Sweater Weather - Karlnap (au)

59: Best Years

Karl Jacobs

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Bryson cries in my arms as I rock him back and fourth. Lola is shouting from the bathroom and I continue doing my best to calm her son down. He has her eyes and lips, the rest of his face is almost identical to Noah. Even his personality so far is like Noahs. When Lola told me she was pregnant I remember her crying because they weren't even married yet. She didn't want a baby, but now that he's here she's become the best mum. Noah is an amazing father, we all doubted him but it turns out that being a dad is his calling. He loves it so much he's even planning to open up his own childcare when Noah is at least three years old. 

Sapnap and I are back in our hometown for a while, we both had breaks in our schedules so we decided now was the time to come back since we haven't been back for over a year. We're staying at Lolas, she's been using us as babysitters and we're both okay with that. 

"Oh here baby" Lola takes Bryson from my arms and begins feeding him. "See Karl, I can't even go to the bathroom without him crying for me".

"I'm sure Noah is the same" I joke and she rolls her eyes. "What time did they say they'll be back?"

"Um, well Nick said five pm but Noah said nine, so I have no idea" she sighs while sitting down. "What should we do? There's a new food place open around the corner, we could go there? Or order in?"

"We can order in" I nod. "We won't have to fold up that stroller".

"Oh you're so smart" She grins. "I'm so happy I chose you to be my best friend".

I smile as I look over at the photo wall where they have all their wedding photographs displayed. The photo of Lola and I is next to the main photo of them at the alter. It's a day i'll never forget. Lola went through so much just so I would be her Maid Of Honour, and it all worked. I said a speech that day, and for the first time ever I wasn't nervous as I was speaking to the crowd in front of me. It was easy for me to talk about her, she's a light in my life whenever i'm down. If I was never in love with my best friend, I think I would've ended up marrying Lola. Even after all the fake dating in high school. 

"So, do you think Nick is going to propose soon?" My head snaps back to Lola, my eyes wide. "Oh don't give me that look! You two have been together forever, there's no way you're not marrying that guy. You're so in love in makes me sick".

"Love makes you sick?" I frown. "I should tell Noah".

"Karl, you know the love Noah and I share is very different to the one you and Nick have" she grins. "You two are like two puzzle pieces, you just fit so well together. I can't imagine anyone ever coming between the two of you".

My mind races to the two people that have almost come between us. Harmony and Tyler. The both of us have moved on from it, those times were the darkest moments of our relationship. And Lola is right, I also can't imagine anyone fully coming between us and destroying what we have. 

"Tyler almost did" I point out. What happened with Tyler was a long time ago, but I never finished telling Lola about it all. I'm not sure if she wants to hear it, but I always appreciate hearing her opinions.  

"Puhlease, I always knew you weren't in love with Tyler" she laughs, "c'mon Karl, the guy hated Adventure Time. It never would've worked with him".

"I guess that's right" I laugh. "Sapnap and I did argue a lot during that though. The worst part is I don't think I ever actually had any feelings for him. I just convinced myself I did because Sapnap said so".

"Nick was messed up for that" She begins to rock Bryson in hopes he'll fall asleep soon. "He called me one night to talk about it. Said he was scared Tyler was stealing you from him, I assured him you just thought of Tyler as a friend".