SITTING DOWN AT my little cubicle, I scrub my hands down my face. Andrea says she's pregnant, shit! I mean yeah, I've fallen asleep at the wheel. I’ve been careless with sex, but she was protected...I thought.
Listening to her so distraught and uncertain broke my heart. We haven't been together long, but we love each other. I just hope we can do this, together.
Never did I think at 22 years old that I would be a ad. No way, not me. I am still just settling in, finishing school and making a career. Sure, down the road I wanted to settle down and eventually have a family, but I'm still having fun. Andrea has been fun, but with just the right amount of normal to make us work. We go out and have a great time with friends, we lay around and watch movies together- it's comfortable being with each other. Being new and finding that is actually pretty great. I really hope this doesn't change that. I need a damn drink.
I'm going over there tonight. We will take the other test and talk about what our future may hold. This is scary for me. I just hope I'm able to help her through this at the same time I'm still trying to reel it in. I don't want to be insensitive, but I need to know where her head is in this. Whatever decisions we make we have to make together, right? I don't know how to handle this. If it was me talking to a friend about it I could spout all kinds of wise words. Marry her, make sure you do this right, don't let her go through this alone…
But it isn't a friend, it's me. I'm not completely convinced I can do this, play this role as a dad.
Someone needs to help me sort out how I feel at the moment and how to handle this. Someone needs to share wise words with me because I'm coming up empty. The doubt in my head is loud and clear at the moment. I need to call Brad, he's been my best friend and has been through it all with me since we were kids. He can level my head a little to help me tonight. That, and a drink or ten.
“Hey man, you doing anything for lunch? I'm gonna try and cut out of work early today.”
“Trent, man, how are ya? Yeah sure, what you got in mind, brother?”
“Was thinking some food and a few drinks, I messed up, man. I need to talk to you. Gotta level some shit out,” I tell him while trying not to sound freaked out.
“Uh, okay sure. Let's meet up at Slots in about an hour.”
“Thanks, man. That sounds perfect. I'll see you then.”
I hang up with Brad and start to finish the caseload that needs to be completed for my uncle by next week. We've been loaded down and I have worked a lot of extra hours trying to prepare. Andrea and I need our chill night. Between our classes and everything else, it's been hard to just get time together other than sleeping.
We stay together just about every night, she either sleeps at my place or I sleep at hers. I like having her with me. Just being around her calms and relaxes me, which I love. I've never had it so easy with someone before.
But I gotta get my head straight and calm before the storm thunders through our lives. Time with Brad will do just that.
***
Walking into Slots, I see Brad waiting for me at our usual high top table.
“Hey man, thanks for meeting me on such short notice,” I say gratefully to him, sitting down.
“Good to see you, man. You look exhausted,” he remarks, noticing the obvious long days affecting me. If the bags under my eyes and scruff on my face are any indication.
“Yeah long hours and not enough downtime, that's for sure. That's one reason I needed to get out early and just chill for a bit,” I tell him. I grab the bottle of beer off the table Brad ordered for me and take a hearty drink.
“And well, I need your advice. Andrea called me today on her lunch break. She's pregnant,” I drop on him quickly while slamming the rest of my beer, looking around for our waitress so I can order another.
Brad sits stunned for a minute. “So, how do you feel about it? I mean, you've loved the girl since the first time you saw her right over there,” he says, nodding his head toward the bar. “Ever since you met that girl you have been by her side. I've never seen you this way with anyone. So that being said, just make sure her side is where you stay.”
I sit back for a moment thinking about what he just said as the waitress comes over to our table.
“Hey guys, what can I get ya? Are you just staying on his tab today?” she asks, while nodding a toothy grin toward Brad.
Brad looks at me, chuckles and then says, “Hi, two more beers. We’re only here for a few and then heading out, so we will just cash out then.
Smiling a little bigger at me and then Brad, she walks away to get our drinks.
"Snap out of it, man! You're scaring me." I jumped as his hand smacks the table in front of me. I blink, then laugh.
“You're right man, I need to get over to her tonight and just hold my girl. This wasn't what we planned, but I'm not walking away,” I tell him adamantly.
He claps my back and smiles. “That's my man.”
The waitress comes back over with our beers and sets them down in front of us. Looking back and forth between us, she asks, “Anything else I can get you guys?”
“Nah thanks, we're all set for now,” Brad tells her as I nod.
Looking me up and down smiling, she licks her lips and saunters away.
“Dude! That chick so wanted you to look her way and give her some attention.” Brad laughs, nodding his head toward the retreating waitress.
Shaking my head laughing, I tell him, “I think she's in my accounting class.”
“Hey, sweetheart,” Brad yells toward the waitress.
“Can we get some shots over here for me and my man, Trent, here? We got some celebrating to do,” he says as she comes walking back to our table.
“Two shots of Jack, please,” he says looking at me.
I nod my head in acknowledgement.
“What are we celebrating, guys?” she asks, winking.
“What's your name, sweetheart?” Brad asks her.
“Megan,” she answers quickly.
“Well, Megan. My main man, Trent here, is gonna be a daddy. He and his girl are so excited about it.”
Megan looks shocked stupid for a moment, her face reddening a little, but smiles wide. “Congratulations, I'll go grab those for you,” she says while hurriedly walking away.
Shaking my head laughing, I knock the bottom of my beer bottle on top of his. As his foams up and over the top, the shocked look as he shoves his mouth over it to catch it is priceless.
“What the hell was that for, jerk?” he says laughing.
“You looked like you could use some head, think Lauren needs to help you out,” I say through my laughter.
“Funny man, our head is just fine,” he says flipping me off.
“Just making sure, since you're all for spouting my crap to people from school.”
“Oh, shit man. Sorry. Was just trying to back her off you. She looked like she wanted to climb you for a ride,” he says while obscenely gyrating his hips.
Shaking my head, I pinch the bridge of my nose to hold the laughter in at his stupid ass.
“All good, man. Just hope she doesn't spread it around before Andrea has a chance to tell anyone.”
“You think she would care if I told Lauren?” he asks sincerely.
“No, she loves Lauren. I'm sure she will tell her when she has more info to share. I don't know how all this works, she should be going to the doctor soon.”
Megan brings our shots and another beer for each of us back to our table. Setting them down smiling, she asks, “Anything else I can get for you before I bring your bill?”
“I think we’re good, thanks,” I tell her.
Blushing, she hurries back over to the computer to get our bill.
Brad picks his shot up and raises it toward me. “To new adventures, man. May they be all you ever need.”
Clinking my glass with his, we down our shots. Feeling the burn of the whiskey down my throat, I take a swig of my beer. I swing by Megan to order another few shots on my way to the bathroom to take a piss.
“I'm gonna finish this up and head over to see my girl,” I tell Brad.
“Good, Lauren has class tonight so she is gonna meet me here. She called while you were taking a piss,” he says while grabbing money from his wallet and throwing it down.
“No, man. You aren't buying both,” I tell him.
“Yeah I am, this is a celebration. Just remember that later when you hold your girl. Everything happens for a reason.”
I sit in thought at what he just said and rub my hand down my face. Well shit, maybe he's right. She was already it for me, I guess we will have to see.