HARRY STYLES
I wasn't invited to Allison's baby shower, but that wasn't rare as far as I was concerned. I'm not sure why it's more of a common activity for women than men. Do men not also care about the gifts given to their partners for the baby they're about to share? I didn't protest not being invited to Allison's shower but that's because I was working, not because I wouldn't have wanted to go if she asked me. She never asked me to be involved in anything like that.
But now, I'm in my and Lana's kitchen with Zayn and Hayden making breakfast for everyone, and I mean everyone. Jeff and Glenne are here, Hayden's wife, Sheila, is here, and of course, Jane, Lana's parents, Jackie, Maya and even Carter. It was Lana's idea that we have a breakfast buffet since it's an early shower, and that's not a coincidence. She wanted Zayn, Hayden, Jeff, and Glenne to be able to come, which means the party needs to end by around 1:00 at the very latest. The guys and I stayed late last night to be able to prep what we could at the restaurant ahead of time just to make sure we wouldn't be behind when we go in this afternoon.
"So, do you know if Lana is hoping for a boy or girl?" Hayden asks, using a pair of tongs to pick the bacon off a cast iron skillet.
"We've sort of talked about it and she has her reasons for wanting both," I remove the scrambled eggs from the stove before they can overcook, although they already are a bit. Lana can't even stand the sight of slightly wet scrambled eggs.
"My suggestion is to just be as excited as possible for whatever it is," he says. "At Sheila's first baby shower, her best friend was all bummed that it was a boy and not a girl and she was devastated by hearing the disappointment from someone else over something she had no control over. She was so devastated, in fact, that she doesn't want to do a gender reveal for this next baby."
"Oh, man," I wince, never having thought about how upsetting it would be for other people to be disappointed about the gender of a woman's baby. What the fuck difference does it make as long as it's a healthy baby? It's still a miracle either way.
"I can't imagine Jackie or Maya would say anything like that to Lana," Zayn says. "Shitty that it happened to Sheila, though."
"Yeah, I just know now that enthusiasm is the best thing you can show," he removes his apron now that we're finished with the spread, organizing it on the counter. Buffet-style cooking really is not my forte, but it's what Lana wanted, and she appears to be completely pleased as she leads the way into the kitchen.
"Thanks, you guys!" She beams and makes her rounds to hug us all, saving me for last to kiss my cheek. "This looks amazing."
"I'm glad," I kiss her temple and hand her a porcelain plate from the stack behind me so she can start the line, moving out of the way to let all the women serve themselves first. Just as I remember to make a plate for Jane, I hear Liz asking Lana where the kids' plates are so she can do it herself. That's thoughtful, but that's Liz.
Once all the women are served, scattered about the living and dining rooms, Hayden, Zayn, Joe, Jeff, Carter, and I line up to fill our own plates with just a bit of leftovers to spare afterward. Most of us remain standing to let the women have every option to sit, which I'm fine with. Also, whether I have to or not, I feel like I'm supposed to keep impressing my future father-in-law. The last thing I want to do is sit down and not be ready to get his six-month-pregnant daughter anything she wants.
"So, how is Jane liking school?" Joe asks me.
I smile a little as I finish chewing. "She loves it just like we knew she would. It's her favorite thing to do now, but Lana thinks that might change once she starts getting homework because she loves coloring with Lana and everything, but she doesn't usually enjoy it when she has her do educational stuff. She thinks it's boring."
