He didn't have to be ( eddie munson )

4. the spaghetti incident

There are many times in ones life that leaves you completely and utterly speechless. Finding out I had gotten pregnant by a notorious womanizer jerk who I had only a hand full of dates with was the first. I still remember sitting in my bathroom floor crying and the only thought was oh my god. I still don't remember how many hours I stayed there.

The second was when I told said womanizer. It was the first week the community pool was open. Seeing his car there I gathered the courage to walk in. He was just coming down from his tower, his shift ending.

"Billy"  him turning to me a sly smile growing.
"Cara. Long time-" sliding a piece of gum in his mouth. "No see"

" I need to talk to you. It's urgent" his eyebrows furrowing.
"You alright. Your pretty pale"
"Just meet me at your car when your done."
"Yea I'll grab my stuff. I can shower at home"
Ten minutes later he was opening the car door for me.

"Ok you have my full attention"  how do I start. How do I tell some one life altering news. What seemed like hours pasted before I spoke.
"Billy, I-" breaking down into sobs.
"Ok Cara your really starting to freak me out. Just spit it out" he said shortly.

"Billy I'm pregnant." Staring watching his jaw drop and going threw every emotion you already worked threw, tears forming at the corner of his eye. Leaning his head back putting the palms of his hands to his eyes.

"I- I don't know what I'm going to do." I managed to choke out. After another moment of silence he finally spoke.

"Well I do." He said. Snapping my head to look at him.

"I'll get a second job. Either to help pay for... well you know. Or to support a kid. Get an apartment because my dad will kill me."

And that was the second time I was speechless. Every one knew Billy was an asshole. I knew. I thought for sure he would demand it to be taken care of.

"I won't be like my father." He whispered almost like he was talking to himself. Looking over at me, blue eyes boring into my green.
"What ever you decide"

That didn't last long. With in the month he ghosted me. Started acting...odd. With in the month he was dead. And my parents when they found out. Kicked me out. Sent me to live with my great aunt.

    Only person left of Billy's family who knew was Max. By the time I came back to town Neil had already left max and her mom. Max's mom went down a spiral and I'm sure didn't even know where she was half the time. But Max, it only took running into her one time before she asked. "Is that Billy's?" Of course I'm not going to deny it. Why would I. What's done is done. I asked her how she knew.  "Looks just like him." From that moment on she made an appearance at least once a week to see "her nephew".

   A coo snapped me out of your memory. Looking down at the blonde haired blue eyed babe, the spitting image of his father. Those haunting blue eyes rimmed in dark lashes.

Even after everything I would never regret my decision to bring him into the world. Even if it meant being a single mom. Even if it meant men running when they found out about him. Hugging him to my chest I feel a tear slip.

I have to be strong
A knock sounded at the door.
Again! It's almost midnight.
Storming to the door and pulling it open, jaw dropping to see a shocking (at least to me) sight.
Eddie was standing there with his ever beaming smile and a paper bag. Too stunned to even say anything he started talking.

"I figured since you can't go out. We can stay in. And I'm betting you haven't eaten. To busy with..." trailing off not knowing the baby's name i assumed.

"Will"
"To busy with Will. I'm not much of a cook but I can boil water and preheat an oven." Still too shocked I say nothing.

"Can I come in" he said nervously shifting one foot to the other, hiking the bag a little higher.
I nod and step aside.

"I can probably find my way around the kitchen. You just get the little dude to sleep. I'll worry about the rest" he says setting down the bag and walking over to look at the sleepy child in my arms.

"Wow really looks like his dad" he strokes Will's cheek with his forefinger.

"How-" I start to say
"Do I know who the dad is? Not hard to guess. Heard you used to run around with Billy. And kid looks just like him. Put two and two together" he said stepping back putting both his hands in his back pockets and bouncing on his toes. It was silent for an awkward moment before he turns back to head into the kitchen.

  Just about the time Will fell asleep the smell of food permeates the air. Standing up and walking to the bedroom to lay Will down in the crib and sneak a peak in the kitchen. Seeing Eddie with a towel over his shoulder pulling something out of the oven flicking his hands and dropping the pan, having forget the oven mitts or just not knowing where they are.

Quickly laying Will Down and Walking into the kitchen, he is at the sink running his hands under cold water.
"What did you make" asking softly. With a slight jump and wide eyes he looks over.

"Um spaghetti and garlic bread. Nothing fancy. Sauce from a jar and frozen garlic bread" his cheeks tinted pink in turn causes me to blush too.
"Thank you" he hands me a plate and we walk into the living room. Setting it down on a table I walk over to my stereo.

" do you mind if I play music? I like to play music so he is used to the noise. Rather have a heavy sleeper then walk on egg shells while he is asleep"

"Yea totally. go for it."
" just don't judge what I play" I say with a blush and a laugh. The beginning cords of kiss's I was made for loving you beginning to play.
"Definitely won't. It's not a bad choice" he Bobs his head along to the beat.
"So how was your gig tonight?" I ask sitting on the sofa next to him tucking one leg under the other.

"Pretty awesome. Most people we have ever gotten before."
" that's cool. How long have you played together?"

"Since middle school. We are hoping to head to LA one day. Till then just honing our skills"
"Wow. Been friends along time."
" what about you what have you been up to?" I can feel my face turn red at his question.

"Just surviving" I mumbled. Out of the corner of your eye you can see him mentally berating himself for asking such a question. Finishing dinner relatively quickly with surface level small talk slowly fades into silence when foreigner's hot blood begins to play on the mix tape. Seeing his fingers begin to strum the cords.

He can't keep still for long can he.

Standing and gathering the dishes with a smile and taking them to kitchen sink. With each passing line he gets more animated and the air guitar more pronounced. He stops to throw the towel over his shoulder ready to dry the dishes. By the time i hand him the first dish, he has his head thrown back, eyes closed strumming the solo. I could practically see him up on stage entertaining a crowd. He was mesmerizing.