The Good Life

*Alex*

“I said nine thirty not nine thirty-eight!” I scolded at Rian as he sat down next to Austin. I invited Oli, Austin, and Rian to meet me at this bar downtown called Shade. I don’t know who comes up with these stupid bar names. I wanted to get their opinion on if I made the right decision to adopt with Jack. I feel like I did, but I want to hear their thoughts also.

“Just be happy I showed up at all and where have you been? I haven’t seen you in three days!” Rian said.

“I was with Jack.” I mumbled.

“Wait wait! Rian you haven’t seen or heard from Alex in three days and you didn’t think he was like dead or something?” Austin asked.

“Oh no I knew he was with Jack, I just wanted to hear him say it.” Rian chuckled.

“Rian you Dick!” I yelled.

“You said you had something to tell us and where are the free drinks you promised?” Oli asked me, of course that’s all he cared about.

“I’m getting them, I’m getting them.” I sighed and went up to the bartender to get us drinks. I ordered four Bud Light’s for us and the pay the bartender as he handed them to me. I brought them back to the table and handed them out make sure everyone was content so I could talk without any interruptions.

“Okay I have something important to tell you guys.” I said and they all turned their attention to me. “Um last night I kind of made the decision to get back together with Jack and adopt the baby with him.” I looked down when I told them so I wouldn’t see their initial reactions.

“Do you regret it?” Rian put on his serious face.

“No I don’t. I’m just really scared.” I laughed nervously. I’m not having second thoughts about my decision and I don’t think I will.

“I think it’s a great idea you seem like you’ve grown up and actually are an adult now so why not?” Austin said.

“I’ve been an adult since I turned twenty-one.” I pouted.

“Yeah but you were so immature.” Austin joked and Rian laughed and nodded his head. I looked over at Oli who had been quiet the whole time, it looked like he was in deep thought.

“What are you thinking, Oli?’ I asked and woke him from his thoughts.

“We won’t be able to party or hang out like we do now because that baby is going to suck the life out of you. And you’re going to have to set aside all your hopes and dreams and focus all your attention on its needs and wants.” He complained.

“I don’t have any hopes and dreams. And I’ll still be able to go out with you guys and do fun things…just not for like the first few months after she’s born.” I told them.

“Whatever you say.” He sighed and laid his head on his hand.

“Don’t be upset you’ll love her and she’ll love her Uncle Oli.” I said and a smile spread across his face. “And her Uncle Austin. Rian, she’s just going to call you Rian.” I joked and he sighed.

“I’m going to ask Jack if Cass and I can be her Godparents.” Rian said and I rolled my eyes.

“Did you tell your dad yet?” Austin asked.

“No I’ll tell him sooner or later.” I answered.

“You told Jack you would adopt with him right? Not like maybe or anything?” Rian asked.

“Yeah I told him yes I want to.” I said.

“So you won’t back out or change your mind at the last minute?” Rian questioned. I felt like I was being interrogated.

“uh I won’t. I actually want to do this, it’s not just a phase I’m going through or anything.” I said.
“When do we get to meet her?” Oli asked.

“The surrogate’s, I guess that’s what you call her, due date is November 10th. So five more months.” I told them.

“That’s forever from now.” Oli whined, obviously more enthused about the baby.

“That’s enough time for us to buy baby things, choose a name, and mentally prepare ourselves for her arrival.” I said.

“Did the lady say why she was giving her baby away?” Austin asked.

“Jack said she said her and her boyfriend aren’t ready to become parents yet because they’re still in college and stuff like that.” I said.

“So it wasn’t like one of those deals where you ask them to carry a baby for you and then you pay them?” Austin asked.

“Nope.” I said confidently.

“Well congratulations! Cassadee is probably going to cry when I tell her the good news. She’s going to spoil this baby.” Rian laughed.

“Her and Jack both.” I chuckled.

“Have you met the surrogate yet?” Oli asked.

“No I haven’t seen her. Jack said that her and her boyfriend are Brazilian though.” I said.

“Like the Kardashian family!” Oli added.

“They’re not Brazilian. They’re not even Latino” Rian argued.

“They are to Hispanic or something!” Oli fought back. Austin and I were just watching them go back and forth for Minutes wondering why they knew so much about that family and why they were actually wasting their time arguing about them.

“I feel like nobody understands Kim and they’re just quick to judge her.” Rian said and I decided I had enough of this conversation.

“Why the hell do you guys know enough about this family to actually hold a conversation about them?” I scowled at them.

“Cassadee.” Rian answered at the same time Oli answered “Hannah.” I shook my head at them and laughed.

“Someone please change the subject.” I begged.

“Oh I was wrong they’re Armenian.” Oli said reading about it on his phone, which sparked another conversation between him and Rian.

I sat my head in my hands and waited for it all to be over.

***

“Oh Rian texted me and asked if he and Cass could be the Godparents.” Jack said as we laid in bed together. “I told him yes. I figured you wouldn’t mind.”

“Of course I don’t, they’re going to be great.” I told him.

“What’d they say when you told them?” Jack asked. We were lying in bed together about to go to sleep.

“They were happy for us. And they wanted to make sure this is something I want to do and not something I’m forcing myself to do.” I paraphrased.

“You do want to don’t you?” Jack mumbled and I laid his head on my chest.

“Of course I do. I know I fought you on this subject when we first talked about it, but I was just afraid. This is something I actually want to do with you. I mean why not? I think this will give me a sense that I really matter. Just to know that there is someone that I have to love and care for. And I’ll be able to do this with someone I love very much… Also we need someone to take care of us when we get older.” I kissed his hair.

“I love you too and I’ll make sure we never grow old.” He giggled and I hummed to let him know I was listening.

“What do you think of the names Christina, Farrah, Gabriela, or Hayden?” Jack asked. It became normal that before we go to bed, Jack would tell me different names to see if I liked them or not.

“Eh I don’t like those really.” Usually Jack would try to convince me to like one of the names, but tonight he said he didn’t like those names either. I actually had a name in mind, but I don’t know if Jack would be okay with it so I kept it to myself.

“Do you think I can meet um Camilla sometime soon?” I asked a few minutes later.

“Uhh yeah of course.” He said nervously, but I didn’t think too much of it.

Notes

I wonder why Jack wouldn't want Alex to meet Camilla.