to Jenny.
“Yeah.” I stand and walk to the bar, hoping he’ll follow. It’s Matt, of course he gets the hint.
“How are things?” he asks as I start making some nonalcoholic beverages for the girls.
“Fucking insane,” I whisper.
“Don’t leave me in there with the estrogen train like that. If you’re coming in here for a manly chat, signal me. Carson just asked if men can produce milk. I can’t sit through that conversation.” Brady comes in a second later. “What’s insane?”
“My life.” I take a deep breath, trying to figure out where to start. “We landed in Vancouver last Monday. Jenny was napping off her motion sickness while Grace was chewing my ass about bringing her to meet the parents when Mom and Dad come strolling in, mid fight. They were screaming.”
“Seriously?” Matt asks, understanding the gravity of that whereas Brady just stares, waiting for the punchline.
“Yeah, I guess a hospital in Seattle called while they were out for the afternoon, and Sean, my brother, was admitted. He was overdosing and they Narcanned him back, but he had a heart attack and they didn’t think he was gonna make it. So Mom and Dad and I rush to Seattle, meeting Gramps at the hospital.”
“He’s been missing for how many years, and he shows up the weekend you take your pregnant pauper girlfriend to meet your parents?” Matt gets what I’m throwing down.
“Bro. That’s some heavy shit.” Even Brady gets it.
“So then while I’m gone I guess Grace takes it upon herself to convince Jenny to leave. She’s broke, staying with me, and jobless. Pregnant and in Vancouver with no way to get back to my place, let alone to her own apartment, and Grace kicked her out.”
“No,” Matt whispers.
“Her brother was in Vancouver by some small miracle and he rescued her. Took care of her while my family completely fell apart. My parents cried and were nice to my brother. Callie cried.”
“I don’t believe you.” Matt scoffs.
“It was intense. We had some dirty fights, but in the end, Sean was transferred to a place that heals you and then dries you up. It’s like a year of rehab and therapy and all that. And we’re not allowed to see him.”
Brady hugs me. “Dude, I’m so sorry.”
“Thanks, man, but it gets worse,” I mutter but hug him back.
“That’s not possible,” Matt grabs us all a beer from the fridge and sits at a bar stool.
“I manage to get to Jenny’s parents’ place for her dad’s birthday party, the one I told you guys about.”
They both nod.
“I arrive there maybe half an hour after it starts. I haven’t slept in days. I’m miserable and when I arrive, her stepmom and stepsister treat her like shit and no one says anything. She just takes it. Says it’s easier this way.” My insides ache recalling it all.
Brady’s lips press into a line.
“So the next morning, Jenny is puking her guts out. She’s dying. Her dad figures out she’s pregnant, he’s awful to her.”
“And you punch him out?” Brady asks hopefully.
“Nope. Josh, her brother, friggin’ loses his mind. Calls the dad and stepmom out, reveals that he knows they were having an affair before the mom was even dead from cancer. Jenny didn’t know. So she’s upset but so weak from being sick she can’t react. Josh goes bananas and then we leave.” I’m out of breath and my heart is racing, reliving it all.
“This is like those Spanish soaps my host mom watched when I was fifteen,” Brady says with a laugh and I nod along.
“Right. It was the weirdest week of my life.”
“Oh, that’s not even the weird part,” Jenny says from the doorway into the living room, making us all flinch. “Did you tell them how you signed over half your fortune to me?” She rolls her eyes and takes the tray of drinks I made into the living room.”
Matt meets my gaze. “What?”
“Something had to give, man.” I sound as exhausted as I feel. “The season’s starting. We’re having twins. My brother’s in rehab. Her dad is being a dick. Her stepmom is a bitch. My parents are all needy and wanting a relationship. My sister is in marriage counseling and wants to talk to me about it.” I point at the living room, getting worked up. “I cannot fight with that girl one more time over her not living with me or taking my money. I need some peace, Brimstone. She can’t be in Vancouver, homeless and poor with my kids