Knocked up, by her best friend's dad.(25)
We drink half a bottle before I sighed and knew I had to continue. “I feel so goddamn guilty. I’ve felt like that for years now.” I chuckled; a hollow sound. “The little tease wore my dirty shirts to bed and woke up with them tied in a knot, and her bloody panties showing. I know that’s not an excuse, but then she’d come around when you weren’t there just to watch TV and she’d snuggle against me. She’d listen to me drone on about work and help with what she could to make it easier on me. All that combined, it drove me mad.” I rested my head against the back of sofa, not looking at Jamie anymore and closed my eyes for a moment. “The party. The house-warming party where I couldn’t fight it any longer, I thought I was in your room and not hers. I don’t know if I can blame the alcohol because if I really think about it, I knew my resolve was crumbling. As much as I thought I would be relived she wouldn’t be around to torment and tease me, I knew deep down that I’d fallen for her and was going to miss the hell out her…” I sat up and opened my eyes. “Even more than I would miss you.” I studied Jamie’s face, he didn’t look angry or upset, his face, was blank, like he was a machine and just taking in everything I said. “I love her. I’m in love with her. I’m going to ask her to marry me. Can you forgive me?”
I watched as he downed his beer, grabbed another, downed that and pulled a third out of the fridge before coming and sitting down again. “I realized after my epic fuck-up that I love Hannah, but I’m not in love with her. These last couple of days I’ve called myself a fool more times than I can remember. I was a blind idiot not to see how it is with the two of you. Christ, I knew she had a crush, that should have told me that there was more. What hurts the most I think is, I’m supposed to be Hannah’s best friend and she kept this from me. Hannah has always been there for me. I mean, come on, she moved in here for me, not her. She was perfectly content not paying rent and living between our place and her other friends. She took a massage course and no matter how many times she says it was to help her career, I know that it's bullshit, she did it to help me.” He scrubbed his face before he sighed and finished his third beer, got up and opened another. “I can, I will, um, er, do forgive you. Do you think Hannah will ever forgive me?”
Hannah, wasn’t the type of person to hold a grudge or stay angry. She’d probably already forgiven Jamie, but was still angry at him. I wondered if she was a little upset with herself too for how this had all gone down. I didn’t hesitate in my reply. “Yeah. I bet you already are forgiven. She knows that you’d never really hurt her, she just might take some time. You going to be okay with that?”
He shrugged. “I’ll have to be.” I nodded and stood to leave, glad that we’d sorted it out. “Dad.” I paused and turned to him. “I’m happy for you. To tell the truth, I couldn’t think of anyone better for you to marry. It may gross me out, but, I see why you two make sense.” He cleared his throat awkwardly. “Um, er, Dad, I love you.”
Going to him I whispered, “Fuck it.” And pulled him in for a big bear hug. “I love you too son. I love you too.”
I knew then that it would all be okay.
WE WERE GOING TO MY parents for the first time. Together. As a couple. Jamie was out of the way, he knew about Hannah and I, we’d talked and he’d comes to terms with it all. Now, it was time to tell the rest of family. Surprisingly, I wasn’t nervous about my family knowing about Hannah and me. I’d stressed about it enough and wanted everything to be out in the open. I was happy with Hannah; she was better than any of my fantasies I’d had. Now that Jamie knew of what I wanted with Hannah, I was eager to share the news with everyone else.
Hannah’s grip on my hand was tight as we entered my parents dining room. “What if they're angry because I seduced you?” I couldn’t help the chuckle that turned into a full-blown laugh as she let go of my hand, puts them on her waist and raises her brow. “It’s not something to laugh at. If I hadn’t thrown myself at you, we wouldn’t be in this.”
I stopped laughing and gathered her closer to me as I tilted her head up. “I don’t regret you coming to me at that party.” I placed my hands on her rounded stomach. “I definitely don’t regret these babies.” I leaned down and brushed my lips over hers.
“Oh, gosh. Adam. Hannah.” I looked up to see my mother with her mouth flapping open.
“Ma, Hannah and I have something to tell you all.”
“Oh, son, I bet you two do.” She looked up and down and then her gaze stopped and I knew what it was focused on. “I think you two need come into the lounge room now.” The voice she used was one I remembered from my childhood, it was one I never disobeyed.
“We’re right behind you, Ma.” I practically had to drag Hannah behind me.
We entered the lounge room where my pa, Jamie, sister Pauline, brother-in-law Hank, niece Rebecca, nephew Bryce and grandparents were all waiting. As soon as we entered the room, all eyes turned to us. They smiled, but when they saw my hand entwined with Hannah’s, and then her pregnant belly, there were gasps, and gaping mouths, all except Jamie.
“Hannah and I have some things to tell you all.” I squeezed Hannah’s hand reassuringly.
“You’ve been busy, bro.” Pauline blurts out.