“I mean, it was a total accident, but I’m not mad or upset.” I frown. “But happy? I mean, I don’t know. Eli seems happy. I’m just…scared.”
“I think that’s normal. Your whole life is going to change. Remember what Jocelyn went through?” Ellie asks.
“I know. It was a lot. I can’t imagine, though I can relate more now.” I dip my head. It feels heavy. Loaded with my thoughts and worries and concerns. “Eli doesn’t do well with pressure.”
“You think this is going to mess with his head?”
“I don’t know. My life is changing with this baby, and so is his. He has other things to consider right now, not just himself. Though he tells me not to worry. He has everything under control.”
I want to believe him. I do. But I know how he is sometimes…
“Are you worried he won’t step up when you need him?”
It’s as if something comes over me. A wave of comfort, of knowledge in the fact that yes, no matter what I think of Eli and what I worry over, he will be there for me.
No matter what.
“He’ll step up,” I say, lifting my gaze to hers, my voice confident. “I’m worrying for nothing.”
Absolutely nothing.
Thirty-Five
Eli
Like an asshole, I went against Ava’s wishes and blabbed about her being pregnant. I told my best friends I’m going to be a father, because how can I go around acting like everyth
ing’s the same, when it’s not? I can’t pretend my life hasn’t just changed in the absolute best way.
So I tell them. Caleb. Tony. Diego. We’re chillin’ just before practice on campus, eating, because when are we not, when I finally couldn’t take it anymore and spilled the news.
“Ava’s pregnant.”
They all pause in what they’re doing, their eyes wide, their expressions shocked.
Diego’s the first to speak.
“Welcome to the daddy club.” He holds out his hand and I slap it in return. “Congratulations. I can’t believe it.”
“Bro, you’re crazy.” Caleb shakes his head, his mouth full. He swallows, takes a drink of soda and claims, “I won’t be having babies until I’m at least thirty.”
“Right.” Diego slaps the back of Caleb’s head, earning a dirty look from him. “The minute you graduate, Gracie is going to start hinting at marriage and babies.”
“Marriage and babies?” Caleb’s eyes widen, and he swallows. “Fuck. I’m doomed.”
We ignore him. He always says shit like that, yet is totally head over heels in love with his girl. I don’t believe him anymore when he talks like that, as if he dreads his future with the love of his life.
We’re pretty sure he doesn’t.
“Does Jake know?” Tony asks in that steady, quiet way of his.
I make a face, hating how my stomach sinks at the mention of Ava’s disapproving brother. “Not that I know of. Not too sure how he feels about me right now either.”
“Oh, I know how he feels about you,” Diego says, a smile on his face as if he’s enjoying this. “He’s mad at you. Says he’s sick of you toying with his little sister’s heart.”
“Whatever. I’ll win him over eventually,” I say, sounding way more confident than I feel. Jake Callahan has always been tough on me. Even when I thought we were friendly, I sensed he still harbored some resentment toward me sometimes. All over some high school shit, which is petty. But I understand petty—sometimes I can be a petty ass myself. “We’re gonna be actual family now.”
Tony slowly shakes his head, but he’s smiling, which is reassuring. “You are the last one I figured would be a father next out of all of us.”