�Deeg, thanks for doing this,� MyKenna said, as the two of them made supper. �Ya know letting us use your place for tonight to tell our parents.�
�You�re my friends,� Dakota said. �I�m just trying to help ya�s out the best I can.�
�Aaron�s whole family is home and my family�s here. We just thought tonight would be good, ya know, the sooner the better.� Dakota nodded. �I�m nervous though.�
�Well you�re going to be telling them you�re pregnant in a couple hours. I�d be nervous too.�
�How�d you tell you parents?�
�I didn�t and I was lucky I didn�t. My dad wanted to kill Nick when he found out he cheated on me. Could you imagine what he would�ve done if I told him I was pregnant and then lost it because of what happened?�
�I don�t want to imagine it.�
�Me either.� They chuckled. �So I never told my family what happened.�
�I see. Well I think it�s the right thing to do.� Dakota nodded, as they heard voices. They looked and saw Nickolas and his family. �Hey.�
�Hey,� Nickolas said. �Nice place ya got here, Shorty.� Dakota just grinned and opened the refrigerator. �Where�s my little brother?�
�He volunteered to go get my parents at the hotel,� MyKenna replied. �There was no arguing with him.�
�Why didn�t they stay here?� Jane asked. �You�d think they�d want to stay closer to their daughter.�
�They didn�t want to impose,� Dakota replied. �MyKenna was insisting they stay, but they refused. I respect their decision though.�
�I wish they would�ve stayed here though,� MyKenna stated. �That way we�re closer and don�t have to drive halfway across town to see each other, ya know.�
�They�ll soon be here,� Dakota said. �So don�t panic.�
�I�m not,� MyKenna said. �I just want to see them.�
�You saw them over twelve hours ago,� Nickolas pointed out. �I don�t think a few more hours will kill you.�
�Did I not tell you to be nice?� Dakota questioned and Nickolas only grinned. She stood beside him and whispered, �Wasn�t our agreement you be nice to MJ and I�ll think about that date?�
�It�s all in good fun, Shorty,� Nickolas whispered. �I mean no harm and you know I really don�t hate her like she thinks.� She just looked at him. �Will you lighten up? For the past few days you�ve been nothing but �blah�.�
�I�ve been �blah�?� He smirked and nodded, as she shook her head. �You would be too if you were ragging it and learn that your best friend�s going to be a parent and it stirs up all these old feelings and memories inside you.�
�I�m sorry.� She didn�t say anything and continued with the salad. �I didn�t mean to upset you, Shorty.�
�You didn�t. I�m upsetting myself and I don�t want to. I�m letting MJ�s pregnancy get to me.� He stood behind her and rubbed her shoulders. �Ever since MyKenna said she was pregnant I can�t stop thinking about what life would be like if we didn�t lose the babies.� He didn�t say anything, because he knew he was to blame. If he could take it all back he would just to see Dakota happy and smiling again. �We�d be having babies next month, Nick.�
�I know and I wish I didn�t screw up.� She turned and looked at him. �I�m sorry I��
�Hey, hey look who it is,� Aaron interrupted and they looked to see Aaron and MyKenna�s family.
�Hey,� MyKenna said giving her family a hug. �I�m glad ya made it safely. Was Aaron�s driving ok?�
�It was fine, Honey,� MyKenna�s dad, Scott, said. �It was teenage driving, but ok.� They laughed.
�Mom, Dad, this is Aaron�s parents, Jane and Bob,� MyKenna introduced them. �These are my parents, Rachel and Scott.�
�Nice to finally meet you,� Rachel said.
�Like wise,� Jane said.
�Aaron talks very highly of you,� Rachel said.
�And MyKenna talks highly of you,� Bob stated. �We heard a lot of good things.� They all smiled.
�I think they like each other,� Aaron whispered and MyKenna looked at him.
�Why don�t you guys go into the den and get to know one another,� MyKenna suggested. �We have to finish supper yet so take this wine and go relax.� She handed the wine bottle and glasses to Scott. �We�ll let ya know when supper�s ready.�
�Ok,� Jane said. �This way.� The four parents walked out and the kids looked at each other.
�This is MyKenna�s brother, Dylan,� Aaron said.
�Hi,� the girls said.
�Who�s the babe?� Dylan asked and Nickolas glared at him.
�My sister,� Nickolas replied. �And I�d be so happy if you follow these four simple rules: don�t look at her, touch her, talk to her, or even think about her. That goes for all three�including Shorty.� Dakota looked at him. �If you can follow those four rules then we�ll get along just great.� He grinned.
�Nickolas,� Dakota said and he looked at her. �Be nice.�
�That�s cool,� Dylan said. �I got a girl anyway.�
�That�s even better,� Nickolas said and they all laughed at him. �I�m serious when it comes to my little sisters.�
�Gotcha,� Dylan said. �So, Kid, what�s the special occasion? Why get us all together?� MyKenna looked at Aaron and took a deep breath.
�Um, no reason,� MyKenna lied. �I just thought that since everyone�s in town now would be the perfect time for you all to meet. It�s been 3 � years and all.�
�I see,� Dylan said looking at Nickolas� sisters again. �And what are your names?�
�I�m BJ,� Bobbie Jean said. �And this is Leslie and Angel.�
�Hi,� the two girls said.
�What�s for supper?� Aaron asked. �Smells good.�
�Italian,� MyKenna replied. �Lasagna.�
�Made by whom exactly?� Aaron questioned.
�Chef Boyardee,� Dakota rebutted and they laughed except Aaron. �Who the hell do you think slaved over it? You were sitting in here with your finger up your ass watching the two of us make it.�
�Sheesh, calm down, Babe,� Aaron said putting his hands up. �Back off and take it easy.� She glared at him. �I was just kidding.�
�Yeah,� Dakota said. �You boys just leave my kitchen so we can finish up here.� She pushed Nickolas out and Aaron and Dylan followed.
CHAPTER 41