More to This

by Tess Keeler

  After they ate a few bites, Everly finally spoke again. “I talked to my dad today.”

  “Oh? Did you tell him?” He stopped mid-bite to ask her that question. His eyes were wide, and she heard his fork hit the plate with a light clank.

  Everly regretted saying it— the timing of saying it, really, more than anything.

  “I did.” She sat her own fork down. Talking about the pregnancy was still nerve-wracking, but she tried to remind herself that they had to be able to communicate difficult things to have a successful relationship. She cleared her throat then took a quick drink of her water. “He was surprisingly supportive, and calm. I feel like I got really lucky having the dad that I do.”

  “Wow. I didn’t expect him to take it well, but I’m glad he did.” Playing with his fork, he laughed nervously. “Are you sure he doesn’t want to kill me?”

  She nodded. “I’m sure. He said he wished we had been more careful. But that he also knows how it is being in love and he knows I don’t do anything impulsively.”

  “He knows you well.” Henley took a deep breath choosing to pick up his fork again. “Did he have any advice?”

  “I told him abortion wasn’t an option, and he agreed. I also told him we didn’t know what we wanted to do. He suggested if we decide to adopt, that River and Aiden might be our best prospects, given the strict guidelines I voiced.”

  “River and Aiden?” Henley was confused for a moment. “Oh, the couple we met in New York?” Stopping to think for a moment, he finally spoke again, “Are they looking for a baby?”

  “Yeah, that’s them. I’m not sure. My dad said that it might be easier for them if they were looking since they have to adopt anyway.” She pulled her lips together. “What do you think?”

  “I want to do what’s best for us, and I think you’re right about us not being ready.” His features were soft, vulnerable. “I’m terrified.”

  Everly felt a little nauseous, but she agreed with him. “I am, too.” She swallowed hard. “Adoption it is, then?”

  “If they want him or her. If not, we’ll figure it out? Right?” His eyebrows were pulled together, his eyes fighting off the emotions roaring inside of him.

  “Yeah, of course we will.” She tried to offer him a reassuring smile.

  He tried to start eating again. “Are you wanting to ask them in person?”

  “I can’t fly until I’m in my second trimester, and Seattle is a twenty-hour drive from here.” She sighed, “Even if I wanted to, could we pull that off?”

  “If it’s necessary, sure. I’ve got some savings we can dig into.”

  Everly felt her heart sink. He was willing to do it. She felt stupid, like a hypocrite for considering keeping it. It was time to suck it up and stay strong. “When do you think we should make this trip?”

  “Before we decide on a time, are you sure you don’t want to keep this baby?” Could he see through her like that? She felt her eyes widen.

  “H,” She started, letting her racing thoughts catch up. “There’s always going to be a part of me that wants to keep this baby. This precious little thing that is a product of our love. But, I’m not naive enough to think we’re anywhere near ready.” The truth was out, and she looked down at her hands. “We live at my parents' house, and we’re both trying to get through school. We had plans before we ever met each other. And I don’t want to be the reason you don’t become a professor, or feel trapped.”

  When he touched her face, she looked back up. She leaned into his touch, taking a deep breath before letting it out slowly. His tone was steady when he spoke, “Everly, I’m happy to have you in my life, to have found you after so many girls I have dumped aside. If I wasn’t anticipating life changes, I wouldn’t have done this—I don’t do relationships, because I never thought someone was worth my time or future. You are. We made this together.” He paused, shaking his head. “I don’t want you to regret giving it up, because you’re scared I won’t stick around or be angry about it.”

  “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want kids with you someday. And I don’t want to run from our problems, but can we give them the life they deserve right now? Or would someone else be able to give them a better life?” She felt herself break a little.

  Henley pursed his lips then frowned, “Aiden and River could definitely give them a better life.”

  Her eyes were watering, and she tried not to let them spill over. Sniffling, she nodded. “You’re right. They will be great dads when they’re ready. But we’ll never know unless we ask them.”

