The Secrets That Bring Us Together

Chapter 13

The next few days go by quickly with mom rushing around making sure everything goes smoothly for the big day and me managing to pretend I have no issues outside of this household. Christmas morning goes by without a hitch and we're all sat in the living room full from our lunches and beers and wines in hand laughing and joking amongst ourselves, with the exception of my mom and dad who are busy in the kitchen looking online for there annual new year's getaway. I'm loving being home, Alex keeps trying to call me so I've eventually took the plunge and blocked his number. Nate sent me a merry Christmas text this morning but other than that I haven't heard from him.

Joeys phone starts ringing and leaves the room. We are all fussing over Daisy, the puppy Parker bought Chloe for Christmas as an emotional support animal. I know it was Coles idea because he bought Coco for Grace last year for the same reason as she suffers with anxiety and depression. Speaking of Coco, she's perched across Grace's lap on the floor and I don't think she's very impressed by the new addition to the family.

When Joey walks back into the room he looks like he's seen a ghost. He's white as a sheet and looks like his insides are going to fall out of his mouth any moment. Cole jumps off his seat on the sofa to make sure Joeys okay. He takes a deep breath and looks around the room, "guys I fucked up. I'm gonna be a dad"

It's silent for a moment before I speak up,
"some poor girl actually had sex with you" I know this is a serious situation but I'm actually shocked.

"you fucking moron" that one was Cole.

"you have the mental age of a 6 year old it should be illegal for you to even have sex" that was Parker, Chloe is just sitting with her mouth hanging open.

"Ha, bet you wish you had of kept the condoms you got Parker for yourself now." We all turn to look at Grace in shock, she hardly talks to Joey now never mind cracking jokes at his expense. I try to keep my face straight as she has got a point. Joey gifted Parker a jumbo box of condoms for Christmas because he refuses to babysit his and Chloe's love child if she got pregnant. Looks like he hasnt got much of a choice about babysitting now.

"Can you all please be serious for two minutes and I know that's ironic coming from me but for fuck sake I'm going to have a baby!" his voice is panicked and high pitched "oh god I can't breath, I'm going to have a panic attack. Mommmm, will someone please get mom!"

Chloe leaves the room and returns with my mom and dad, my mom rushed over to him. "Joey, deep breaths sweetie in and out." She makes sure he's breathing properly and then turns to everyone else, "will someone please tell me why Joey looks like he's going to throw up."

"Actually mom, I think it's the girl he knocked up who's going to be throwing up." I say without thinking. Fuck, way to let Joey tell her. "th.. the..girl he" she turns slowly back to face Joey after my outburst. The damage has already been done however and its his own stupid fault so I decide to then rub salt in the wound "yeah, he gave all his condoms to Parker I think because he never used one with his baby momma" without missing a beat my mom slaps him across the back of the head and Joey shoots daggers at me. He rubs his head where she slapped "ow mom." "don't you ow mom me, Joey Anderson at any point when I was talking to you about safe sex did you freaking listen to me?!" okay shes pissed. And now she's crying. And now Joeys crying. Well this is a shit show.

I see Joey eye my dad and in a small voice ask "dad?" "Joey, I've aways told you no glove no love, and this is why. Your going to have to grow up now. No more acting like a clown and fucking around you need to take care of a human being. Your mom's upset because she knows how much your life is about to change and your only 19. Having said all that you have our full support your our son and we love you." His face breaks into a small smile "I'm going to be a grandaddy" what? If I told him I was making him a 'grandaddy' he would ground me for life.

My mom speaks between sniffles "we love you baby, I just didn't want this for any of you. I wanted you to be married or in committed relationships, but it's done. So we move on from it. I want to hear all about this girl, her name, how you met and then you are going to invite her to lunch new years day, no arguments. We leave for our trip at the end of new years week so I want to meet her before then"

I can't help the unattractive snort that I let out, "From what I heard she's called Brooke, he met her at a bar and boned her in the toilets" her face is thunder when she turns back to Joey and he isn't much happier, "Mia you're dead" he lunges for me but my mom grabs him by the back of his shirt, "oh no you don't cassinova, we aren't done here" and with that she interigates Joey some more.

**

Upstairs I'm looking through my new presents I got when I notice a small unopened box in one of my gift bags. That's funny, I never leave any presents. I check the label and all it says is Merry Christmas - N x how did I not know I had a present from Nate? I open it up and inside lies a beautiful rose gold necklace. At the end of a long chain lies a diamond encrusted small heart. It's absolutely beautiful and the most thoughtful thing anyone has bought me. I grab my phone from my pocket and pull up Nate's name.

Me - Thank you so much, I love it xx

Nate - you're welcome, no big deal.

I decide not to text him back. Why is he being so cold like we haven't been friends for years? He went out his way to buy me this and somehow get it to me and he can't even put a kiss at the end of his text? Dick.

I fall asleep full of irritation and confusion towards the beautiful boy whos mood swings are plaguing my existence at the moment.