Page 76 of Headstrong Like Us

One month?

A year or two years?

In the meantime, Maximoff and I agreed that this kid needsparents.We’re not his best friends. We’re not cool uncles.

We have to be fathers.

And I’ll love him, even if he leaves tomorrow.

“You got somethin’ for me then?” Donnelly wonders.

I said I did at the start of this conversation. And I reach into my back pocket, and I pass him a Philly Aquatic Center business card.

Flipping it, Donnelly reads the question scribbled on the back.

He stares at the words for a long quiet beat. Not much silences Paul Donnelly.

“Shocked?” I smile.

Donnelly glances up. “Just thinking how nuts you are. You took in a white trash baby and now you want white trash as your best man.”

He never sayswhite trashlike he’s ashamed. He’s unashamedabout almost everything. He just says it like it’s a fact. A statement. So I don’t need to assuage his feelings that aren’t hurt. But make no mistake: I’ve cold-cocked fuckers for calling him white trash as a dig.

The corner of my mouth hikes. “Is that a yes?”

“Fuck yes.” Donnelly smirks more. “You asking Oscar too or what?”

“To be a groomsman.” I nod. “But I only have one best man.”

That rocks him back. “What?” His eyes redden, more overwhelmed. “Really?”

It had to be Donnelly. Only Donnelly.

As much as Oscar means to me, he has a brother and a sister. Donnelly has no one, and he’s willing to take scraps and share. And fuck, I just didn’t want him to have to share this.

“Yeah.” I smile and stick a piece of gum in my mouth. “You’re an infection I can’t rid.”

He laughs and rubs his eye. “You should call a doctor. Get that taken care of.”

I chew slowly, still smiling. “I am a doctor.”

“You must not be very good then, man.”

I laugh hard, and I shake my head. We both know I never tried to get rid of him. I never wanted to. I had no siblings too, and for whatever reason, he chose to hang around me. For over a decade.

And when I get married, I want him by my side.

The air is light and easy-going until Donnelly asks, “When are you gonna tell Oscar?” His brows pinch.

Shit.

Nerves roil my stomach. Yeah, I’ve been nervous about Oscar’s reaction. More now. Because if Donnelly thinks he’ll be upset, then I might be fucked.

I run a hand through my hair. “Sometime soon. Just let me tell him.”

Donnelly nods, and the baby wails. I retrieve the stuffed parrot from my back pocket, and Ripley quiets a little bit once it’s in his grip.

Donnelly adjusts his backpack. “I’d hug you but you’re wearing a hug-blocker.”