Chapter 14

Nathaniel

" Surprise!" They all scream as I stand there, looking at the shocked Lucas at the door beside Summer .

She's the one who accompanied Lucas to the doctor's appointment so we could organise this baby shower for him . Since the gender is unknown, Amari decided to go with blue and pink . Better than the black themed shower party Cam suggested .

Lucas seems to haven't noticed me yet. He starts hugging people and crying over the littlest things . It's crazy how much he has changed . He's a lot, I don't know, feminine in a way? . He's hair is longer, and he's wearing baggy clothes . I can't help but think maybe it's my fault, the way he looks at everyone with a smile on his face , but I feel like as the due date comes closer and closer, he looks more scared.  We were warned about all the dangers we might face, so each ticking minute, is a risk for both Lucas and the baby .

" This is sick, right? A joke!" A guy I don't even know says beside me while glaring at Lucas with disgust .

" Who are you?" I eye him from up and down, seizing him up for the beat up he's gonna receive if he continues being an ass .

" Amari's boyfriend ." The guy took a long gulp of his champagne . I step away from him in an instant . He reeks of trouble .

I walk around the room, people chatting away, some happy for Lucas while some are just here to humiliate him. People will be people I guess . It takes about an hour or so for the people surrounding Lucas to eventually scatter around the room, some I don't even know who they are .

Lucas excuses himself to use the bathroom, and I follow him . This is my only chance to get him alone .

I wait by the bathroom door in his bedroom while he does his business, I look around his bedroom in the meantime . He hasn't even unpacked his bag or made himself at home . It's like he's a visitor in his own apartment . Yep, his own apartment . I made a deal with James that he provides everything to Lucas and I would work for him, free of charge . At first he was surprised,  on why I was bothering myself with Lucas but at the end he figured it out . All on his own . He didn't take the news lightly . We fought about it , like kicking and punching each other until mom called the police so they could break up the fight . As for my mother, she hasn't talked to me since that day . I live in the house, however I'm hated by the two . I'm still living there because I know they can't kick me out , my mom would never agree to such a thing even though I have hurt her enough .

He embraces me into a surprise hug . " Hey ..." He utters happily.

We haven't seen each in over a week . I have been busy with work and never really got a chance to visit him after our little moment last time.

" How are you doing?" I ask softly over his shoulder . He smells so nice, if he wasn't pregnant.  I wish we could stay like this forever but nothing good ever lasts in this world.

" Good that you are now here. " He pulls away, looking up at me with a huge smile on his face.  It's like all the sadness in his eyes got wiped away by just seeing me.

" I have been here for a while watching you greet all your guests" I confess, making Lucas go red with embarrassment .

" I'm sorry, I was surrounded by a lot of people to notice everyone around the room. " He apologizes profusely.

" It's okay, I loved watching you interact with other people anyways ." I admit, placing a small kiss on his forehead.

Lucas looks like he's contemplating something as he glances from me to the ground.  " What's wrong?" I place my hand over his cheek and gently make him look at me .

" I feel too embarrassed to ask this. .." he grumbles, frowning a bit, and that worries me.

" Go on baby, ask me . I doubt that it's as embarrassing as you think it is ."

He looks down then back at me, biting down his lip" Would you pretty please help me pee in the bathroom? It's a struggle because of this huge ass belly, I can't see shit down there. "He quickly closes his eyes when I just smirk in realisation .

" Okay, let's go " I take him by his hand and we both enter the bathroom . I take my time helping him, reassuring him over and over again that it's absolutely okay.  It is my fault too that he no longer can't do some stuff, after all .

***

When we finally join the party, once again, Lucas is surrounded by people, wanting to touch his belly or congratulate him .

I step away, looking around for Wylder since i invited him . I don't spot him anywhere so I decide to walk over to Josh who looks rather worried .

I look from his scowling face to the phone in his hand . " Are you okay?".

" Yeah, just a friend is running late ." He types something on his cellphone then shoves it in his pocket . " What's up?" He turns to me, this time smiling a little .

" Oh nothing, just enjoying the party ." I scan my eyes around the crowded apartment .

" Did Lucas say anything about it? You two disappeared for like 30 minutes, thought maybe you talked about it?" Joshua looks at me with a hopeful smile .

" Oh yes , we did . He loves it . He's so thankful ." Grinning when Josh nods in joy .

Lucas and I didn't talk about the party at all . From what I gathered from him, he wishes he could sleep instead of tolerating everyone . Which is understandable .

" Oh Wylder is here!" Josh elbows me, nodding toward a sweating Wylder who looks like he has been running .

" See you!" I bid him goodbye. Wylder meets me halfway, taking a seat in the kitchen stools beside the kitchen counter .

"'Were you running?" I study his messy hair and clothes . " Did you even shower?" I ask, already knowing the answer .

" Actually, I lost track of time . I'm sorry man, I know this means a lot to you . I over napped . " He confesses. I gladly accept his apology, there's no point in being angry over it .

" So that pretty thing is the girl you knocked up?" Wylder beckons over Lucas who's now sitting and opening presents .

" No , not a girl , a guy . He's actually a guy ." I correct him .

" What? Like those type of transgender people who can have babies?"

" No, this is different.  He's a guy, he just has a womb . That's all . " I explain, Wylder looks at me like I have grown two heads .

" You are fucking with me, right? Is he like gonna push the baby out of his butt then?" He winces like the thought pains him . It should.  That's a dumb thing to think but what did I expect from a guy like Wylder?.

" No Wylder . That would just destroy his asshole, it wasn't built for that . The only option is c-section ." My patience is running low with Wylder, however I do want him to understand. He's my best friend . I want him to be part of my life even when I become a father .

" Honestly, he looks more like a beautiful young girl to me than a guy ." He says, looking across the room to Lucas, who has now tidied his hair in a messy ponytail and laughing at something Josh said.

" I will take that as a compliment. " I take a sip of my water . There's no alcohol, just juice and water . That's a good thing . Alcohol is my biggest weakness .

" As crazy as all of this is, I'm beyond shocked that you managed to knock someone up . You are always careful . "

" It wasn't my lucky night " I joke , even though deep down I feel like it was the luckiest night of my life . I wouldn't trade it for anything.

" What does this even mean? You two are gonna get married and raise the kid together?"

" I don't know yet ." I murmur . I never thought of that.  It's like the thought has been pushed at the back of my mind, I'm too afraid to acknowledge it . It terrifies me . Being with one person for the rest of my life.

" Honestly man, as your best friend, if I were you, I would run and never look back ."

" What?" I look at him, horrified by the idea that he thinks I should do that .

" I'm fucking with you!" He chuckles" I'm happy and scared for you at the same time. Being a father at our age won't be easy but I will be here for you . All the way, like old times " He pats my back . That is enough to fill my heart with hope that everything is going to turn out all right .

***