Page 27 of A New Year Baby

“Dude,” says the muscular young man sitting at the table, who I assume is Mary’s hockey-player fiancé. “Go after her. Please. Don’t be a douche.”

“Oh,” I say suddenly, as it all dawns on me. “Oh—do you mean—that little girl?”

When everyone in the room just stares at me expectantly, it hits me like a ton of bricks. All those missed calls from Stella. All those voicemails I deleted after I left.

I shut my eyes tightly in horror.Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

“Go,” Eve says, hitting me in the arm and handing me her car keys.

“Please, Jack,” my mother says gently.

I nod and grab the keys, and exit the room.

As I leave, I hear my father saying, “Now that he’s gone, how about that cake?”

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