Chapter 25
Wesley
I’ve been to lunch and dinner at the Jennings’ house before, but this is the first time I’ve ever been this nervous.
I don’t know what the reaction will be to the news of Addison and me, and I don’t exactly know how we’re even going to bring it up. Part of me wishes we would’ve just told our families on our own, instead of as a joint effort.
We were going to do it last week, but then Ella had the baby, and there was enough going on with that. We didn’t want to take the spotlight or anything.
When Addison opens the front door, she’s in the same thing she wore to church—a gray sweater and light-blue jeans. She had boots on but it looks like she traded them for purple fuzzy socks.
“Welcome to the chaos.” She smiles.
As I slip out of my boots, I hear a crying baby in the background. I haven’t met Cora yet, but that won’t be the case for much longer.
“You seem nervous,” she says. I glare at her. She laughs and nudges my shoulder. “Relax.”
Following her into the kitchen, I see Maureen at the oven, and Jesse and Mason at the counter lining cupcake trays.
“How are you, Wes?” Maureen gives me a hug.
“Good, thanks for having me,” I say, but suddenly wish I wouldn’t have. They technically didn’t invite me. Addison told them I was coming a few days ago.
Cody comes around the corner with an empty pitcher. “Hey, what’s up.” He nods at me, stopping at the sink to refill.
“Not much.”
He looks back at me. “So, you came empty-handed?”
“Cody,” Maureen scolds, but he laughs and so do I. I know he’s just being Cody and giving me a hard time. If he didn’t, I’d think he didn’t like me.
We all sit down at the table. I’m next to Addison and Mason, across from Cody, with Leonard and Jesse at the heads. Maureen and Ella are along the other side.
Leonard starts the prayer. I can sense Addison’s nerves by the way her leg bounces up and down beside mine. I stealthily reach my hand over, setting it on her thigh. Her hand settles on top of mine and she holds onto my fingers.
It’s a short-lived thing, but I think it helped; her leg isn’t shaking anymore.
The conversations flow naturally as the food gets passed around. The pork tenderloin coupled with the smell of mashed potatoes and gravy makes my stomach growl. I didn’t eat a lot for breakfast. Maureen usually makes a big meal and I wanted to save room.
“So. How is life going for the new parents?” Mason asks, looking at Jesse and then Ella. They look down at Cora sleeping in some sort of baby seat next to the table.
“Good!” Ella smiles.
“Can’t complain yet, she doesn’t do a whole lot.” Jesse shrugs.
“When do you think we can teach her how to use a duck call?” Cody asks. Laughs sound from around the table. “What? I’m serious,” he adds.
“The correct way? Cody, I think you were about ten, Jesse was eight,” Leonard says with a chuckle.
“Sounds right,” Jesse says.
“Whoa, whoa, wait. Why was I such a late bloomer?” Cody argues.
“Because you lack patience,” Addison mutters.
“Then how ’bout Mason? He’s not that patient either,” Cody says.
Maureen looks to Leonard, thinking, but Mason interjects. “I think I was eight or nine. I remember taking it for show-and-tell in third grade. Ladies liked that,” he jokes.
Everyone can’t help but laugh, including me.
I glance at Addison. She’s smiling but it doesn’t quite meet her eyes.
When I look down at her plate, I realize she’s barely touched any of it.
I lean over to catch her attention, brushing my hand against her leg nonchalantly and quickly, and she looks up at me.
I see it in her eyes…she just wants to get it out there so she can relax.
I glance back around the table, the conversation about duck calls winding down, laughter fading. I wait for a beat of quiet, then take in a breath.
“So,” I begin, all eyes turning to me, “Addison and I have some news.” I rest my arm on the back of her chair, feeling the nerves roil in my stomach.
My gaze meets Jesse’s. He’s the only one I think might know what’s coming. He lifts his chin slightly, trying not to grin. Waiting. I glance at Addison. She’s holding her breath, but the corners of her mouth twitch up a bit.
“We’re…dating,” I say. The words are out, but the weight in my chest doesn’t quite lift.
Her mom lights up. “Oh wow!”
Cody huffs. “Well, it’s about frickin’ time.”
Her dad gives a proud smile and nods. Ella throws her hands in the air. “Yay!” she exclaims, and pushes on Jesse’s shoulder. Like they’d been talking about it privately.
Jesse jabs a finger towards Mason. “You owe me ten bucks.”
“You still owe me twenty from two months ago!” Mason shoots back.
“Wait, wait,” Addison cuts in, pointing around. “You guys were all making bets?!”
“I wasn’t,” Cody says. “But if I was, I’d be rich right now. Why didn’t you ask me?” He looks at Jesse, who just laughs.
“You guys bet on my breakup?!” Addison retorts.
“No.” Jesse shakes his head. “We bet on Wes losing his mind being in the truck with you all day though.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “You guys are—”
“Great big brothers?” Jesse finishes for me, then stands, holding his hand out for Mason’s money.
“Well, wait! Mason, what was your bet?” Addison asks.
“I said he’d be fine.” He shrugs.
“Sorry to disappoint.” I nudge him.
“Hold on, how long has this been going on?” Mom asks.
Addie looks at me, like we’re fact-checking ourselves. “Since New Year’s,” she says with a smile before looking back to Maureen.
“Two weeks?!” Ella shouts, and everyone cackles.
Addison goes on to tell them she didn’t want to take attention away from Cora being born, and how things sorta changed during our road trip. Her brothers poke a little fun at us for sleeping in the truck together, but it’s all just jokes and lighthearted.
Lunch carries on, everyone simmers down, and conversations flow into other topics. Addison seems relaxed. Her shoulders are loose, she’s eating, she’s being herself. I feel great too; definitely a huge weight lifted off my shoulders.
After we clean up, I sit beside her on the couch while she holds Cora. I’ve never seen such a small baby. Probably because I’ve never seen them this fresh from the womb.
“You wanna hold her, Wes?” Ella asks, coming into the room.
“Oh—”
“He would love to,” Addison replies and hands Cora over to me before I can argue. “Just support her head,” she says quietly.
Cora wiggles and stretches a little as she settles in the crook of my arm. She turns her face in against my shirt, her eyes staying shut. She’s actually heavier than I was anticipating.
“He’s a natural,” Ella says, plopping down on the other couch.
“I don’t know about that. The second she cries, I’m out.” I laugh, but I’m not kidding.
“Oh stop,” Addison says, running her hand over my shoulder blades a few times.
As I stare at this little person, I think about my future with Addison for a second. She and I, Lord willing, having one of these. I know she wants kids—so do I—and I already know she’ll be the best mom in the world too.