What's Done In the Dark(21)
“He’s actually going to meet us here.” I glanced at my watch. Greg wasn’t feeling me coming to pick up Steven alone. He had no appreciation for our friendship, so I’d tried to ease his worries by having him meet us.
He said jokingly, “Cool, but you know if I don’t approve, you have to dump him.”
“Oh, is that how we’re doing it now?”
He nodded. “Yep, you had to have a say in who I’m dating, so I have to give my stamp of approval.”
My eyebrows rose in shock. “Dating? So you and Paula are dating now?”
The expression on his face said he felt like he’d put his foot in his mouth.
“Yeah, we’re kinda kicking it,” he admitted.
I don’t know why, but that put my stomach in knots. “Kickin’ it, like we’re-having-a-good-time kickin’ it?” I clarified. “Or kickin’ it, like we’re-really-feelin’-each-other kickin’ it?”
He didn’t respond, and he lost his smile.
“Steven, what’s going on?” I said. “I can tell you’re keeping something from me.”
He took a deep breath, then said, “I don’t know how to say this.”
His tone made me set my fork down. “How about you just come right out and say it?”
Steven released a heavy sigh. “Paula is pregnant.”
The knots in my stomach twisted in a tight fist. I couldn’t even get words to come out of my mouth. “Wow,” I finally managed to say.
“I mean, I don’t know how it happened.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You don’t?”
“I mean, of course I know how it happened. She’s just, well, she’s as shocked as I am,” he stammered.
“Is she keeping it?” I asked bluntly. I know Paula and I weren’t as close as we used to be since she moved back to DC but I couldn’t believe that she hadn’t shared that with me.
“What?”
Steven narrowed his eyes, and I immediately felt bad.
“No, I’m not saying she should have an abortion,” I said, trying to backpedal. “I just thought, you know, with school and all, all I was saying . . .” I didn’t know what I was saying, so I let my words trail off. All I knew was this had to be the most devastating news I’d ever heard.
“So, what are you going to do?” I finally asked.
“Well, I came home to break the news to my parents, and you know what they’re going to want me to do.”
I held my breath as I waited for the next words.
“They’ll want me to marry her.”
“Marriage?” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “How do you feel about that?”
“How should I feel?”
We stared at each other. I didn’t know what to say. Not until that very moment—when the thought of Steven’s happily-ever-after with someone else was about to become a reality—did I realize that I wasn’t being honest with myself about Steven. Because the pain I felt was overwhelming me.
Tears began welling up in my eyes, but before either of us could say anything, Greg walked in.
“Well, this must be the great Steven,” he said, approaching our table. I immediately willed my tears back and swallowed the lump in my throat.
“And you must be Mr. Wonderful himself, Greg.” Steven stood to shake his hand. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Both Steven and I managed fake smiles. Greg put his arm around me and pulled me close. His hug didn’t feel warm at all. In fact, it felt tight and possessive. Suddenly, I was glad that I’d never told him that Steven and I had slept together. Steven and I had both agreed that since it was a mistake for us to cross the line, we needed to forget it ever happened.
“Well, that’s good because the way she raves about you, I was beginning to wonder if I should be worried,” Greg said, pulling me even tighter.
Steven laughed uneasily. “Naw, she’s like my little sister. Nothing going on here but the best of friends.”
Little sister? Best of friends? Who would’ve ever thought those words could be so painful?
I wriggled to get Greg to let go a hair. I said, forcing a smile as I glared at Steven, “See, I told you, baby. We’re just like brother and sister. And besides, Steven was just sharing the good news with me.”
“What good news?” Greg asked.
“Looks like him and Paula are about to have a baby.”
“What? Congrats, man.” Greg extended his hand again.
Steven shook it. “Yeah, it’s not the ideal situation with me being in my first year of law school, but life happens.”
“I feel you, but from what Felise has told me, if anybody can make it work, you can. Y’all getting married?”