Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
A aron
I told my parents I have a friend joining us for dinner. Mom got excited, even though I told her Briar isn’t my girlfriend. I kind of confused her because why would I bring a random girl to dinner? When she asked what was going on, I told them to wait until we get to the restaurant. I don’t know why it was important for me to have Briar with me, but it felt like this was something we needed to do together as a team.
Now I am standing outside the steakhouse, waiting for Briar in the parking lot, because she got lost and couldn’t find the place. I didn’t want her to walk in the parking lot alone at night.
I see her red SUV pull into the lot and I walk toward her spot.
I walk up to her door and she smiles at me. That smile does something to my insides, and that’s what tells me this girl is different. Not because she’s carrying my baby, but from the start I felt things I’ve never felt before.
She gets out of the car and slips on her jacket and takes her purse.
“Hi,” I say and lean in for a hug.
“Hi,” she replies. The hug is awkward. “Are you sure you want me here for this? I’ve never met a boyfriend’s parents before. Uh, not that you’re my boyfriend, but this is serious and, uh, permanent.”
She’s nervous too.
“We’re having this baby together, so I wanted my parents to meet you,” I explain. “I’m sure they’re going to love you. I’m warning you in advance, Mom has always been a hugger but now she is a lot more emotional because, you know. . .”
“Yeah, I get it. I mean, I don’t, my mom is not the hugging type, but I get that some parents are. I want to be that way with this nugget.” She holds her stomach.
“I’m sure you’ll be a great mom,” I say to her.
“Thanks,” she giggles. “I’m low-key freaking out. I don’t know anything about babies or pregnancies. I’ve been doing a lot of Google searches.”
“I have too,” I confess, feeling my cheeks heat. “How do you tell your parents you got a one-night stand pregnant? What do you say to make your baby mama feel better?”
Briar laughs. “That’s sweet, Aaron.”
“Hey, I’m not sweet. Don’t let anyone hear you say that.” I look around to make sure there is no one around.
We head into the restaurant. I place my hand on her lower back and it feels like I am claiming her, like she is mine, even though I know she isn’t.
We head over to the table where my parents are sitting side by side at a booth.
“Mom, Dad, this is Briar Halle,” I say.
Dad stands to shake her hand and Mom squeezes past him to walk over to Briar and hug her. I give Briar an “I told you so” look and she grins.
“She’s so pretty,” Mom says, pulling back and looking at Briar.
“Thank you,” Briar says, her chin dipped and her cheeks two bright red tomatoes.
“Okay, let’s give her space,” I encourage. We all take our seats and the server comes by to take our drink order.
We all settle into our seats.
“That was a good game tonight,” Briar says.
“Are you a big hockey fan?” Dad asks.
“Oh, not at all. That was my second hockey game. I didn’t really know what was going on, but there were a bunch of girls from Riverside there who were commentating the whole game. I get the gist though. You want to get the puck in the net that isn’t yours,” she says. I can tell she’s nervous.
“Briar is a gymnast. She’s on Riverside’s gymnastics team. She wants to go to the Olympics,” I say because I feel like I need to send Briar a life preserver, only I don’t think I’ve helped all that much.
“Wow, that’s cool,” Mom says.
“Yeah, well, now I don’t know if I’ll be going to the Olympics,” Briar says and then her eyes turn wide as saucers. Okay, I guess this is our segue to why we are here tonight.
“Why wouldn’t you be going?” Dad asks curiously.
I clear my throat and cut in, “So here’s the thing. Briar and I were together in Punta Cana. She kind of got pregnant.”
“Kind of got pregnant?” Dad asks.
“No, I’m pregnant,” Briar confirms.
“Oh my gosh,” Mom gushes. Her eyes fill with tears. “Brody, did you hear that?” She is now looking at my dad, who is also starting to tear up.
“I did, honey,” he says and they stare into each other’s eyes. It looks so intimate I feel like I’m intruding.
“Sorry,” Mom clears her throat. “I’m guessing you were both taken by surprise.”
“To say the least,” Briar snorts. Yup, she is super nervous.
“I get it. You weren’t planned either, Aaron, but you ended up being the greatest gift of our lives. I thought I wouldn’t be around to see a grandchild and now, here you are, telling me I will.” Mom bursts into tears.
Dad starts hugging her.
“So you guys aren’t mad?” Briar asks and Dad and Mom pull apart.
