21
OLLY
Gasping, I sit straight up in bed. I’m covered in sweat, panting like I just ran in for a touchdown. Except the panic racing through me is definitely not from making a great play.
What the hell am I going to do? I’m going to be a fucking father. I don’t even have my own health insurance. I’m on my parents’ plan.
In the bathroom, I flip on the harsh light and blast the cold water and splash my face.
I didn’t lie to Maggie. I’ll be there for her no matter how this all goes down, but it doesn’t mean I’m not scared shitless. But if I’m afraid, she must be terrified, so there’s no way I’m going to portray anything but a stalwart conviction we can get through this.
It’s six a.m. I won’t be able to fall asleep again, so I throw on some gym shorts, grab my phone, and wander down to the workout room. The benefit to living in a house of football players is that we have great amenities. I get some tunes going on my phone, plug in my headphones, and turn up the treadmill to a slow jog. If this injury has taught me anything, it’s the need to warm up and start slow.
It’s what I should have done with Maggie. We should’ve started with some nice dates. I should have wined and dined her, shown her that I’ve grown up and that I’m serious about her.
What did I do instead? Fucked her so hard we broke the headboard and got her pregnant after what she thought was a one-night stand.
Holy shit, I’ve knocked up my best friend’s little sister.
There’s a one hundred percent chance Sebastian is going to kill me. If I were in his shoes, I’d kill me.
If Maggie and I could’ve gone slow, if I’d dated her, I think Sebastian would’ve been cool. But I don’t see how he’s going to take this news well.
After I warm up, I go through the series of stretches my physical therapist taught me. Then I jump back on the treadmill and crank it up until I’m sweating and able to work off some of this anxiety.
By the time I head upstairs, the sun is up and the guys are moving around in their rooms. Johnny’s sitting on the kitchen counter in his underwear, eating cold pizza. He waves it at me. “You work out already?”
“Yup.” I chug water and ignore the sting of sweat in my eyes.
“You gonna miss me next year?”
I tilt my head one way, then the other. “I don’t know. It’s possible.”
“Don’t lie. You know I’m the best part of your day.”
I crack a smile. “Who’s gonna bust my balls when you’re gone?”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
Most of my roommates are graduating and moving across the country for football or jobs. I slap Johnny on the shoulder. “Proud of you, man. Who knew you’d be such a great kicker when you smoke so much weed?”
“This is true. Even my mother’s shocked.” Johnny got drafted. He’s headed to Arizona. I’m gonna miss this crazy bastard. “Gonna smoke a giant bong tonight and go cold turkey. Don’t want anything to mess up my big ride.”
“That’s a solid plan.”
“You know how they say a cat has nine lives? I feel like I’ve already used at least seven. Rider has a kid. Ben does too. You got injured. And the joke is I’m the biggest fuck-up of us all, and look at me. I’m the one who woke up in someone’s yard, buck naked, with wildflowers in my ass, and I somehow managed to get through it all unscathed. Doesn’t seem fair, but I’m not looking the gift horse in the mouth. I’m gonna get my shit on straight before I test fate one too many times.”
“You’re not a fuck-up.” Him thinking this way is half the problem. “Just needed to spread your wings and live a little. No fuck-up I know would babysit as much as you do.”
“That’s beautiful, man.” He pretends to wipe a tear. “But let’s not forget Ben and Rider made me babysit their snotty kidlets.”
I chuckle. As if he doesn’t love those babies.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him about Maggie being pregnant, but we said we’d keep it under wraps until she could get in to see the doctor and confirm everything. I feel like I’m going to burst with the news. One minute, I’m elated. I’m having a kid with Magnolia Morales, one of the most beautiful, smart, and feisty women I know. The next, I’m losing my shit.
What if my knee blows? What if I don’t get drafted next year? What if I do get drafted but suck ass? How the hell am I going to afford a kid?
Does this mean Maggie and I should get married? Should I offer? Will she laugh in my face?
