Chapter Eight
The days turned into weeks, and then Carly got her menstrual cycle, which came with a bit of relief, and then complete and total sadness. She wanted a baby so much, and it didn’t look like she was going to get it.
She stood at work, dealing with the cramps, as they were par for the course. She kept smiling at the customers, serving them drinks, taking their meal orders, and then cleaning up the mess.
Reese came in to show off some of the baby photos he’d gotten from the latest ultrasound. It was cute to see how excited he was, and to know he was looking forward to the baby. He’d already asked Misha to marry him, and she’d said yes. They had also moved in together, and from what Sarah had told her, they were in the process of making up the nursery.
There was going to be a little housewarming party in a couple of weeks, and Reese wanted to show off his baby nursery.
Carly couldn’t wait. She had hoped he’d call and ask for their help, but also understood this was something he needed to do with Misha, his future bride. She’d want to do it with Nate, and possibly have the others around, but she didn’t know.
Dalton had also come around to complain about his latest … STI. Yeah, she didn’t need to hear how uncaring he was about his health and sex. He’d gone to all the sex education classes, done the work, and it would seem he didn’t pay attention to any of it, because he was the one at the sexual health clinic at least once a month. She truly hoped he got his act together before something serious happened.
She’d already seen Sarah that afternoon, and once again all she wanted to talk about was Nate. Sarah had even mentioned being worried about him getting old and not finding a woman.
For the first time in her life, Carly had struggled to not get angry. Why did Sarah care so much, and did it matter if Nate had a wife or not? She felt so hurt. Also, she didn’t like the very thought of Nate being with someone else. She didn’t want him to be with anyone but her. Did that make her selfish? Mean? Was she holding him back?
I love him.
She had to leave Sarah, after telling her to stop meddling in people’s lives. This wasn’t her. She didn’t know what was wrong.
You’re jealous.
Jealous and scared.
All of her old insecurities kept coming back to her, filling her with a fear she didn’t recognize. Actually, she did recognize it, but she didn’t like it.
Sarah talking about Nate reminded her of old fears of him finding someone else. What if he found another woman while trying to get her pregnant, or after she was pregnant? What would she do then? Carly didn’t know if she was strong enough to handle it.
The hours at work ticked by and for the first time in her life, she wasn’t happy about it. Normally, work allowed her to forget about her troubles, even if it was just for a little while, but that wasn’t happening now. If anything, it was making her think about everything. It must have been a slow night. She blew out a breath, and when it was time to leave, she was exhausted and ready to call it a day.
Stepping out of the bar, into the night air, which was still warm even though they were heading into fall, she expected to see Mitch. Nate’s car lights flashed, and she couldn’t help that little jump in her step of excitement at the prospect of seeing him.
With her menstrual cycle paying a visit, she had expected him to not even bother showing up, and now she felt that little drum of excitement. She rushed across the road, rounded the car, and climbed in. “Hi,” she said.
Like all the other times, Nate cupped her face and pulled her in close. His kisses always made her breathless and this was no exception.
“Where’s Mitch?” she asked.
Nate chuckled. “I kiss you like that and you’re more interested in knowing what Mitch is doing?” he asked.
“It’s just that … you know, he normally picks me up.” She gave a little shrug.
“I’ve been the one coming to pick you up, baby. Why do you think that’s going to change?”
Now, she felt even more embarrassed. “Have you forgotten that … you know, it’s that time of the month?” She didn’t know if she could say it any softer. She pressed her lips together and then chanced a look toward him.
“I know it is, but what does that have to do with Mitch coming to see you?” Nate frowned.
“I … we … can’t…” Carly couldn’t even bring herself to finish. “I mean, don’t you want to?”
“More than anything, but I also know I’m going to take care of you. I’ve already got a pot of chicken soup in the fridge. All I’ve got to do is heat it up to piping hot.”
“Chicken soup?” she asked.
“I know you’re not ill. I know this is something all women go through, and I know you love to eat chicken soup, and I’m going to take care of you.” He shrugged.
Carly couldn’t believe it, and yet within an hour, she had already been showered and enjoyed a bowl of hot, delicious chicken soup. Now she was curled up in bed with Nate, washed and fully naked, by her side. He’d pulled her against him, and he began to rub her stomach.
“You don’t have to do that,” she said.
“I want to, unless it’s hurting you. Does it hurt?”
“No, it’s kind of nice.”
Some months, the pain was quite bad, that she did curl up with a water bottle, but this month was okay. If anything, she felt sad that she wasn’t pregnant. With Nate being so loving and attentive, she wanted to start asking him questions about their future. She still didn’t have the courage to ask questions, for fear she wouldn’t like the answers.