  “I’m sorry, baby.” His eyes began to water too, still frowning at her.

  They finished eating with a little less conversation. Something Everly appreciated was that everything else went on like normal. Regardless of the life-altering situation they were facing, they didn’t take it out on each other.

  After taking Everly’s suggestion of a shower together, they curled up in bed to cuddle and watched a movie. And as Everly rested against Henley’s bare chest, she felt grateful that if she was going through this with anymore, at least it was Henley.

  1

  More to This

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Henley

  Henley probably should have had his parents meet Everly before he was going to tell them that they were expecting a child—one they kind of knew what they were doing with. Despite his current realization, they were pulling into the small diner they had frequented as a family, when things were all right with his dad and mom. Things weren’t okay now, and he knew that having them together was only necessary because of the situation.

  They pulled up in Everly’s Mini Cooper with Henley behind the wheel. His hand was on her thigh, trying to keep himself present as his mind fought the urge to race about the possibilities. She was quiet.

  “Are you nervous?” he asked.

  “A little,” she admitted. “I never imagined my first time meeting them involving a pregnancy announcement.”

  She wore a small amused smile, and he appreciated her lightheartedness even when they were both anxious.

  “My dad’s going to love you,” Henley said with confidence, squeezing where his hand laid.

  “And your mom?” she asked, her eyes searching his expression.

  “My mom will love you. Not the baby.”

  Everly looked hurt, her eyebrows falling toward the ground.

  “It’s not you she’ll project toward. It’ll either be me or dad. I just want to warn you. I don’t want you to be upset about it.” He paused to take a deep breath. “It’s inevitable.”

  They stepped out of the car and joined at the trunk, their fingers tangling as he surveyed the parking lot. His mother’s van was parked beside his father’s sedan. He could see the trail of smoke leaking from between the vehicles, and he knew that she was standing between them. His father didn’t smoke anymore

  He faced his girlfriend a second, reading her face and preparing himself to defend her and their consequences no matter what. He pushed a piece of stray hair falling into her eyes behind her ear and kissed her forehead before leading them toward the door. Everly couldn’t be around the smoke.

  Jared looked up from his menu, the same menu they had memorized years ago. It was a local favorite around Louisville. His dad probably still frequented even though they had all ended up in different cities around Denver. His eyes were tired but bright. The smile he gave them was genuine and wide, and it made his eyes disappear. This sight of his father happy always hit him like a brick in the chest. He was always so excited to see either twin, and Henley missed him more than he thought he did. When the smile lessened, he could see the deep green and brown hazel color of his eyes, colors that had combined well with his mother’s blue to give each twin a different shade of blue-green eyes.

  “Hen, you look good.” Jared stood, using the nickname him and Pierce had for him. He released Everly’s hand to hug him, his own smile growing.

  When he pulled back, he grabbed Everly’s finger
s and directed her a little closer. “Dad, this is Everly, my girlfriend.”

  He extended his hand, his attention moving from his son to her. She took his handshake before he spoke. “It’s nice to meet you, Everly. Despite what Henley has told you, I’m the cool dad.”

  “Alright, cool dad,” Henley laughed.

  “It’s nice to finally meet you, Mr. Moore,” Everly said so politely that it made Jared beam.

  “Please, call me Jared.” He looked behind them, and his smile turned into one a little more sarcastic. “Misti, nice of you to join us.”

  Henley’s stomach churned. He just wanted them to get along long enough for him to deliver the news. He turned, bringing Everly with him as he faced his mother. Her bright blue eyes were wide, and he wondered if she was already judging him for some invisible reason. His hair was too messy or his back not straight enough. Her skin was tanner than his father’s. They both had full lips, but hers were more of a bow. Henley wasn’t sure who he got his beauty marks from, because neither of them had many. She was dressed in a sundress, strappy white heels, and her straight dirty blonde hair was half up and half down. He looked back to his father, who was dressed in his usual khaki shorts and sports t-shirt. He lived in Colorado, but he had always been a Pittsburg Steelers fan. His hair usually fell just above his jawline, and it was dark and wavy. Whether he was working or not, it was always pushed beneath a baseball cap. Today, his hat matched his black Steelers shirt.

