Someone Like Us | Completed ✓

Chapter Eight: Third Wheel

Week 14 (3 months), July 15

It was after school, and Ace was on his way to drop Joan off at home. She was sitting with her hand on her stomach and looking out the window. She had worn a baggy sweatshirt again; her bump was growing by the day.

"What fruit is Jellybean today?" Ace said. "A kiwi," Joan replied absentmindedly. She looked up "Ace?" "Yeah, honey?" Ace said. "Can we go to Taco Bell?" Joan asked. Ace raised an eyebrow. "Like, now?" he said. Joan smiled guiltily. "I mean, if it's not too much trouble... I just saw an ad on a billboard, and... they were jalapeno french fries, Ace!" she exclaimed. "They have literal bits of jalapeno in them, and they come with queso dip. And they looked so crispy!"

"You want to go to Taco Bell," Ace confirmed. Joan nodded. "For jalapeno french fries," he said. She nodded. "Right now," he said. "Yeah," Joan said. Ace blinked in surprise for a couple of seconds. Joan was never usually this spontaneous. She was the girl that planned out her weekend weeks ahead of time.

He switched lanes to exit. "I guess it doesn't hurt anything," he said. "They do sound pretty good. I'll tell your parents we're making a quick stop." "No, you won't," Joan said. She grabbed his phone from him. "No texting and driving. I'll do it." She pulled out her own phone and texted her mom. Going to make a quick stop at Taco Bell for jalapeno fries, she typed, and tapped send. Jalapeno fries??? her mom texted back.

Yep! They're new, and they come with queso dip!

First pregnancy craving. You're adorable <3 her mom texted.

"Huh," Joan said aloud. "What?" Ace said. "My mom says I'm having a pregnancy craving," Joan said. "I didn't recognize it until she said so." "Not much of a surprise, though," Ace said. "You're not a very spontaneous person." "True," Joan agreed.

Ace pulled into the Taco Bell parking lot. "Wanna eat in or out?" he asked. "Let's eat in," Joan said. "It'll be a date!"

They went into the restaurant and up to the counter. Ace put his arm around Joan. "Two orders of the jalapeno fries," he said. "You got it," said the collage-age cashier, who entered their order into the register. He looked at Joan's belly. "Pregnancy craving or just fat?" he asked. Joan blushed and looked down. "Excuse me?!" Ace exclaimed. "Rude! Why would you ask something like that?!" "It was just an honest question," the cashier said with a shrug. "$31.98."

Ace scowled at her and held Joan tighter. "Pregnant, thank you very much," he said, then handed him his credit card. The cashier swiped it and handed Ace the receipt.

"Congratulations!" the cashier called as they walked away. "No thanks to you," Ace called back.

He lad Joan to a table near the back. He huffed as they sat down. "Idiot," he muttered. "It's okay, babe," Joan said. "It's really not a big deal." "Yes it is!" Ace argued. "He called you fat! You're far from fat!" Joan chuckled. "You're cute when you're protective," she said. Ace stared at her for a beat, then smiled weakly and held her hand. "I just want to take care of you," he said softly. "I don't want to mess this up. I want my kid to have a good dad."

Joan's eyes got moist. "I'm so lucky to have you as my baby daddy," she said. "Not very many girls are this fortunate." "We messed up," Ace said simply. "It's the least I can do to make it up to you."

An older-looking waitress walked up to Ace and Joan's table with a tray. She set it on the table between them and smiled. "There you are, me dear," she said. "I heard from one of our employees that you have a little one on the way!" Joan beamed. "Yes, we do!" she said proudly. "I'm at fourteen weeks!" "Well, congratulations!" the waitress said. She bent down to gently hug Joan. "And this is daddy, right?" the waitress said, nodding at Ace. "Yep," Joan said. The waitress bent to hug Ace, too. "Congratulations, papa!" she said. Ace smiled. "Thanks," he said. "Now, you two be sure to come back once baby's born," the waitress said. "We'll make sure to!" Joan said.

Once the waitress left, Joan and Ace started on their fries. Joan smiled at the first bite. "Mmm, these are better than I expected!" she said, shoving another one into her mouth. Ace grinned. Only a pregnant Joan would enjoy spicy french fries.

"This is nice," he said. "We haven't gone on a date in a while." "Well, this isn't a normal date," Joan reminded him. She patted her belly. "We have a third wheel." She smiled. Ace smiled back. "Yeah, we do." He leaned across the table. "Enjoying your jalapeno french fries, Jellybean?" he said. Joan laughed. "Oh, I forgot to tell you!" she said. "Did you know that they say if you crave sweet foods when you're pregnant, you're having a baby girl, and if you crave salty foods, you're having a boy?"

Ace smiled even bigger. "Cool," he said. "I guess we might be having a son!" "But they also say that if you have a small bump you'll have a boy," said Joan. "And mine's..." She blushed again. "Clearly pretty big."

Ace squeezed her hand. "You don't need to feel self-conscious, Jo Jo," he said. "You're growing a human being inside of you!" Joan laughed. She leaned forward and kissed him. "I'm the luckiest girl on earth," she said. "Boy or girl, hon?"

Ace's face glowed with joy. "I don't care," he said. "Just being a dad is enough for me!"