“No, dear,” Mom says.
“You know we aren’t together,” I clarify.
“For now,” Dad says and Briar shifts in the seat beside me.
“I had a feeling you met someone on the trip. You sounded different,” Mom says. “Lighter, happier.”
She isn’t wrong. “Can we discuss that later, so you don’t embarrass me?”
“Sorry.” Mom winces and laughs. “We have some celebrating to do.” When the server comes by, we all order our meals. Briar wants to order a salad, but Mom tells her she needs a balanced meal and convinces her to take a steak. Dad orders some sparkling cider to make a toast since Briar and Mom both can’t drink. The meds Mom takes can’t be mixed with alcohol.
We all sit around and enjoy the meal. My parents ask Briar about school. Briar tells them her due date. Then she mentions her upcoming ultrasound.
“Well, you two have quite the year ahead of you,” Dad notes. “Things will be changing fast, but change isn’t bad. It can be good too.”
“It’s scary,” Briar confesses.
Mom reaches out her hand to Briar and Briar takes it. “If you need anything or have any questions, please call me. We will need to have you over to the house for dinner. You can meet the rest of the family.”
“Thanks,” Briar says and her eyes fill with tears.
“Oh no, don’t cry,” I say to her.
Dad starts laughing at me. “Son, it’s fine. She’s emotional. Your mom gets that way too. Tears are a sign she has feelings about her feelings, that’s a good thing.”
I blow out a breath and laugh. I also dip my head, feeling slightly embarrassed.
After dinner my parents drive home. Since I came here with them, I’ll ride back to Riverside with Briar. Since she is feeling sleepy, I drive us back in her SUV.
Her head is resting on the headrest as I drive.
“Your parents are special people,” she says.
“Yeah, they are,” I agree.
Briar nods off while I’m driving. I have the open road and a lot of time to think. I think of Dad’s words. Change isn’t always a bad thing, and my parents were right, I did feel lighter and happier in Punta Cana. It was the happiest I felt since Mom’s diagnosis.
We make it back to Riverside and I pull up to Briar’s house and wake her. “We’re here,” I say gently. She slowly opens her ocean-blue eyes.
“I need to take you home.”
“It’s okay. I’ll call an Uber, you’re exhausted,” I say to her.
We get out of the car and I walk her to her front door. I kiss her forehead, even though I’d like to be kissing her lips.
“Thanks for taking me along tonight. Your parents are so nice and it felt good to be included,” she says.
From the little I know about her family; it sounds like they abandoned her and Briar is used to being alone. My family is the polar opposite. Especially my extended family. They can be overwhelming.
“We’re in this together, Briar. We’re a team,” I assure her.
She smiles but it doesn’t touch her eyes.
“Get some rest, Buttercup,” I say to her.
She nods and heads into the house. I decide not to take an Uber. I sent my bag back with the guys on the bus, so it’s not like I need to carry anything and a walk alone at night is exactly what I need. As I walk down the dark quiet streets, I remember Briar told me from the start I wasn’t what she was looking for. She has her life planned out. Although we are definitely taking a detour now. Does that mean she would be open to getting to know me? Does she just see me as her baby daddy? I know what she thinks of jocks, but if I could just prove to her I’m not the same guy I was, even six months ago, maybe she would give me a shot.
As I’m walking my phone rings and Mom’s name lights up my screen.
“Hi, Mom.” My heart almost broke tonight when she said she had wished for a grandchild.
“Hi, baby,” she replies. “Did you get back to town okay?”
“Yeah,” I sigh. “Just dropped Briar off.”
“I like her,” Mom says.
“I like her too,” I reply because she is my mom.
“I could tell,” Mom says.
“I don’t think the feelings are mutual,” I confess.
“She has a lot going on. A lot of changes. Do you know anything about her family? I didn’t want to put her on the spot.”
“Her mom is kind of in the picture. Her parents are divorced and she hasn’t really spoken to her dad in like a decade.”
“Tough,” Mom says. “She must be so overwhelmed.”
“Yeah,” I agree.
“But us Murrays know how to support each other,” she states.
“We do, I just don’t know where she stands. I don’t want to push her too much. She’s been open about everything and I don’t want to lose that.”
“One day at a time, Aaron.”
“I know, Mom.”
“Have a good night, baby.”
“You too.”
We end the call and my heart aches a little more than it did earlier.