  He gave his attention to his mother, wholly, as he heard his father sit back down. “Mom, this is my girlfriend, Everly.”

  She gave her “I love everyone” smile and shook her hand as it was extended to her. “It’s nice to finally meet you, sweetie.” Everly’s smile was much tighter now, knowing that Henley hadn’t spoken to them about her at all. Fake. His mother was so fake.

  “It’s nice to meet you…”

  “Misti. The name’s Misti. Or Mrs. Goodwell.”

  Henley wanted to gag. She was so proud of her new family. Her perfect business husband, Brad, and two perfect, ivy-league step-daughters.

  “Wonderful.” Everly faked her enthusiasm, and Henley smothered his smile. He loved her so fucking much.

  “Let’s eat,” Henley encouraged, wanting to get it all over with really.

  Misti took a seat next to Jared, and after pulling Everly’s seat out, Henley sat down too. They all picked up their menus and prepared for the waiter’s visit. Henley put his down after a second and stared off through the windows lining the diner.

  Everly’s hand landed on his thigh, and he looked over to find her looking at him. “Do you know what you want?” she asked.

  Jared put down his menu and interrupted them, “Henley doesn’t stray from the biscuits and gravy. Ever.”

  One side of Henley’s lips lifted, feeling pretty damn predictable, but it was true. It was his favorite item on the menu, and no one did it better in the state.

  They all gave their drink and food orders once they were greeted by the waiter. They engaged in some small talk about Brad and Misti’s life, and then his father’s restaurant and his life in Louisville. The food arrived, leaving them quiet for a few moments as they adjusted to eating their food. It was delicious as always. He noticed Everly pushing her food around, and he offered her a smile. It was either an uneasy stomach or her nerves.

  “I’m surprised you didn’t get the fried mushrooms,” he said teasingly, his smile brightening as he turned toward her. He needed to forget where they were and what they were about to do for a moment.

  “I didn’t want your parents to think I was weird for ordering an appetizer for breakfast.” She pouted the cutest pout, and Henley placed his fingertip beneath her chin and tilted her head up toward his. He wanted to kiss her, and he began to lean in when the sound of a utensil hitting a plate snapped him out of it.

  Jared cleared his throat, and they both faced forward and picked up their own forks in time to hear him ask his first question. “So, where did you two meet?” He was twisty the chunky bracelet on his wrist around until it got comfortable on his wrist. Before they could respond, he was already asking more. “Was it school? And how long have you been seeing each other?”

  He was chewing through a bite of food, so he followed his parents’ gaze to his girlfriend, who was chewing on her lip. A little flushed. How did we explain that we met at a college party? That would really help Henley’s reputation.

  “We met at a St. Patrick’s Day celebration,” Henley said cooly.

  “A party?” Misti said, her tone already more nasally that before. There it was.

  Henley shrugged, “Everly’s not the partying type.”

  Jared nodded and Misti tried to go back to eating her meal.

  Everly hummed a little, “We’ve been together for _______ months. Known each other for ________ months.”

  Henley had forgotten about that part of the question, already a little uneasy with the conversation, and he thanked her with a small smile as their eyes met.

  “Since you’ve been together for a little while, I assume you know that Henley is a twin,” Misti said before taking a drink of her coffee. Black like her soul. Henley tried not to laugh at the thought, chewing back his lip while Everly answered her.

  “Oh, yes. Pierce and I text from time to time. He has gotten close to my best friend now that I’m not around as much.” She leaned into Henley playfully. “No thanks to this one.”

  They were inseparable. Always had been.

  “I actually moved in with Everly and Mason recently,” Henley added, like it was no big deal. It was.

