Page 93 of Interference
“Always.” We start walking toward the exit.
“I saw you were on the phone.”
“Yeah, one of my old skating friends called. She heard that I was ‘with child.’ Her words, not mine.”
“No hiding it now, huh?” I ask as we get into my car.
“Nope. I confirmed it and told her that despite this being unplanned, it almost feels too good to be true,” she says, making me frown.
Too good to be true? Does she really feel that way? If she does, I hate it.
“How do you feel about getting some ice cream?” I ask.
“Dude, yes. One thousand percent yes.”
She reaches over and takes my hand in hers as I drive.
How can I prove to her that this isn’t too good to be true? Or is this one of those moments where I have to continuously show her over time?
Ten minutes later, we have our ice cream and sit down in a quiet booth in the back of the shop.
“Okay, what’s wrong?” she finally asks.
“What do you mean?”
“Something is clearly bothering you and has since you got out of practice. Tell me,” she says as she eats her ice cream.
Taking a deep breath, I contemplate bringing it up. I really don’t want to make something out of nothing, but it’s important to talk this kind of shit out.
“You said you feel like this is too good to be true,” I say, making her tense. “But it’s not, or at least I have to believe it’s not. Because if it’s too good to be true, that means my worst fear could happen.”
“And what’s that?” she asks softly.
“That you will walk away. Take our baby and run. Leaving me alone and with nothing.” I look down at my ice cream cup. “Everyone leaves. Growing up, my parents always left me with the nanny. Then it was my middle school best friend when he moved away. He promised to stay in touch but didn’t. Shit, I tried to keep in contact with him, but never heard back. Then Beckett and Clay. Granted, they left to be drafted and we still talk, but it’s not the same. Again and again, people have left me behind, and I’m worried you and our baby will do the same.”
Ditching her side of the booth, Emery comes and sits next to me. She touches my face softly until I look at her.
“First of all, even if things don’t work out between us, I would never take our baby away from you. Our child is yours as muchas it is mine. On top of that, no matter what, I will always be in your life. I will always be your family. I’m not going anywhere, Brett. I promise. When I say it’s almost too good to be true, I don’t mean that I don’t feel like I don’t deserve this. I just mean that I’m scared. Just like you.”
Her words soothe me, but still.
“Insecurities are a bitch,” I mutter, making her laugh.
“Tell me about it, and here I thought you didn’t have any insecurities.”
“Buttercup, I’m only human.”
“I know, but still. For as long as I’ve known you, you’ve been nothing but confident.”
“Em, you make me feel anything but confident. You had me wrapped around your finger since the night we met, and you wanted nothing to do with me.”
Her cheeks flush. “I mean, when you put it like that I sound like a bitch.”
“I don’t mean it like that.”
“I know you don’t,” she sighs. “So what are two people who are scared and in a relationship, together supposed to do?”
“Keep showing up for each other until the fear goes away, I assume.”
