Chapter Eighteen
Brody
“Don’t wake her, Talon. Pick her up and carry her to the car.”
I glared at my best friend from my spot behind the computer, silently daring him to do what Luke was telling him to.
“I, uh, I think she’d prefer if I, uh…”
I waved my arms, getting Talon’s attention. I mouthed the words motion sickness, but he wrinkled his forehead, telling me he wasn’t getting it. I pretended to throw up instead.
Brax came out of the sound booth during the middle of my performance. “Gross bro, are you sick? Sympathy pains? I doubt Landry will find that funny.”
Dane smacked him in the gut and made a cutting gesture across his neck.
“Talon. Please pick her up. She’s a heavy sleeper.”
“I, uh, I don’t want her to throw up?” I nodded at Talon, letting him know he was on the right track. I waved my hands around my head. “Dizzy. She gets dizzy.”
“She does? Is that normal?” The concern in Luke’s voice was evident, but he was still pissing me off. “Did she mention it to her doctor? You should call him and make sure that she let them know she’s been feeling dizzy.” I reached down and grabbed the plug. “Maybe you should stay with her tonight, make sure the new meds are—”
I pulled it out of the wall and smiled smugly when Luke went away. Favorite uncle or not, he was really starting to piss me the fuck off.
“Dude.”
I ignored Talon and crossed the room, throwing both my backpack and Landry’s bag over my shoulder. Then I scooped my girl into my arms, kissing the top of her head and whispering against her hair. “Come on, baby cakes, let’s get you home.”
“I don’t like this any more than you do, you know that right?” Talon was walking ahead of me, opening doors and making it easier for me to get Landry to her car. “Luke is worried about her—he’s not trying to pimp me out.” I swiped to unlock the car then Talon opened the door, laying the seat back so I could set Landry inside.
“Really? Because he wanted you to literally carry her to bed and then stay the night. What does that sound like to you?” Sounded like Luke wanted my best friend as his new nephew-in-law to me.
“Please tell me you aren’t jealous.” T leaned against the driver’s side, keeping me from leaving. “You’re my best friend, man. I’m only doing what I have to in order to keep Luke in the dark.”
I tossed our bags in the small back seat. “I know you’re only trying to help.” Landry was going to have to get a new car before the baby was born. There was no way we could bring…we…but what if it wasn’t me? “Fuck.” I put my hands in my hair, pulling it roughly. “It’s all so damn complicated right now. I don’t know if the baby is mine. I don’t know what Travis would do if it was his. Landry doesn’t want to tell her family about me. She doesn’t want them to know I could be the kid’s dad. And I can’t blame her, not really. Why introduce her family to a maybe, right? And now, Luke is basically trying to shove you and Landry together.”
“You don’t have to be a maybe, Brody. Tell her. Tell Landry that you want to be there, no matter what. Tell her it doesn’t matter who the father is.”
“But it does matter, T.” I sighed. “I mean, I think it matters…” The more time I spent letting myself fall for Landry, the more time I spent helping her through the pregnancy, the less everything made sense to me. “Until I know for sure, I can’t say those words to her. It wouldn’t be fair.”
“Landry’s ex is a prick.”
“Finding out you’re going to be a father, it changes you. It makes everything you thought you knew, everything you thought mattered…it makes it all fade away.” I reached past him, grabbing the handle and opening the car door. “The moment I realized Landry was pregnant, I swear my heart stopped beating. And then when it started again, it didn’t belong to me anymore.”
“You’re going to make an amazing dad, Brody.”
I started the car, my hand on the inside of the door. “I hope so.” I closed the door as quietly as I could and drove out of the parking lot, the radio turned down low. So many thoughts were racing through my head. I was a little surprised when I felt Landry’s small hand slip into mine. I glanced over, smiling. “Hey, baby cakes, I didn’t want to wake you.”
“I’m sorry I slept through your rehearsal.”
“Don’t be.” I kissed the back of her hand, my eyes safely on the road. “I’m glad you got some rest.” She needed all the sleep she could get. Now that the meds seemed to be working, she’d thrown herself back into working full force. Longer hours and more surgeries.
“Brody?”
“Hm?”
“I want you to know that I appreciate you not making empty promises to me and the baby.” I squeezed her hand, at a loss for words. “And for the record, I think you’d make an amazing dad too.” We stopped at a red light and I turned to Landry. Her eyes were starting to close again. She’d heard Talon and me talking, she’d heard everything I said. I wanted to apologize, but I wasn’t sure for what. I hadn’t said anything that wasn’t true.
“Landry.”
“It’s okay, it’s really okay. I’m thankful for you, Brody. I’m thankful that you’re here with me now. I’m thankful that you’re honest with how you’re feeling. I’m thankful for all of it. I don’t know if I could have made it this past week without you.”
“There is nowhere else I’d rather be than by your side.” If she liked my honesty, then that was what she’d get. I couldn’t predict the future, I couldn’t know for sure how I’d feel if Travis was in her life permanently. So I wouldn’t pretend to.
“Keep being honest with me, okay? Don’t lie to save my feelings.”
“Okay.” I gave her a quick half smile. “Please don’t fuck Talon.”
She snorted. “I promise.”
“You feel like fucking me though, right?” We stopped at another light and I winked. “Honestly, I want to bang you tonight. That okay?” She threw her head back, laughing. A sound I hadn’t heard in a couple days.
A sound I would hold in my heart for the rest of my life.