Second Go

I pushed my little metal cart around the corner of the aisle and continued to examine the diapers in front of me. There were so many kinds and I had no idea which would be the best kind or even what size to get.

The crash of metal on metal filled the air and I looked up to see another carriage had hit mine.

“Oh, I’m so sorry!”

“It’s okay!” I said with a laugh as I looked at the young woman who wasn’t much older than me.

“Amanda…” I said with my mouth hanging open.

A moment later Aaron rounded the corner and he looked from me to Amanda with a confused laugh.

“Rae, what are you doing here?”

Shaking my head, I searched hurriedly for an answer as to why I was looking at the diapers in Babies R Us.

“Hey, babe! Look at this onesie!”

I turned to see Austin proudly holding up the tiny onesie that read “My Daddy is a Rockstar!” with little graphic microphone, guitar, and drum set on it.

“Aaron! Amanda!” He said with a laugh going over and hugging him and then Amanda. “What are you guys doing here?”

“My best friend Michelle is having a baby shower next week. We were just getting a few things.”
Amanda explained. “Who are you guys shopping for?”

“Us!” Austin declared proudly wrapping an arm around my shoulder.

“You’re pregnant?!” Amanda asked excitedly running over and pulling me in for a hug.

“Yeah…” I said with a nervous laugh as Aaron exchanged his congratulations and Amanda peppered me with questions of names, sexes, and due dates.

We soon said our goodbyes and made our way towards the crib sets.

“Austin…” I said glaring up at him as we walked.

“What?”

“I thought we weren’t going to tell the band yet?”

“It’s just Aaron!”

“But, still. I thought we weren’t going to tell anyone.”

“I’m sorry, Rae.” He said turning to face me. “I just got excited. I don’t like keeping secrets, especially
from my best friends. At least I didn’t tell Alan.”

“Okay…” I said with a laugh. “You’re kind of off the hook. Just…no one else!”

&&&&&&&

I looked up from my laptop screen to see a pair of familiar brown eyes staring at me behind the shades of a pair of black Ray Bans, fedora hat placed perfectly on a mop of red hair.

“Hi,” I said with a giggle.

Sighing, Alan pulled his sunglasses off and I could tell he hadn’t slept much in the last few days.

“Are you okay?” I asked growing concerned as I watched his movements.

“Maddie and I broke up.” He said slowly looking down into his coffee.

“Why?” I said curious. I broke off a piece of my lemon sponge cake and popped it into my mouth.

“She thinks I’m too immature…” He said with a shrug leaning back in his chair. “One fight too many…I don’t know. But we’ve been arguing on Twitter all day.”

“Okay, word of advice…get off Twitter.”

“Thanks Rae.” He said with a roll of his eyes.

“I’m really sorry,” I said giving him a sad smile.

“It’s okay.” He said with a shrug. “It was kind of bound to happen ever since Japan.”

I nodded in agreement. “How’d you find me here?”

“This is the only Starbucks you ever come to in Huntington Beach…I’m not stupid.” He said with a laugh as he took a sip of his coffee. “How’s the baby?”

“What?” I said making sure I had heard him right.

“Oh come off it, Austin told me like a week ago when he was shitfaced.”

“I’m going to fucking kill him. Who else knows!”

“The whole band and a few other people. He bought celebratory shots for everyone when he told us.”

“He can’t keep a secret to save his fucking life….” I said shaking my head.

“Hey, don’t get too mad at him. He’s so stoked about the whole thing. I mean, how many guys are
that happy to be having a kid?”

“Good point, but I’m still going to kill him.”