Chapter 34
Consoling a Friend – Kayla
I t was Callie who brought up the fact that I should probably wait until Jack can be properly STD tested before taking our relationship to the next level. And I was so grateful to her for thinking and saying something.
Of course, I’m no virgin, but the thought honestly didn’t even cross my mind—as embarrassed as I am to admit that.
“What’d he say?” she asks after tip toeing into my cabin later that night. She somehow managed to get her straight brown hair back into a teeny tiny ponytail near the nape of her neck—although chunks were still falling on the sides. Regardless, she looked adorable, as always.
“That he understood.”
“Oh, good.”
I’m sitting with my legs in a pretzel, but I shift when one of my feet starts to fall asleep. “He said he’s going to get tested in Greece.”
“Aw, that makes me happy.”
I’m confused. “What?”
“Just that he seems to be a good guy. I always hoped he was. But before you came along, none of us had a whole lot of access to his actual personality. Instead, there was an atmosphere of ‘Don’t speak unless spoken to.’ I mean, I suppose it’s still kind of like that. Except for you.”
My shoulders wriggle at the thought of me having special privileges. Even after everything, I still didn’t feel like I deserved them deep down.
Then, her face falls flat again.
I put one hand on her shoulder. “Cal? Is everything okay?”
She’s looking down on her phone. “Um, I guess we randomly hit a spot where I could connect to my 5G.”
Oh, no. I know where this is going. The notorious, four-letter named man.
Tears well up in her eyes, and she wipes at them with the back of her hand as they start to fall down her cheeks.
“Did they have the baby?”
She bobs her head up and down before breaking down into hysterics.
“Oh, Callie.” I scooch myself closer to her and envelope her in a hug, letting her cry as much as she wants on my covered shoulder. “I’m so sorry.” I want to be clear; I have no problem being there for her when she’s sober and talking about it. Like I said, I understand that it really, really sucks. It’s just when she’s drunkenly blathering on about it that I struggle with my patience a little.
Spluttering, she says, “It’s a little boy. The perfect seven pounds and eight ounces.”
When she pulls away from me, I run my thumbs along the bottom of her eyes.
“Of course, I’d never wish them or the baby any ill will. I’m glad he’s healthy.”
“But that doesn’t make it hurt any less.”
She sniffles. “Uh-uh.”
I tuck my legs in on themselves again and lean forward. “Well, tell me. What makes you feel better? Talking about the baby or not?” I’m in uncharted waters here, and I want to do whatever makes her more comfortable.
“I think to talk about it.”
“Okay.” I lean back and get a tissue for her, which she blows her nose into after I hand it to her. “Tell me about him. I already know he’s a healthy size. What’s his name?”
“Diederik.”
My goodness. She isn’t proving my theory wrong about her hometown and having… unique names for their children.
“Diedrik. That’s, um, interesting.”
“No, Diederik.”
Oh. I guess I missed the extra “er-ik.”
She looks up at me with her big, brown eyes. “That’s what we were going to name our child.”
Once again, she collapses against me, but I’m happy to be here for her.
“I’m so sorry. Is it, um, a family name?”
I feel her nod on my shoulder. “It’s his name and was his father’s and grandfather’s. It’s Dutch. His middle name is James. I’m not sure where that comes from.” Her breath is hot against my skin.
“Maybe Petunias’ side of the family?” I guess.
“Yeah, maybe.” She sits up straight and places with the tissue before slapping her thigh. “I just feel so stupid.”
“Stupid? Why?” It’s not her fault Dirk and Petunia were getting down and dirty in her absence.
She frowns. “Part of me thought there might still be a chance. But after—after seeing their pictures together, and as a happy family of three, I’m realizing that was all just a dream. And one that won’t come true.”
I tuck some of her longer hair behind her ear. “I know that really hurts. I do. But I also think you’re an amazing person for not wanting to break up their family.”
“Well, of course not. How could I live with myself if I did?”
I softly rub at her back now. “Exactly, and as hard as it is to see now, I promise—absolutely promise you—that the love of your life is out there.” I’m pretty sure I’ve said the exact same thing to my other bestie, Molly. But unlike Callie, she never seemed interested in settling down. Instead, she liked playing the field.
Then, I remember the leftover soufflé Jack wrapped up for me to take with me.
“Do you like chocolate?” For me, it feels like it can heal all wounds.
She’s hugging her legs to her chest, with her face resting against her knees, but she still nods.
Perfect. “Here.” I unwrap the delicious treat, hand it over to her, and then get a plastic fork out of my drawer.
“Oh, no. I can’t—”
“You can,” I correct.
“Jack made this for you.”
I flick my wrist at her. “But I’ve had plenty. Plus, you need it more than I do right now.”
Hesitantly, she takes a bite. “Wow.”
I’m just standing and watching—my hands resting at the small of my back. “Right?”
“God is kind of unfair huh?” she comments after a few more bites.
“How do you mean?”
“Well.” She shields her mouth with a diagonal finger while she swallows. “He gives someone like Jack Shelley so much intelligence and talent. It’s like, what is there for the rest of us.”
I sit down again. “Plenty. It’s like my father used to say, no matter who you are, you’ll always find someone who is better and someone who is worse than you at whatever you think you excel in.”
She gives me a funny face. “And that’s supposed to make you feel better?”
“Well, yeah. I guess it’s also like the saying about nobody being perfect. The best each one of us can do is just be the best and kindest people we can be.”
“That’s pretty insightful.”
I pretend to bow. “Why, thank you. Just call me, ‘Kayla Allen, philosopher to the stars.’”
She takes a pillow from behind her and lightly smacks me with it. “Yeah, okay.”
When she’s finished, I set the tin and utensil aside. “Well, do you feel a little better?”
“I guess.” She lets out an exaggerate sigh. “It helps to think that if I was still with Dirk, I would probably be stuck in our old hodunk town.”
“That’s a very good way to think of it. As long as that isn’t somewhere you see yourself settling down.”
She grimaces. “Oh, god no.”
Oh. I personally like my little town. But that’s me. However, at that realization, a wave of fear washes over me, as I can’t imagine for a second Jack would be happy in a place like Aurora, Indiana.
You’re getting way too far ahead of yourself, I remember.
“Anyway,” I say after bringing myself back out of my head. “What were we saying?”
“Just how it’s good I’m not with Dirk because I’m not trapped anywhere.”
Ah, yes. “Exactly.”
“Do you want to see a picture of the baby? I saved a screenshot.”
“Oh, um. Sure.” Although, I’m not sure how I’m supposed to respond—telling her he’s cute might hurt her, but saying he’s ugly also feels icky.
But luckily for me, he looks like any other squishy newborn baby without particularly distinguishing features.
“Ah.” That’s all I mutter.
“Yeah.” She puts the phone away and purses her lips to the side. “Since you aren’t getting any action from the boss man, can I stay in here tonight?”
I hug her to the side. “Of course.”