Page 21 of Taken By the Bad Boy
“No,” Mae said.
“Why not?”
“Because it’s Caleb.”
Emily let out an exasperated growl.“Seriously?Caleb asks you and all you can think to do is ...what?Ask him?”
“What was I supposed to do, just tell him?”
“Duh.”
This time, Mae groaned.“If I do that, what if it scares him?This is Caleb, King Sleep Around and not have a settled relationship, and kids are long-term.”
“But he asked you, and that was your time to ...you know, be honest with him and tell him the truth, you know, like a normal person.”
“This is not a normal situation!”
“How do you think Pete and I have lasted so long?”Emily asked.
“You guys love each other.”
“Yes, but love is just one part of it.I tell Pete everything and he tells me everything.We are open with one another.We don’t keep secrets.He knows I want another kid.He knows I want us to have a weekend together so we can make another kid.He knows you’re my best friend and I care about you, and if his friend hurts you, then I’m going to kick his friend’s ass.”
Mae laughed.
“I’m being serious here, Mae.Talking with each other is what is important.It is important for both of you.Otherwise, what’s the point?”
****
“And you didn’t saya word?”Pete asked.
“What could I say?I wasn’t expecting her to come at me with the same question!”Caleb ran fingers through his hair.
“Do you want kids?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Wow,” Pete said.
He frowned at his friend.“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
Pete held his hands up.“I’m just saying, you’re the guy that was never going to settle down.You’ve screwed your way through town, and let’s not even get started on the tourists.”
“That has nothing to do with this.”
“Caleb, you were never going to settle down.You hate kids.You even thought me marrying Emily was a big mistake.”
He went to argue but Pete held his finger up to him to silence.“You offered me the getaway car, and you even tried to convince me to fuck a stripper.I wanted neither.I knew Emily was special to me.I love my life, and this coming weekend, she and I are going to make another baby.”
Caleb sighed.
“Wow,” Pete said.
“What?”He was getting tired of his friend’s wows.
“I remember a time when I told you Emily and I were making babies and you would groan as if it were the worst thing you had ever heard.”
“No, I didn’t.”
