Waste My Time by Kelsey Clayton

Friends and familyfill my house, and as Kennedy and I step inside, everyone goes eerily silent. It's like they're all waiting for the same thing, because they are. The baby's gender. It was hard enough not to let it slip when one person at a time tried to sucker it out of me. And now that we've finally gotten to today, the last thing I want is to ruin it at the last minute.

Bringing Kennedy with me, we push our way through the house and into the kitchen. I let go of her hand to get up on the island. Everyone watches me expectantly as I throw my hands in the air.

“It's a boy!” I shout.

Gasps and squeals fill the room as I hop down and wrap my arms around Kennedy. She looks up at me with her chin rested against my chest.

“That was very anticlimactic,” she tells me.

I shrug and drop a kiss to her forehead. “I couldn't hold it in anymore. Another minute and I was going to explode.”

People start making their way over to us, saying hello and congratulating us on our baby boy. Even just thinking about it makes me feel like nothing in the world could ever bring me down.

I'm having a son.

There's going to be a little boy that looks up to me.

If I'm being completely honest, that fact still scares the ever-living shit out of me. But running isn't an option. This baby is coming into this world, my baby, and I refuse to be a deadbeat dad.

“A grandson!” my mom squeals. “Oh, honey. I'm so excited!”

“Thanks, Mom.”

She turns to Kennedy, giving her a hug. “And you, dear. How are you feeling?”

“I'm okay. Just tired basically all the time,” she answers.

“Then just make Easton do everything. You're allowed.” My mom tilts her head at me. “Better yet, Eas, put it in your wedding vows.”

My mouth goes dry as I stare back at her. “Subtle, Mom. Really.”

“Well, you can't blame me for trying. I couldn't think of a better daughter-in-law than Kennedy.”

I watch as Kennedy shifts back and forth on her feet. She doesn't look uncomfortable, per se, but she'd definitely rather be talking about something else. Hell, so would I. It's hard enough not knowing where our relationship is going to go from here, let alone having my mother jamming fantasies of a future wedding down our throats. I'm trying to make her trust me again, not run for the damn hills.

“How about this, I'll promise to make you the first to know when she agrees to marry me, and you promise not to bring it up again until that day happens.”

My mother perks up. “So, that's a when, not an if.”

“Mom,” I say warningly.

She throws her hands up and backs away. “Okay, okay. I'm going.”

My dad pats me on the back and apologizes on behalf of my mom before following her over to where Amelia and Zayn are standing. Kennedy relaxes and chuckles, giving me a knowing look.

“What?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “Amelia is going to kill you for that promise.”

“Shit. I didn't think about that.”

“Good job, slick,” she teases. Then after a moment, she looks up at me, and she looks...hopeful. “So, is it a when, not an if?”

I stare back at her, ready to throw my heart on the line for a third time—heartbreak be damned. But before I can answer, one hundred and sixty pounds of pure douchebag comes to stand in front of us, ruining the moment. Immediately, I have every urge to scoop Kennedy up and carry her out caveman style. He smiles at both of us like he's not mentally plotting how to steal her away from me.

“A boy?” he asks. “That's great, Ken. Congrats!”

“Thanks, Alec,” she replies, going willingly as he hugs her.

The action is an innocent one but it makes my blood boil. Even being in the same room as her is too close for my liking. The way he lets the hug go on for just a little too long is enough to make me practically homicidal.

As I raise my brows at Kennedy, she backs away and out of his hold. Alec runs his fingers through his hair and grins at my girl.

“You're going to be such a good mother,” he tells her. “That little boy is going to love the hell out of you.”

“Yeah, well,” I cut in, “anyone would be crazy not to love the hell out of her.”

He keeps his head held high as we make eye contact. “You would think.”

The message is there, written in code and embedded in the silence. He's not giving up, and I'm not either. Everything I thought I could have been imagining with him was just confirmed, and judging by the way Kennedy doesn't seem surprised, she knew about it.

“Fucking Christ,” Kennedy mumbles, and we both look away from each other and over to her. “Are you each going to try pissing on me, too?”

Don't tempt me,I want to say. I'd do whatever it takes to get her the hell away from Alec. There's something about him that just doesn't sit right with me, and it's not just that he's clearly got a thing for the girl I want to spend the rest of my life with. It's something darker than that. Something unhinged.

He gives in and sighs. “I'm going to get a drink. Congratulations, again.”

“Thank you.”

As he leaves, Kennedy looks up at me and crosses her arms over her chest. It doesn't look nearly as intimidating as it once did, since it basically looks like she's just resting them on her belly, but no part of me underestimates her. She was dangerous before she was pregnant. With these hormones, she's basically lethal.

“Did you have to do that?” she accuses.

I take the beer that Zayn is handing me and shrug. “He threw down the gauntlet. I just picked it up.”

Z and Carter both smirk at the way Kennedy is glaring at me. If I could read her thoughts, she's probably thinking about ways she could off me and get away with it, while also realizing how much she would miss me at the same time. But thankfully, she's quickly distracted when Amelia pushes through Carter and Zayn to get to us.

“I cannot believe you're giving birth to a miniature Easton,” she says in mock outrage. “Are you trying to destroy the world?”

We all laugh, and I won't deny she has a point. “Let's just hope that he turns out like his mom.”

