Page 102 of Finding Fate
“Boy. It’s just a weird feeling I have.” She looks at Konnor for his answer. “I’ve said girl from the beginning. I’m sticking with it. Either is fine, though.”
She smiles and moves the wand. “One of you needs to keep your day job. I’ll give you first guess. If you’re lying under a glass table, the baby is sitting on top. What do you see?”
I study the screen as she stops, instantly knowing what it is. I turn to Konnor, who is already looking at me. “You see it?”
He grins. “I’d know that anywhere.”
I laugh. “It is pretty obvious. Are you happy?”
“I think you know the answer to that based on a comment that was made not all that long ago. Things are about to get more interesting. That’s for sure.”
It takes a second to realize what he’s talking about. My lips curl. “I should have known.”
He looks at the technician. “Instead of confirming it out loud, will you put it in an envelope? She wanted to do a gender reveal but wasn’t sure if she wanted us to find out or someone else. We can do a little of both. We’re leaving for Lake Tahoe with some friends in a few days and can find out for sure then.”
“Whatever you wish. Close your eyes.”
We do as told. Konnor comes over me to ensure I don’t peek and says into my ear, “Practice. Start by telling our friends. Then we can tell the world whether we’re going to have a son or daughter. I’ll have your back when we do. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me, Pres. In ways you’ve always been my girl. No more hiding.”
I close my eyes to stop them from watering up. How embarrassing would it be to cry right here. He’s right. There is one thing that’s always been true. “I’ve always been your girl, and I always will be. No more hiding.”
Fifty-Eight
Maddox
Riggan paces back and forth like he’s feening for a cigarette. It’s amusing to see him so messed up when the drama has been revolved around me lately. He stops and looks at me, stress etched all in his features. I smirk at him. “Starting to regret that you quit smoking now?”
“Daddy, what’s smoking?” Madden asks from where he’s sitting in the chair of the room all the groomsmen are occupying while playing the Nintendo DS Gabby and me got him for a late birthday present after he saw one on television. Gabby asked me if we should get it for him for Christmas and it dawned on me that we’ve never gotten to celebrate his birthday with him, and I wasn’t going to wait an entire year to make up for it when we were not long after this one just because it’s almost Christmas, so I told her no and grabbed my truck keys, telling her to load him up. We took him to eat pizza, play arcade games, and get one with about three games.
Luckily, the boy can multitask better than anyone I’ve ever seen, adults included, because he hasn’t looked up yet to see the horror on my face. I didn’t even know he was listening. Riggan crosses his arms over his chest and grins at me. “Yeah, Dad, what’s smoking?”
I point at him. “You’re a dick,” I whisper.
“I could say the same to you,” he replies with a shoulder shrug. “It’s not like I’ve ever gotten married before!”
“Quit your whining. You’ll be fine. You’re obsessed with her. She’s in love with you. Y’all are the perfect little mismatched couple. Just pretend the people you don’t know aren’t there.”
“I hate people. Uppity people give me hives. We should have eloped.” He shakes his head. “Isn’t the best man supposed to be supportive and shit? So far, you’re shit at the job. I’m going to remember this when we swap shoes and you’re freaking the hell out in Greece with all Gabby’s family you’re scared of.”
“Who said you’re even coming? You’ll have a baby by then. Greece is not a quick trip. To be honest, I was prepared for you to ask Konnor to be the best man.”
He narrows his eyes at me and steps into my space in his matching tux. It’s weird to see most of his tattoos covered. “Oh, I’m going to be there, unless you have a best man in your pocket I don’t know about. That position is mine. I’ve earned that title through all the years of putting up with your bullshit just like you have mine. We’re brothers. You aren’t taking that from me any more than I’m taking it from you. Standing beside me when I marry the love of my life is something earned over time. You think my mom won’t be there to see you get married like your parents and brother are out there for mine just because it requires a longer plane ride? You’ve lost your fucking mind if you think I’m missing you get married.” He lowers his voice to where only I can hear him. “I’ll be there when your baby is born too.”
I square my chest, trying to brush off my emotions, our eyes locked on one another. I blink, clearing my throat. God knows he’s always been my best friend. He’s no less of a brother to me than Micah is. Neither of us have had a perfect life. We’ve had shit thrown at us. We’ve been close and we’ve been distant, but I love him like a brother. “Rig.”
“I know,” he says. “I do too.”
I feel eyes on me. I look at my son, who’s looking at me like he’s waiting for an answer, reminding me what started all of this. Gabby is going to kill me. She feels like he already knows too much for his age, because even though he doesn’t exactly know what sex is, he knows she was young when he was born, which is why he had to live with his grandparents, so even though we’re grateful he knew who we were, she wanted to try hard to preserve his innocence from here on out. “Smoking is bad, buddy. It makes people sick after a while. We’ll talk about it later with Mommy.”
Speaking of, I’d like to see her before the ceremony starts, because Riggan is going to need some time alone. It’s time for one of his wedding gifts. Konnor was here earlier, but his parents wanted some family photos since Kinzleigh was here for the wedding with Breyson and they came along to help with their son so they could have some time with friends while they were here in Miami. I think Konnor invited them anyway since they’ve been supportive of his friendship with Riggan in the past.
A knock sounds at the door. Riggan glances at it. “Who is that?”
“Blondie’s wedding gift. After you proposed she asked if I’d help her surprise you. Your mom and Kinzleigh are in on it too, so if you get mad, you can be mad at the rest of us.”
He squints at me. “What did you do?”
“Madden, come on, buddy. Let’s go see how pretty Mommy looks. I bet she wants to see you too.”