Chris stops joking around and looks at her. “Oh s-shit,” he stammers, looking at Sarah who’s tearing up.
Aiden glances over at Chris, whose eyes are now wide with shock. Chris picks up one of the tests and stares at it. He swallows hard and places it back down on the cou
nter like it’s burning his fingers.
“Who?” Chris asks quietly.
Sarah lets out a quiet sob, and he knows instantly.
“Babe, are these yours?” Chris asks and takes a step toward her. She can’t even look at him. Sarah, who’s normally so loud and boisterous, actually looks terrified. “Holy shit,” Chris murmurs.
Sarah nods her head as tears freefall down her face. “I’m sorry, Chris. I understand if you want to leave me. I had no idea, I swear.” Sarah cries, almost blubbering now.
Chris takes another step toward her, and Aiden looks directly at me. I bite my bottom lip as the tension reaches critical level. Suddenly, Chris starts laughing, shocking us all. We look at him, and he has the biggest smile beaming across his face. “Are you serious? Babe, don’t be sorry. Is this really happening?” he gushes as Sarah looks at him, raising an eyebrow. She nods, and he smiles at her so brightly, it lights up the entire room.
I can’t help but smile along with him.
“I’m gonna be a dad!” he booms loudly. Then he moves in, swooping Sarah up into his arms and twirls her around in a circle. She squeals, and he kisses her passionately. I watch my best friends sharing their happiness together right in front of us.
Aiden walks over to me and takes my hand, entwining our fingers. He then softly kisses my forehead.
Chris gently lowers Sarah to the floor. “You’re gonna be a great dad,” Sarah mumbles through her tears, and finally her face lights up with a smile.
Chris laughs and holds onto her tightly. “I can’t believe it. I’m so happy right now. Aiden, dude, I’m gonna be a dad,” he reiterates, swaying Sarah in his arms.
“Congratulations, man,” Aiden chimes, walking us over to them and shaking his hand. Chris and Sarah put out their arms and hug us both.
“Group hug,” Chris calls out. Aiden slaps him on the back, and I hug Sarah tightly.
“Are you okay?” I whisper to her. She looks at me, nods her head, and finally, I see happiness on her face rather than fear.
“I’m so happy right now. I think this might just be the best day of my life. Sarah, you better be making me a son in there,” Chris says, rubbing her belly.
She scoffs, shaking her head. “Um… what? I don’t think so. It’s a girl or nothing, babe.”
Chris holds his hands up in the air. “Okay, hold up. Nuh-uh. It’s got to be a boy. Well, for our first one, anyway, and then you can have a girl. Always good that the big brother can look out for his sisters.”
Sarah’s eyes widen. “Wait, you want more than one?”
Aiden looks down at me and gestures with his head for us to leave. We slowly walk off to let them have some alone time together.
“Hell, yeah, I want a whole Starke tribe,” Chris says, making Sarah laugh.
“You’re calling our kids a tribe? What are they? Pygmies from an isolated rainforest village.”
Aiden and I chuckle as we walk out to the deck and sit by the pool.
“Wow,” Aiden says.
“I know. You should have seen Sarah freaking out. She thought Chris was going to leave her.”
Aiden shakes his head. “He wouldn’t do that. He’s too in love with her. It’s so weird because we were talking about children today, and how much we both want them. The world works in mysterious ways.”
“Tell me about it. You know Sarah made me stand in the bathroom and hand her pregnancy tests to pee on. I’ll never get the image of Sarah on the toilet out of my head,” I jest.
Aiden chuckles. “I’m so happy for them.”
“I know. Me, too. I can’t wait until we’re married and can make babies.”