Chasing Us (Dark Love 2)

“I’m really going to be a grandmother?”

“Yes, Mom… a little baby to spoil.”

I let go of her as she strokes my cheek. She looks at Lex, cupping his face even though he towers over her.

“My baby boy is going to be a daddy.” She starts crying again.

Dr. Edwards continues to stand here watching without saying a word. Of course, he knows of the baby, helping me get the DNA results and proving Lex is the father. It had taken a lot of strength to ask him, pushing aside the shame of being with two men. But nevertheless, in the end, it worked out, and I don’t regret reaching out to him.

Emily let go of Lex and performed her motherly duty, fixing his suit which crumpled slightly in their embrace.

“Son… I’m sorry,” Dr. Edwards utters, bowing his head.

“Sorry for what, Dad?”

“For not seeing how you felt about each other. For forcing you both apart.” His tone is soft and apologetic. Never have I seen him this vulnerable.

Emily places her arm around him, aware this is him letting go of his guilt. Sometimes these moments present themselves, and there’s this uncertainty of how one should behave. It’s awkward but letting go of this burden, these dark secrets, to these people, it is somewhat therapeutic.

“Dad…” Lex says, placing his hand on his shoulder. “I think I can safely say for both of us that we needed to do a lot of growing up. We can’t sit here and regret our past actions anymore. We have a baby to bring into this world, and it needs someone to call ‘Grandpa’ who has a gray hair here or there.”

In a sudden motion, Dr. Edwards pulls Lex into a tight hug. Lex lifts an eyebrow as his mouth slackens, and I gather his dad rarely shows affection toward him. Emily, of course, begins to cry. That was the onset to my own display of emotions—damn pregnancy hormones.

“Wait… I don’t have any gray hairs?” Dr. Edwards chuckles, pulling away slightly.

Lex laughs. “Sure, Dad.”

The MC announces it’s time for the bouquet to be thrown. The single ladies wait in a bunch on the dance floor. A few are pushing each other for front position, causing me to break out into a fit of hysterics as Eric and Erin begin arguing. Eric isn’t shy to throw himself amongst a bunch of hungry women for the sake of the bouquet.

After Eric catches wind of Erin wanting Lex, he has a vendetta against her. He’s been calling her a hick-town hoe all night and giving her dirty stares from across the dance floor.

Adriana stands at the front and, after two fake attempts, throws the bouquet. It lands perfectly in the arms of Kate. With a look of shock, I walk over to her while laughing.

“I’m glad it was you.”

“Oh, dear Lord, marriage? Please, I’m still trying to work my way up to platinum hoochie, and besides, I don’t even have anyone on the radar.”

“Well, now that Charlie’s off the table, you are my backup,” Eric reminds her. “Remember, you said if we aren’t married by forty, we’ll marry each other and have blissful sex with other people, but I expect you to cook for me every night, and… what was I supposed to do again?”

“Buy a toolbox and learn how to fix stuff around the apartment,” Kate tells him.

Eric cringes. “Oh, that’s right, but can I get a blinged-out tool belt like the one I sent to you from the Tools-R-Us catalog?”

“Eric, that catalog was full of dildos and God knows what the other shit was called.”

“Oh, did you buy the one with the gold sparkles?”

“Yes… and the pink one, too. Well, it was a two-for-one sale.” Kate laughs.

“Oh, I’ve missed you guys!” I pull them both into an embrace, happy that even though my life will soon be overwhelmed with a baby, Eric and Kate have found one another.

“Stupid hick-town whore stood on my Gucci loafers,” Eric complains, pulling away.

“I thought she was a hoe?”

“She upgraded to whore when I caught her mauling that redhead dude in the corner.”

“Isn’t that her cousin?” I ask.