Kennedy softens and rests a hand on her stomach. “I don't know. I think turning out like his dad wouldn't be the worst thing ever.”

“You didn't grow up with him,” Amelia deadpans. “It absolutely would.”

I, however, can't be bothered with my sister. I'm too busy admiring Kennedy. Her strength and confidence is always something I've found appealing, but the more it shows, the more I fall in love with her for it.

“Can you believe we're going to have a nephew?” Amelia says to Zayn.

Z snickers at her change of heart. “I heard, babe. It's awesome.”

Both Amelia and Kennedy share a glance and then look back at Zayn. He's trying to play it cool, but under the intense stare of those two, he never stood a chance. Finally, Kennedy narrows her eyes at me.

“You told him.”

I put my hands up in defense. “I did no such thing.”

“He really didn't,” Z vouches for me. “Not intentionally, anyway.”

Not intentionally?”Wait, what?”

Taking a sip of his beer, he rolls his eyes. “You referred to the baby as he like four different times.”

“Shit,” I grumble.

I should've known I wasn't going to be able to keep it a secret. I mean, from Amelia, sure. But she was constantly bringing it up so I was always aware of the things I was saying. With my best friend though, I'm so comfortable that I didn't even think about it. I'm just glad he didn't point it out. I would've felt like such a dick.

Amelia backhands Zayn in the chest. “You knew and you didn't tell me?”

“Please remember that you love me,” he says, giving her his best smile.

She doesn't look happy, but she goes into his arms anyway. “You're so lucky that's true.”

AN HOUR LATER, I'M standing outside, smoking a cigarette. Zayn is with me, talking about all the big things we have going on in our lives. Carter and Jace just bought houses and moved in with Tye and Paige, Zayn is currently planning a wedding with Amelia, and I'm having a baby with Kennedy. They're all such monumentally life-changing things, and yet none of us are freaking the fuck out.

Don't get me wrong, being responsible for another life is terrifying. There are times when I think about it and my stress level skyrockets. But then there are other times, like now. Times when I think about how incredible it will be to have a family with Kennedy, and everything else fails to matter as much.

“You and Kennedy seem good today,” he says, stating the obvious.

I can't help but smile as I exhale, a cloud of smoke filling the air around me. “Yeah, we do.”

“Think you two will end up getting back together before the baby is born?”

It's a question I've asked myself hundreds of times, but I don't think I've figured out the answer yet. I'm hopeful, of course, but things are complicated. The only thing I'm focused on right now is regaining her trust. The rest is just an added bonus.

“I'm not sure,” I answer honestly. “But I know I won't give up until it happens.”

A wide grin stretches across his face. “Domesticated looks good on you.”

“Says the one who's engaged,” I clap back.

The two of us laugh, finding irony in it all, until the smile drops off my face when I see Alec coming our way. I thought this fucker left a half hour ago, when it became clear Kennedy wouldn't spend the entire time only paying attention to him.

“Hey, man,” he greets me, like we're old friends. “The party is still going, I see.”

It's obvious he's trying to get to me, but I won't let him. “Yep.”

“That's good, that's good.” He nods and Zayn gives me a look, wondering what the fuck is up with him. “By the way, it's good to see you in a better mood. That coke really works magic, doesn't it?”

My whole body runs cold as Zayn's eyes meet mine. He turns his attention to Alec, his demeanor cold as stone.

“What coke?”

“Z, it's nothing,” I protest.

Zayn holds up a hand to stop me from talking. “What fucking coke?”

Alec chuckles. “He's right, Z. It's nothing. Easton just seemed like he needed a little pick me up at Carter's place, so I gave him some. I can get you some, too, if you want.”

“Oh yeah?” he asks, but Alec is too stupid to notice the venom in his tone.

He takes out his phone. “Yeah. My buddy has the best shit you'll find around here. Let me get you his number.”

Zayn smacks the phone right from his grasp and it falls to the floor. Before Alec can react, he grabs him by the collar of his shirt and gets inches from his face. Alec watches him with wide eyes, and I glance back at the house to make sure Kennedy isn't watching this.

“Take your life-ruining connections and get the fuck out of here,” he sneers. “If I ever catch you giving him even so much as a goddamn Advil, I'll turn you and your buddy into roadkill. Do you understand me?”

Alec nods rapidly and as soon as Zayn releases him, he takes off running away from the house. I lean my head back against the house and watch as he starts to pace back and forth.

“Zayn, it's not—”

The way he looks at me sucks the words right from my mouth. “Don't you dare say another fucking word. This day is important to Kennedy, and we are not about to ruin that.”

“But—” I try again.

“The fuck did I just say?” he growls.

I clamp my mouth shut because he's right. Regardless of the fact that I didn't even use the drugs, just the idea of a possible relapse would wreck Kennedy. Hell, that's the only reason I'm not currently slamming Alec's face into the curb right about now. No part of me believes his act. He's pissed off that Kennedy is making her way back to me, and now he's trying to sabotage it. And depending on how this goes, he may just succeed.

Zayn presses a couple buttons on his phone and brings it to his ear. I don't even need to ask to know who he's calling. There's only one possible person it could be in a time where he thinks I'm spiraling back into a world that almost killed me the first time.

“Vaughn,” he says, dread filling his tone. “Yeah. It's a code black.”