But almost as soon as the words came out of Rosie’s mouth and echoed around her quaint kitchen, that perfect life I imagined for myself changed instantly.
I’ve always been safe, always double bagged, even going so far as to pull out when I get paranoid. My sister got pregnant at seventeen and I saw how her life changed instantly. It was enough to make me triple sure there were no eighteen-year consequences for one night of fun.
But Rosie was different. I was too in the moment, too lost in her big blue eyes, her soft curves, and her tight pussy to even consider any consequences.
And they sure caught up with me.
The date I had envisioned changed from lust-filled flirting to practical planning pretty quickly after the news.
I left with a gentle kiss on her cheek and a promise to call her the next day after work.
With nothing to do other than think and plan, as soon as I get back to my hotel I open the notes app on my phone and start a list.
Doctors Appointments
Live where?
Names
Tell Mum??
That last one makes my stomach twist. Gloria Harper had a meltdown when my little sister Ella announced she was pregnant. Well, she was just shy of seventeen. I’m a grown man. It’s natural for a man my age to settle down, have a family.
The settling down might come as more of a shock than the baby news.
I’m getting ahead of myself. We’re not even in a relationship, despite my best efforts.
I can’t tell my mum but I can probably get away with speaking to my sister.
My phone is in my hand before I can talk myself out of it.
“Hi Jackie,” Ella’s chipper voice echoes down the line, slightly out of breath. “What’s up?”
I take a seat on the bed in my room, running my hand through my hair as I ask, “Why does something have to be up to call my favorite sister? Where are you?”
I can hear a loud rustle on the other end of the line followed by a yelp.
“Don’t ask. Nina’s fostered another dog. But it was following her around and tripping her up so she handed me the leash and told me to go for a run. So that’s what I’m doing.”
I huff a laugh. “And Cody?” I ask, referring to my nephew. “Is he banished too?”
“No, he’s been playing that new game you got him for hours, so he’s not even left his room.”
My twelve year old nephew is a quiet one. It’s hard to get him to say more than twenty words each time I see him. Nothing like the rambunctious toddler I used to carry around on my shoulders. I figured early on that bribery will get me everywhere, hence the copy ofLanes 7that I managed to get on pre-release.
Perks of the job.
“Right, I’ve had enough of this, I hate running. Why did I agree to this?”
“Because you love your wife.” I reply.
“Ugh, not right now. So, why are you calling again?”
I clear my throat. “Do you uh, remember when you got pregnant with Cody?”
“Uh, yeah it’s kind of hard to forget the birth of my one and only child, Jackie.”
“What do you…” I start with no idea what I actually need from her. “What did you do?”