  He looked up through his eyelashes at his parents as he shoveled more food into his mouth. Everly coughed softly next to him, probably not expecting his honesty.

  “Isn’t that a big step?” Misti said, her eyes narrow and her eyebrows lifted.

  Henley pursed his lips, wishing it was his father speaking and not his mother. “When you know, you know.” He took a sip of his coke and broke the awkward silence. “Everly and I weren’t looking for a relationship. It just happened.”

  “How do your parents feel about that, Everly?” Misti asked.

  Henley groaned, “We’re adults, mom.”

  Everly cleared her throat and used his leg to steady herself as she spoke calmly in their direction. “My parents really like Henley, and they know the strength of our feelings. They also know I’m not the type to jump into something without actually believing in it.” He caught the tightlipped smile she gave Misti while squeezing his thigh. Was it to comfort herself or him? Either way, he appreciated it.

  Jared sat his glass down, looking to Misti a moment. “If it feels right, Mis, then that’s all that matters.”

  His attention redirected to the couple, and Henley sighed with a little relief. Dad to the rescue. Henley had to understand that they were going to react. He was informing them of a new relationship, a new living arrangement, and a pregnancy in the same meal. It was going to get tense.

  “Thanks, dad,” Henley breathed.

  He saw his mother shaking her head in defeat. She wasn’t going to like what they had to say next.

  “I’m crazy in love with your son, for what it’s worth,” Everly blurted.

  It was Henley’s turn to comfort her, covering her hand with his. It was time to just put it out there, and whatever happened happened.

  “Mom. Dad.” He took a deep breath. “I’m in love with Everly. The time I have spent with her has been the best time of my life, and I brought you two here, together, to meet her.” He paused, and he heard Everly take in a shaky breath. She had to know it was coming out. He couldn’t stop it now. “…To help you understand why we’re giving our baby up for adoption.”

  The sound of Misti’s fork falling into the plate should have been expected, but Henley still flinched. He opened his eyes to see her jaw hanging and her face turning bright red. Jared didn’t look pissed, but his eyes were wide with shock.

  “I know what you two are thi
nking, but this a well thought out decision. We aren’t ready to raise a child. We’re not done with school, and it was an accident that could have been prevented. Entirely my fault.”

  “Henley, no...” Everly whispered.

  “We want to give the baby a chance at a great life, with experiences and opportunities we don’t have the resources for. We know a couple incapable of conceiving, and they are going to be fantastic parents.”

  Henley took his hand off of hers and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer to him. He needed to feel that she was there, and he also wanted to protect her from whatever was coming.

  “Hen..” Jared began.

  Misti raised her hand up, completely interrupting his father. “This is exactly why you can’t afford to have accidents, Henley. There are no circumstances where you should skip protection.” She laughed this awful laugh. “Instead of accepting the mistake for what it is, you’re going to avoid learning from it by giving him or her to someone else.”

  Henley sat up, immediately defensive. “You don’t think it’s going to hurt either way? Do you think I want to give up my first born child? Wow.”

  “Now, Misti, I think they are being smart about this. There are people who are at a point in their life where babies are the next step. I think it’s brave. They’ll have to give up everything to provide for a child.”

  Misti pushed her chair back and stood up, looking down at them—a perfect representation of her feelings toward Henley on an everyday basis. “So they would have to work hard to have a family? So what? We did it.”

  Henley looked down at the table, letting the anger boil and rage inside of him. He wasn’t going to stoop to her level and start a commotion. Jared stood, and he could hear him asking her to calm down. Something fell over, and then her heels disappeared out the door.

  “I’ll be back,” Jared promised, but Henley never looked up.

  Everly removed herself from his grasp, and Henley met her gaze with fear. Instead of saying anything, she wrapped her own arms around him, hugging him against her. He buried his face into her neck, his hand moving to her stomach. He circled her non-existent baby bump and released the tension he was holding onto.