Chapter Nine
Max
Aly is practically vibrating when I get home from work, her excitement palpable in the air. When she sees me step into the living room, she launches herself at me and kisses me, nearly toppling both of us over in her eagerness.
“Whoa, hi, baby, I missed you too,” I laugh, carefully regaining my balance and holding her close, “What’s up?”
“I can’t tell you yet,” she sighs in frustration, “I want to wait until-”
A knock at the front door interrupts her and she lets out a squeal. She untangles herself from me and races to the door, throwing it open. Forrest stands on our doorstep, and Aly tackles him in another aggressive hug.
“Whoa!” he struggles, but manages to stay upright and hugs her back, his face pure confusion.
He looks at me questioningly and I shrug, just as confused as he is. “Come in, come in, come in,” Aly says, grabbing him by the arm and dragging him through the doorway.
“Ok, ok, where’s the fire?” he laughs, stumbling along after her.
She grabs my arm, too, and drags us both over to the couch, making us sit. I’ve seen her excited before, but this is on a whole new level, and I’m both amused and a little bit concerned.
“We did it,” she blurts out, then covers her mouth with both hands.
I glance from her to Forrest in confusion, wondering if he understands, but fortunately he looks just as lost as I am. “Did…what, sweetheart?” I ask, turning back to her.
She reaches into her pocket and pulls something out, holding it out for us to see. At first, it doesn’t sink in, until I realize what the little white plastic object is: a pregnancy test. When that processes, my eyes shoot to the little result window, which is emblazoned with an unmistakable, bright pink plus sign.
My jaw falls open. “No.”
“Yes,” she exclaims with a tearful giggle, “I’m pregnant!”
I’m on my feet before I realize what’s happening, my arms around her and her feet off the floor, and I’m smothering her beautiful face in kisses. “Holy shit, congratulations, guys!” Forrest exclaims.
“Get your ass over here,” I tell him, waving him over and yanking him into the hug, overwhelmed with joy.
I’m a little surprised by how stiff he feels. I figured he’d be just as elated as we are. But after a few moments, he backs away. “Maybe I should get out of here, let you two celebrate,” he says.
“What are you talking about? You’re part of this celebration,” Aly tells him.
He shakes his head. “I’m just a sperm donor, y’all don’t need me.”
He starts to turn away, but I reach out and grab his arm. “Forrest, wait. You know you’re more to us than that, right?”
“I know, I know, we’re friends, but still, this is a big couple moment for you guys, I don’t want to intrude. Besides, my part in this whole thing is over, right?”
“It doesn’t have to be,” Aly blurts out, then looks at me worriedly, “I mean…”
“No, she’s right,” I agree.
He looks at us, and there’s a tiny glimmer of hope in his heartbroken eyes. “What are you saying?”
“We’re saying we don’t want you to go,” I tell him, sliding my hand down from around his wrist to lace my fingers with his.
“I don’t want to go, either,” he admits, “Max, I…I never stopped loving you. And I think I fell in love with Alyson at first sight,” he says, turning to her and reaching for one of her hands, “But I know that you guys have each other, and I just don’t want to lose you as friends.”
“Forrest, I never stopped loving you, either,” I confess, “And these last few weeks, sharing Aly with you, it’s felt more right than anything I’ve ever imagined.”
I look at Aly, worried about how she might take my confession, and I feel a pang of fear when I see tears in her eyes. But then she speaks up. “You feel like you belong with us,” she tells Forrest softly, “You have ever since that first night.”
I think about the first night we all spent together, and she’s right. Forrest had slipped effortlessly into our lives, and even when it came to bringing him into our bedroom, it had felt seamless.