Nate had always told her to only ask him stuff she wanted to know the answers for. When it came to Nate, nothing scared her. She knew who he was and what he could do. To her, Nate wasn’t a cruel man, even though he did bad things to others. The world wasn’t a good place, it was full of monsters, and each of them could share a tale of their time with them.
“Do you want to tell me what you’re thinking about?” Nate asked.
She opened her mouth, then closed it and shook her head. “I’m not thinking anything.”
He gave a tut. “Well, that is certainly a lie, but don’t worry, I know one day soon, you’re going to have the confidence enough to share with me.” And then he kissed her on the head, and Carly snuggled up against him.
She wanted to bottle up these feelings and never let him go. It felt so good, and she felt so complete.
The only problem was, she knew this was a ticking time bomb, and one day soon it was going to blow.
****
Nate followed Reese around the baby department.
The man’s shopping cart was already set to heaving with everything he had placed inside. Nate was shocked that he’d gone from being terrified at becoming a dad, to suddenly excited. It was a good change. Nate hoped he stayed on that path and didn’t freak out again.
“So, what is the plan now?” Nate asked.
“I want to get everything. Diapers, bottles, the sterilizing kits, breast pump.”
“Breast pump?”
“Yeah, Misha is going to breastfeed, or at least she is hoping to do that.” Reese ran his fingers through his hair. “A pacifier, and lots of other shit that’s on the list.” He slapped it with the back of his hand.
It was then that Nate noticed the palm at Reese’s side, tapping himself, constantly.
“Do you want to tell me what’s going on there?” Nate asked.
“Nothing is going on. It’s all good. All fine.” He started to click his tongue.
Nate took the list from him, and his friend went to snatch it away. He folded it up and shoved it into his pocket. He didn’t care where they were, only that he helped Reese.
“Talk to me,” he said.
Reese took a deep breath and then expelled it. “There is nothing to talk about. There is a lot to get ready.”
“And you’ve got another five months to get ready,” Nate said.
“Yeah, but the sooner I get this stuff done, then I don’t have to worry in case I…” Reese stopped and then pressed his lips together.
Nate waited.
“You know, I don’t think it was a good idea to bring you along. Maybe Dalton would have been better.”
“Dalton has another STI, and is moping about it, and he’d get on your nerves.”
“Mitch then,” Reese said.
Nate rolled his eyes. “Mitch would be miserable and just follow you around, which makes you nervous, especially when you’re in one of these weird moods. Do you want to talk about it?”
“No,” Reese said.
“Do you want to bottle it all up so you don’t have a clue what to do or what to say, and then hope for the best?”
“Yes,” he said. “That is exactly what I want to do. I’m going to be a father in less than five months, and I don’t have the luxury of losing it anymore, or going out and sleeping with random women. I have to stay focused and do the right thing.”
Nate folded his arms across his chest.
“Don’t,” Reese said. “Not all of us are like you.”
“Like me?”
“Yeah, only have your eyes on one woman. Like Carly is the whole freaking world.”
“Don’t bring Carly into this. Have you cheated on Misha?” Nate asked.
“No, I haven’t, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t had offers.” Reese stepped away from his cart and began to pace a little up and down the aisle. “I don’t know how you do it, or how you can stand to do it.”
“Do what?”
“With Carly. Let’s face it, you two have been dancing around each other for nearly two decades. I get it when we were kids, but now, I mean, what is the holdup? What is stopping the two of you from getting it on?” Reese stopped and looked at him.
“So, let me get this straight, because I can see myself being loyal to Carly for the rest of my life, you have a problem with it?”
“There are a lot of beautiful women out there, and I’m … what if I’m not strong enough?” Reese asked. “I can tell them all to fuck off now, but what about ten years from now? Twenty years?”
“Assuming you’re still a catch then?” he asked.
Reese rolled his eyes at him, and Nate couldn’t help but laugh.
“Look, if it helps in any way, imagine Misha feeling the same.”
“What?” Reese stopped and glared at him.
“Imagine your worry about all of those hot young women wanting to learn a thing or two from you, and then think of Misha, only it’s hot young men.”
Reese growled. “That’s not going to happen.”
“You expect Misha to stay home and play the role of adoring wife and mother while you’re out playing the field?” Nate tutted. “Here’s another thing for you. What if you have this one kid, and you absolutely love it? This could be one of a dozen kids.”
“That is not going to happen.”
“You might love being a dad,” Nate said. “And what then? You’re going to fight that urge?”
“You know, I don’t like you at the moment.”
“I think I can live with that.”
Reese no longer looked ready to run and hide, and he considered that a job well done.
