Brendan: Oh, well I’ll call you tomorrow or something, okay?
Paige: Sounds good.
I put my phone back up and my stomach growls. I take that as my cue to go fix my own food. Laney and Darla are at the table and all the adults are standing around the counter eating. I wedge myself between Raegan and Hilary, who welcome me immediately.
“Laney and Darla seem to get along really well.” Hilary smiles at me.
“Yeah they do. I’m glad she has someone to play with. We don’t know too many people with kids,” I admit to her.
“I understand that. Well, now that we all know each other, we can have play dates with all of our kids,” she says.
Raegan smiles. “Yes we definitely can! Plus I could use pointers from both of you.”
Garrett walks over and steals Raegan away. It’s so cute how he kisses her forehead. Hilary and I continue to talk. I wish I could confide in her and know it wouldn’t get back to anyone else, but I barely know her. I really could use someone to talk to with all of this sudden chaos erupting in my life.
Chapter 24
Austin
I caught myself looking over at Paige interacting with her daughter a few times. The little girl is a spitting image of her mom. I kind of kept my distance, not trying to be mean, but this is all new to me. Who am I to just barge in on something I knew nothing about to begin with? We didn’t talk too much. Paige stayed glued to Hilary and Raegan, but I understand that. Girls stick together just like the guys do.
I watch as she packs up Darla’s things and starts telling everyone bye. I check my phone and see it’s almost nine in the evening. I imagine she needs to get her little girl to bed. I approach her slowly, not wanting to scare her.
“Can I walk you to your apartment?” I ask her with a hopeful tone to my voice.
She just picked up a very sleepy looking Darla and she’s holding her on her hip. “Yeah, you can.”
I tell everyone bye and thank you all at the same time. It sure is great to have friends that get together like this. Ruston and Tamilyn are my friends too, but this is just different. Not that I don’t belong around them, but I belong with these guys.
I offer to grab something from Paige’s arms as we walk out of Raegan and Garrett’s apartment, but she politely declines. She’s used to doing this all on her own so I understand. As she approaches her door, she fishes the key out of her pocket; continuing to hold Darla tightly. I notice the little girl’s eyes are closing, poor thing is exhausted. Paige opens the door and turns to face me. “Well, I guess I’ll talk to you later. I need to get her changed and in bed.”
“O-Oh okay,” I stammer. I don’t know why I was thinking she was going to invite me inside. I guess I can’t blame her.
She steps inside and closes the door before I can say another word to her. I’m a little disappointed. I guess you can say disappointment has just filled this entire night. I learned she’s been keeping something big from me. Kids are a very big deal. They require so much out of you.
I hang my head and walk solemnly to my car. I really do have a lot to think about now. This could change so much. I finally meet another girl I like and it seems now this may fail me too. Thoughts of my short-lived fling with Tamilyn float through my mind. I can’t go through that again. Last time it nearly killed me.
I get in my car and drive straight home. I notice Tamilyn’s car isn’t there, but Ruston is. I kind of need him right now so I’m glad. I walk straight into the apartment and toss my keys onto the counter. Ruston is sitting on the couch watching some action movie. He notices I’m not in the best mood and turns the volume down.
“Hey Austin, what’s up?” he asks.
“You’re going to regret asking that.” I chuckle as I sit beside him on the couch.
Ruston raises his eyebrow before replying, “I doubt it’s that bad.”
“Paige has a four year old daughter,” I blurt out. I watch as his eyes widen and his jaw drops. I told him he was going to regret asking me what was up.
“She told you?” he asks me.
“No, she didn’t, and I guess that’s what’s bothering me. I mean, I get why she didn’t tell me right away, but it was still a shock when I just saw it for myself when I went to Raegan and Garrett’s for dinner. She lives like right by them and they invited her too,” I explain.
“Well, how do you feel about this?”
“I’m not sure. I mean, I’m not against kids. I’m just more upset, like I said, that she didn’t tell me to begin with. The father has never been in the kid’s life. Paige does everything herself. I walked her to her apartment after dinner but she pretty much walked in, said see you later and shut the door.”
“It’s probably scary for her. I imagine she was going to eventually tell you,” he says, probably trying to help me feel better.
“I know. I just, well, it makes me wonder. Is she going to shut me out completely? Or will she let me into their lives?” I run my hand through my hair. “The little girl was so cute too. She looks just like her mom. She asked me where my arm was.”