be for real here,” King cuts in. “Gus has always wanted TT. She just never wanted his hard-up ass.”
“True.”
“She sure as hell wanted him that night at Joe’s,” Briggs admits, and he’s not wrong. That’s a night I’ll never forget. The one time in my adult life when I questioned how I got so lucky.