Pulling out the list, he handed it to Reese, who took it back with a glare. “So, if you’re so clever and you have the answers to everything, why is it you’re not with Carly right now?”
“That is none of your business.”
Reese snorted. “Come on, do you think you and Carly are fooling anyone? A couple of weeks back, we all knew what you had snuck off to the bathroom to do.” He shook his head. “You’ve been happier than you have in a long time, and you’ve not had one of your crazy outbursts, where we have to call Carly to calm you down.”
Over the years Nate’s anger had gotten the better of him, especially when he was dealing with someone who reminded him of their past. He knew firsthand there were monsters out there, true evil, and when he encountered it as the man he was now, he had to annihilate it. Sometimes it ignited a bloodlust that was hard to shut down, and the guys had no choice but to get Carly.
She was the only one he listened to. Her soft voice pulled him back from the point of no return. She was the light in his world.
“This is our business,” Nate said.
Reese snorted. “Oh, please, we’re all friends here and we know how important it is for the two of you to get together. Sarah has been plotting it for years. She just hasn’t been successful. I hope no one ever employs her at a matchmaking service. They would be destroyed within a week for her influence.”
Nate couldn’t help but laugh, but it was true. So true.
“Are you good?” he asked, more concerned about his friend.
“Yeah, I’m good. I don’t even know what my problem is. I’m going to get married to an amazing woman. Probably have a horrible brat that I spoil rotten, and of course, like you said, want lots more brats.” Reese shook his head. “You’re a good friend.”
Much to Nate’s surprise, Reese pulled him in for a hug, and he didn’t try to fight it.
****
“Why are we back here and there’s no food?” Dalton asked.
Sarah was appalled at Dalton. “Has anyone ever told you, you moan a lot?”
Dalton stuck his tongue out of her and then flipped her the bird.
“Real mature.” She shook her head. Dalton would forever be the childish one of the group.
She looked toward Reese and Mitch. “You do realize why you’re here, don’t you?”
They shrugged and Sarah sighed.
“Thank you, you see, it’s not just me. I’m not the only one confused by all your little secret meetings, and all the crap you want us to do,” Dalton said.
“Can I throttle him?” Sarah asked, looking toward Mitch.
“By all means, do so, but I’m not the one who is going to deal with your guilt when you’re finished.”
She closed her eyes and counted to ten. “I told you we needed to help Nate and Carly see that they’re meant to be together. This is our meeting to see how we’re doing.”
“And we agreed to this?” Reese asked.
She stamped her foot. She’d made them a hot chocolate, and even went the extra mile in making some whipped cream, and now they were annoying her.
“I am going to beat the shit out of all of you,” Sarah said, and then rubbed at her temples. “Give me strength.” She then shook her head and blew out a breath. “We all agreed this was in Nate’s and Carly’s best interest if they were to stay together. Did we not?”
All three men looked at each other, clueless.
She growled. “Seriously, am I the only person who cares about our friends?”
“You’re not the only person who cares, but you seem to be the only person who is slightly obsessed at trying to bring them together,” Reese said.
“I agree with what that man said,” Dalton said, pointing a finger at Reese.
She couldn’t believe she had even considered needing or wanting their help, and instead she turned toward Mitch. “Do you have an update?”
“I don’t have anything to report, because there’s nothing to report. What you need to do is stop meddling, and you know, allow them to find their own path.”
“Okay, they’re both nearly in their thirties. We’re also assuming Carly nearly is, but that doesn’t matter, Nate certainly is. They have wasted enough time. They need to get together,” Sarah said.
“Why?” Dalton asked. “Why does anything need to change? They are clearly happy together, and you’re doing everything in your power to spoil it.”
“I’m not trying to spoil anything. I just want my friends together and happy. They deserve it, and for the longest time, they have been taking care of us and our shit. Don’t you see that? I do. Yeah, it took me a long time to see they were taking care of us. But they’re like our parents, and because of it, they haven’t thought to come together, and I’m trying to fix it.”
Sarah knew she had wasted enough of their time, and she didn’t want to waste another moment. She didn’t know if Dalton, Mitch, or Reese knew of the late-night phone calls she placed to Carly, to ask for her help. Of course, some of those problems had resulted in Carly having no choice but to call Nate.
Both had come to her rescue, all because she had been convinced she knew what was best for herself. She’d been a party animal, and as such, had been lured into some difficult situations. There had even been a small incident with drugs, which she wasn’t too proud of either. There were a lot of things she wasn’t proud of, and she hoped to never cause any problems again.
She had seen everything, and now all she wanted to do was make it up to her two best friends. If they were not going to help each other, and Mitch, Dalton, and Reese wouldn’t help her, then it was up to her to make sure Nate and Carly ended up together.