Page 16 of Western Waves
“This is crazy, Damian. The whole situation is odd, but then again… maybe this can turn into something magical. Like, look at Aaliyah and me. We lived together, and now we are married with a kid on the way.”
“This isn’t a Connor and Aaliyah situation.”
“Right, but it could be a Stella and Damian situation.”
Oh, Connor. The hopeless romantic.
“Stop it,” I ordered.
“Stop what?”
“Making up some fairy-tale romance in your head, you weirdo.”
“I’m not doing that,” he said in a tone that was the complete opposite of convincing.
“You are!”
“I’m not!” he cried out. There was a moment’s pause before he said, “But I mean, what if she is the one, Damian?”
“She’s not. You know I don’t believe in that shit. I get it—you’re a believer in all of that love mumbo jumbo, but that shit’s not for me. I’m here to get my information, get the money, and get out. That’s all there is to it. All right?”
“Yeah, yeah, all right.”
“Connor.”
“Yes?”
“Stop falling in love with the idea of me falling in love.”
“But Damian!” he cried, dramatically whimpering. “What if she’s your happily ever after?”
“You get a woman to fall in love with you, marry you, and now have a child on the way, and you think that makes you a love expert?”
“Just call me Dr. Romance,” he joked. “But since we are on the subject of Aaliyah being pregnant, I think I’m suffering from morning sickness.”
“I’m no doctor, Connor, but I don’t think that’s how pregnancy works.”
It’d only been about a week or two since Connor and Aaliyah tied the knot, and the whole time at their wedding, Aaliyah passed up every drink offered to her. No one else seemed to notice, but me, being me, I took note right away. Plus, Connor had no chill to his excitement about their soon-to-be kid and kept touching her stomach that evening whenever he could sneak a chance. They informed me about the pregnancy the day I left for Los Angeles.
Since then, Connor has been the most dramatic person alive, acting as if he was carrying the load himself.
“You don’t understand. I’ve woken up nauseous for the past two days, my body aches, and I feel as if I’m going to vomit every time I eat the smallest thing. It has to be pregnancy symptoms.”
“You have heard of this thing called the flu, right?”
“Well, yes, that’s a possibility, but I’m ninety-nine percent sure it’s pregnant vibes. Aaliyah and I are just that close that I can feel everything she’s feeling. We aren’t even together right now, but I know she’s craving chili fries, so I’m going to go out and get some.”
“You’re going to get fat over these next few months.”
“Just call me St. Nick, buddy, because this gut is going to be ho-ho-huge in a little while.”
I snickered a little. “I’m going to hang up on you now.”
“Okay. Keep me updated on everything.”
“Yup, will do.”
“If you end up doing the arrangement, I’ll see you Friday!”