Two Men and a Baby - Isla Olsen Page 0,1

but I hate living out of a bag if I can help it. Seeing as how I live in the West Village, about a fifteen minute subway ride from this hotel, I could have easily just come from home tomorrow in time for the ceremony and reception. But my mom—got to love here—insisted I come for both nights because “it’s what all the close friends and family are doing.”

My family and Declan’s family—the giant Kelly brood—have always been very close, which admittedly made it a little awkward when Dec and I broke up a year ago. But once we worked out the awkwardness and started being friends again everything was fine, and as strange as it is to say, sometimes it honestly feels like we never even dated. We were never right for each other, that’s for sure.

After unpacking, I have a quick shower and then head down to one of the hotel’s restaurants to meet my parents for dinner.

“How are you feeling, honey?” Mom asks, her face lined with concern as I slide into a chair opposite her. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Because you know it’d be okay if you’re not. This must be a hard weekend for you.”

“Mom, I’m fine.”

“Josh—”

“Leave the man alone, Rebecca,” my dad says. “He says he’s fine.”

The server comes to take our drinks order and I rush to ask for a beer. I can already tell this is going to be a long dinner.

By the time we get through our food, I’m four drinks in and they’re just barely managing to numb the headache brought on by my mom’s constant fretting. I love her, I really do, but it’s times like these I wish I had a sibling or two to provide some distraction.

After dinner, my plan is to head straight back up to my room and maybe read a book on my kindle, but as I’m making my way toward the elevators I hear someone call out to me.

“Hey, Josh.”

I glance up at the familiar, friendly voice to see one of Declan’s co-workers, a girl named Lana, smiling at me. She must sense my confusion about her presence because she gives an awkward little shrug, explaining, “Dec left his phone at the shelter. Thought I should probably bring it by in case he needed it.”

I nod. “That was thoughtful of you.”

“You’re looking great, by the way,” she says with a hint of surprise, as if she was expecting to find me on my deathbed. “I was sorry to hear what happened.”

‘What happened’ was me battling testicular cancer earlier in the year. Long story short: I caught it early, I went through treatment, I got the all clear, now I’m healthy. That’s all anyone needs to know about it as far as I’m concerned.

I offer a soft smile. “Yeah, thanks. I feel great.”

Her face clouds over with sympathy. “It must have been so awful.”

I try my best to hold back my sigh. I know she means well, but this is exactly why I didn’t want people to know when I was sick. The attention, the sympathy, the way all they see when they look at me is the illness. Even now when they know I’m recovered I still get it; it makes me cringe to think how much worse it would have been if all these people had known when I was actually ill.

“Yeah, well, everything’s all good now so that’s the main thing.”

She shakes her head slowly, letting out a heavy sigh. “God, you’re so brave. So, what’s happening now? Are you seeing anyone?”

“Not right now.”

Her face crumples, as if that’s even worse to hear than the stuff about my cancer. “Oh. Okay, well I’m sure you’ll meet someone soon. Hang in there.”

I smile at her, this time trying not to laugh at how ridiculous I’m finding this conversation. “I’m sure I will.”

I manage to tear myself away from Lana, but instead of heading for the elevator banks to take me up to my room, I make a beeline for the hotel bar. I take a seat at an empty stool at the bar and order a shot of tequilla and a beer chaser. And yes, I know, pounding shots alone at a bar is probably not the healthiest way of dealing with my frustrations, but right now I really don’t care.

2

Connor

My brother is getting married tomorrow, which makes tonight the rehearsal dinner. But he and his fiance, Heath, decided they didn’t want a big event for it, just a nice, intimate family