CalvinThere it is.I’ve laid it all on the line for her.My heart is in the palm of her hand to do with as she pleases. She takes a moment to process my words. She turns toward me, wide-eyed, slack-jawed, unable to speak. I brush wet strands of her hair from her face. My thumbs caress her jawline as I stare deep into her caramel eyes, imploring her to love me, to accept my confession, and to allow us to move on together.She looks back toward the truck. She doesn’t crane her neck or stand for a better view. She stares for several long minutes. As she turns back to face me, I’m paralyzed. I can’t breathe. I can’t move.“You…” She gulps audibly. “What’s his name?” Her brow furrows as her eyes search mine for answers.“His name is Tyler. He’s four,” I repeat.“Tyler Calhoun?” she questions.I nod. This is not the reaction I expected. I thought she’d ask about his mother, how we hooked up, why she wasn’t in the picture, and where he goes while I’m in class. She doesn’t seem concerned wit
SchuylerMoments into the drive, I can no longer take the sound of the windshield wipers on the car window. I scramble for anything to discuss.“Can you tell me about Tyler’s mother?” I regret the words as soon as they spill from my mouth. “I mean, you don’t have to.”“I don’t mind.” Calvin peers over at me for a second before turning his attention back on the road. “I think it’s important for you to know. My second year of college, a girl I hooked up with one night the spring before showed up on my doorstep. Her name is Daniel, and she was a sophomore photography major.”Calvin shakes his head before continuing. “I was so freaked out about her tracking me down five months after our one-night-stand that I totally missed her pregnant stomach.”Now and then, Calvin looks toward me in the passenger seat to gauge my reaction before sharing more details. “She claimed the baby was her boyfriend’s, but he bailed as soon as she told him she was pregnant. Since she came from a large, very Catho
Schuyler“Hey,” Calvin whispers, peeking his head in the bedroom.I wave at him to shoo him out, and I tiptoe behind him, suddenly nervous about how the rest of this evening will play out.“I’ve prepared my bed for you,” he states, motioning me towards the back of the house.“I can’t kick you out of your bed,” I argue.“My couch is plenty big enough for me,” he promises.I walk into his room, finding the blankets pulled back and the bedside lamp on.“Let me know if you need anything,” he says, leaning against the door frame.I climb onto the mattress, pulling the blankets over me. I don’t want to be alone in his bed. I’m afraid his scent and my fantasies of him might keep me awake all night.“Can you lay beside me for a little bit?” I ask, patting the other side of his king-sized bed.He’s hesitant as he lies on top of the comforter, an arm’s length away from me.“Um...” I stutter. “Would you... could you hold me for a while?”Calvin doesn’t wait for a reason or argue. He scoots closer
SchuylerI mull over my statement. I can’t let Tyler be the reason I stay with Calvin.“No, you can’t,” Dallas agrees. “Calvin and you are together because you love each other. Calvin loves you; he loves all parts of you. He doesn’t want to lose you. Now that you know he has a son, and he knows about your hysterectomy, there’s no reason to hold back.”“I don’t know how it’ll work.” I slump back into the sofa cushion. “How will we date with Tyler around? What will that look like?”Dallas shakes her head at me. “It’s different, that’s for sure. The two of you will have normal dates, though. I’m sure you’ll occasionally hang out with both of them. You love kids, so this won’t be a problem for you.”“Can it be that easy?” I rub my hands down my face. It seems too good to be true.“Do you love Calvin?” Dallas asks firmly.I nod.She holds up one finger between us. “Do you love children?”Again, I nod, and she holds up a second finger.“Do you like Tyler?”I nod, fighting a smile as it attem
Schuyler“He’s officially asleep,” I sigh, flopping on the sofa near Dallas.“How many books did you end up reading?” she asks.“Three, but we had a brief discussion in between each one. He asked me questions about dating.” I smile at my friend. “He asked about Garret and you, along with Calvin and me.”“Like what?” “We talked about love, where we go on dates, kissing, whether Garret and you kiss, if you love Garret, who Tyler loves, and so on.” I love Dallas looks as uncomfortable about the topics as I was when he asked me the questions.“Did you answer all of his questions?” Dallas’s worried face causes me to smirk.“Yes. I think it’s important to be open and honest with him,” I explain. “I didn’t go into detail, and I asked him what he thought a few times. He’s a perceptive little guy. He likes to see the adults in his life smile and laugh. And he’s glad you make his Uncle Garret smile a lot.”“Wow. I’m definitely glad I don’t work with kids. There’s no way I could handle all the q
CalvinAs if they bugged the house, one by one, Schuyler’s three brothers all somehow happen to drop by. I don’t plan to share my news with them. I’d rather they learn of our engagement at the graduation party. Theo tries her best, but she can’t hide that she’s excited about something.“Mom, what’s up? You look like the cat that ate the canary.” Levi looks from his mother to his father, then at me with suspicion.Theo turns to me, zips her lips, and tosses the key over her left shoulder. Ya, like that won’t make them ask more questions. I feel I’m in front of a firing squad with all three brothers glaring in my direction.“You know, we can beat it out of you,” Levi threatens.“Levi Dawes,” Theo chides. “Where are your manners? That is no way to treat a guest in our house.”“Spill the beans,” Dan orders, pointing to his mom.Theo’s much too excited to keep it secret any longer. She buckles, an excited grin growing on her face. “Calvin’s going to ask Schuyler to marry him!” Six angry, b
SchuylerLevi waits for us on the front porch of Calvin’s house. I leap from my parents’ vehicle, eager to see him and celebrate my special day.“Hanging in there?” Levi asks, wrapping me in a bear hug.“Too... many... muscles...” I groan as I struggle to breathe. He often forgets the power he packs in his oversized arms. I take a minute to regain my breath. “What do you mean ‘hanging in there’? Graduation’s over. It’s party time!” I announce.Levi sports a shit-eating grin. He’s up to something. When any of my brothers are up to something, it’s usually a terrible day for me. I’m sure they plan to embarrass me. I grab my father by the arm, pulling him to the side before we enter the house.“Levi’s up to something,” I inform him. “I’m meeting Calvin’s parents for the first time today; I don’t need him to mess that up. Can you intervene on my behalf?” I bat my eyes, hoping to persuade Dad.“Your brothers will be on their best behavior,” he promises. “They have nothing planned to embarras
SchuylerI open my mouth; I can’t form the words. I try a second time with no luck, so I nod. I nod and nod and nod. I wrap my arms around the two guys in front of me. “Yes!” I squeak in their ears. “Yes!”Our gathered family and friends cheer and applaud around us. Dallas pulls me from Calvin’s arms to hug me. She’s as excited as me. Holding my hands between us, she speaks of venue, date, color scheme, and so on.“Excuse me, Dallas,” Calvin interrupts, pulling my hands from my best friend’s. “She said yes. I need to slide this ring onto my fiancé’s finger.”Fiancé.I’m a fiancé.I’m engaged to the sweetest man in the world, with an adorable little boy. I’m getting married.How is this my life?Amid all the congratulations, servers pour champagne and pass it to the adults while they give Tyler a glass of sparkling cider. Calvin’s father toasts. We clink glasses and drink. Unaware of how it happened, I find myself at a long table surrounded by women while the men gather on the other sid