chapter nineteen

Lauren swore her heart had skipped a beat. This was great news!

"Congratulations!" Lauren squealed. She rushed over to Brian and gave him a large hug.

The other four guys were stunned. Kevin's jaw had dropped. AJ grinned. He said, "Dude, you're gonna be changin' diapers as soon as you get off-stage."

Brian nodded excitedly. His heart was pounding in his chest. He was gonna be a daddy!

"When is the baby due?" Howie asked. He was finally grinning, too.

"Mid-summer. Lucky, cuz we have that break right around that same time."

Kevin spoke in a very fatherly tone, "Are you sure you can handle this? It is a very big responsibility."

"I think I'm ready. And I think I can handle it." He laughed. "I can't believe I'm gonna be a daddy!"

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After the Boys all went home, Lauren could only sigh. A lot had occurred today. The dress, the Boys' visit, Brian's big news. Lauren was exhausted.

Yet she found herself booting up the computer to work on the assignment due Monday. She dreaded doing it, even though she knew the quicker she did it, the quicker it'd get done. She opened Microsoft Word and retrieved her file. Lauren picked up from where she left off and began typing. Later, she heard Nick walk into the den and lie on the couch behind her, yawning a little.

"What do you think about Brian and the baby?" Lauren inquired. "You were awfully quiet."

"It kind of scares me, really," Nick replied sleepily, "we're getting so old. Kev's almost 30."

"So? Sting's still hoppin' and he's about...fifty million years old..."

Nick laughed. "It scares me because Brian is definitely a dedicated man. To his music and Jessica. It'd be really bad if he had to choose between them."

"Brian's whole life is music, Nick. And I know Jessica means a lot to him, but she knew right from the start that it was about the music first, then came Brian's personal life. Jessica's smart. She and Brian probably talked this all out before they...y'know..."

Nick smiled. "Yeah, I know."

Lauren continued to work on her computer. Nick lied on the couch, just listening to the tap of the keys.

"Why are you working on that damned thing so late, anyway?" Nick asked, looking up at her. "Let's do something."

"Like what?"

"Well...we could check to see if the springs on my bed are workin' good," Nick teased.

"It's too late and I'm too tired," Lauren replied bluntly.

"Ouch...ice woman!"

"Go to bed, I'll be in there in a few, I promise."

Nick got up and kissed her cheek. He walked out of the room and Lauren continued working. She heard some music go on. She finally saved the document when the words on the screen started to blur. She shut down the PC and then padded into Nick's room.

Nick was dancing around the bed to one of Lauren's Third Eye Blind CDs. He finally looked up and saw her, freezing up. He grinned cheekily and turned off the music.

Lauren smiled and put her PJs on. She brushed out her hair and climbed into bed. She kissed Nick several times goodnight and then fell asleep

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chapter twenty-one