Chapter 29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
A aron
Briar was able to get her removable cast off a couple of days early, which was a relief because it was very hard for her to get around campus when she had to walk with a boot on her leg. I drove her to school and picked her up. She had wanted to continue to work at Black Jack’s and put up a fight when I told her it was a terrible idea. The doctor had told her to keep as much pressure as possible off her ankle. Working an entire evening at Black Jack’s was the opposite of that suggestion. Now junior year was behind us. We both finished our exams. We said goodbye to Finn and Charlie since they both graduated, along with Hayden. Cade and Annie hadn’t decided where they were going next year, but it didn’t really matter because all Cade wanted was to be close to Annie.
The hockey house is a lot quieter now with some of our friends moving on. Briar and I still don’t have any plans for summer. I want to go home and I want her to come with me, but I haven’t had that conversation with her yet. I learned with Briar; we have to take baby steps so she won’t feel overwhelmed by the changes in our life. The changes are coming fast and they are dramatic, so it is a hard feat. For now, we are staying in Riverside because we have been waiting for an extra ultrasound that Briar’s doctor scheduled us for, since she was feeling anxious about the baby’s growth.
Now we are driving to said ultrasound and I see how nervous she is because she keeps on picking at lint on her shirt that doesn’t exist. “You’re going to be a great mom,” I say, hoping to ease her worry.
“You’re going to be a great dad. You’ve had such good examples for parents. What kind of example have I had? What happens if I take off like my dad or become self-absorbed like my mom?”
“You’re not the type to walk away from those you love and you are definitely not self-absorbed,” I huff. “You’ll be a great mom,” I repeat because it feels like she needs to hear it. “Don’t let your fears tell you something else.”
“Thanks, Aaron.”
“You have nothing to thank me for,” I say to her.
We arrive to the hospital and head inside. We head over to the imaging center. Briar goes into the exam room to change into a blue gown and I follow her inside. “Call your mom. Let’s get her on FaceTime for the ultrasound,” she says once she is wearing the blue gown.
“Thanks,” I say. After Mom got to see the last ultrasound, she was over the moon happy. This baby has been a blessing in so many ways. I’ve found a woman I am falling in love with. Mom is in good spirits, and it gives her something to look forward to. Something to live for.
“Please don’t thank me. It would make me happy for Catherine to be a part of this,” Briar says.
The tech takes us to a room. Briar lies down on the bed and the lights are turned off.
“Is it okay if I FaceTime my mom?” I ask the tech.
“It’s okay with me if our patient agrees,” she says.
“That’s a yes.” Briar is beaming. She’s excited to see our nugget and so am I.
The tech starts the ultrasound.
I turn on FaceTime.
“Hi, Catherine,” Briar says.
“Hi, darling,” Mom replies cheerfully.
The baby comes into view. “Nugget looks like a real baby now. Not like a chicken nugget.”
“Aaron, I can’t believe you just compared our baby to a chicken nugget,” Briar chides.
“What? That was the shape. I thought that’s where you came up with the idea of Nugget.”
“No, I just thought it was cute,” Briar replies.
“It is cute,” Mom confirms. “Aw, look at the little munchkin swimming around.”
“Everything is looking good. Your baby is growing on schedule,” the tech says.
“Fuck yeah,” I holler.
“Aaron, OMG,” she chides.
“Please excuse my boyfriend,” she apologizes to the tech.
She called me her boyfriend. It’s probably time we had a relationship talk because I feel like a lot more than her boyfriend.
“It’s okay. Daddies get excited too,” the tech says with a smile. “Okay, we are all done. Your results will be sent to your doctor.”
“Thank you,” Briar says.
“Thanks for including me again, you two,” Mom says. “I won’t keep you. You made my day.”
“Anytime,” Briar answers.
We end FaceTime. With just me and Briar in the room, I walk over to her and give her a hug and a kiss.
“Did you see our baby’s penis? It looks huge,” I note.
Her eyes turn wide as saucers. “What? Us Murrays are well hung.”
“I only want to know about you, and yes, Aaron, you’re very well hung,” she confirms and I can’t hide my pride.
She rolls her eyes.
“What?”
“You’re so cocky,” she says.
“I’m confident,” I correct. “So, can we start talking names? We’ve known Nugget is a boy and we haven’t discussed any name options.”
“We can start discussing names now,” she says. “I needed to know he was okay. I know it’s my anxiety getting in the way, but nothing ever goes my way. I was worried about him.” She palms her stomach.
“You heard the tech, everything looks good,” I assure.
“I know.” She smiles. “Let’s talk names. I’m ready.”
“What about Richard?” I offer with a grin. I don’t actually like the name, but I like to get a reaction out of her.
“The nickname for Richard is Dick. There’s no way we’re calling our son Dick,” she insists. She has her hair up in a ponytail as we walk out to the elevator. It’s swings and so does her fine ass.
I give it a light smack and she yelps. I laugh. “You have a point.”
“What about Oliver? Or Judah, or how about Timothy?” she suggests.
“No to all the above, and what is Timothy? I’m not calling our son Tim for short,” I say.
“Timothée Chalamet, he’s a French actor. He’s superhot.” She waves her hand in front of her face.
“Then I hate him. How about Aaron Jr.? You think I’m hot or else you wouldn’t have slept with me,” I tease.
She giggles. “You’re being ridiculous. Of course I think you’re hot, but we aren’t calling our son Aaron Jr.”
“Good, you think I’m hot because you’re the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen. I didn’t think you could get any prettier, but the pregnancy has made you radiant.”
“Aw.” Her eyes begin to tear, and she walks up to me and wraps her arms around my neck. “Aaron, that is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.” She gives me a small peck on the lips. “I think I’m radiant from all the orgasms though, not the pregnancy. Most nights I have indigestion, and I don’t sleep well, that doesn’t make a person shine.”
“Buttercup, you’re happy and it shows. I’m still holding my ground; you get prettier every day.”
“You’re shattering all my walls, Aaron. You’re going to leave me defenseless,” she warns with her arms still around my neck. I have my arms around her waist. We are so close I smell the scent of her floral shampoo.
“You don’t need defenses when it comes to me. We’re on the same team. Remember that because it’s never going to change,” I say to her, and for once I leave her speechless.