Party of Four

Ending Conspiracies - Cole

The first few days after we’d told mom and dad were filled with her texting us links to houses that were currently for sale. She’d even made a family group chat so that she wouldn’t have to send the same link multiple times. Even though we weren’t sure yet if Nica was going to live with us, mom had included her too, wanting her opinion on potential nurseries. I felt like it was also mom’s way of quietly trying to convince Nica to move too, without directly asking. I begged Nica not to feel pressured to move in with us, and to please tell my mom if she went too far with her planning.

Nica just laughed it off, unbothered. If anything, she was flattered and appreciated the excitement. “She has nothing else to plan right now,” Nica had grinned one afternoon while we sat outside on our break. She sat on an upside down milk crate up against the tree. Close enough that she was part of “the circle,” but still creating enough distance from Riley and me that we could smoke without anything affecting her. “Once she’s able to start planning the baby shower, I’m sure she’ll calm down.”

“You don’t know our mom that well yet,” Riley informed her. “She keeps meticulously organized binders for every major life change and event. Giving her a baby shower to plan isn’t going to reduce the house hunting texts.”

“Well, we’ll just have to find other ways to keep her busy then,” Nica laughed.

“You act like you’re not the same way,” I teased my brother, laughing.

Mallory’s Subaru pulled up on the other side of the bushes, heavy bass thumping. Five quick honks sounded in a quick burst of rhythm. I peered over the shrubs to see Jay grinning behind the wheel as Mallory shook her head. Normally, if they rode together, she drove. This time they’d swapped places, and as they got out, I saw Mallory had put on makeup. Also out of the ordinary.

“You look pretty,” Nica complimented her, smiling as her and Jay sat down.

“Thanks, normally I drive, but since he drove today I had extra time in the car,” she grinned. It was light makeup. Eyeliner, mascara, and lip gloss, but still noticeable enough for someone that normally didn’t wear any.

Riley passed Mallory the joint he and I had been sharing before they joined us, and Jay started up casual conversation asking how the morning shift had went.

Mallory passed the joint to Jay, who eventually held it out to Nica. “Oh, not today,” Nica shook her head, holding her hand up as she leaned back from the joint. A slight grimace twisted her features as the smoke drifted towards her.

“Still feeling bad?” he asked, holding the joint out to me instead.

“Um…yes and no,” she answered. “Only like…before nine a.m., or when I smell certain things,” she explained. Her gaze shifted to me and Riley, silently questioning if it was okay to say more.

None of us had to, Mallory was quite perceptive. “Are you pregnant?”

Jay’s mouth fell open, his eyebrows arching in surprise before Nica even had the chance to confirm it.

She nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips, “I am.”

“Congratulations, dude,” Jay started. “I didn’t even realize you had a boyfriend.”

“Yeah,” she swallowed, eyes shifting to us again. “I have two, actually.” The words came out slowly, as if it was the first time she’d ever said it out loud. Of course it wasn’t, she’d told Willow, she’d told her family. This felt different though, and I was simply listening. Her cheeks flushed pink at her admission, and Jay and Mallory both blinked at her, trying to comprehend what she was trying to say.

“Damn, get it, Nica. I didn’t know you rolled like that,” Jay joked, not fully comprehending what she was saying.

“Do you know which one is the dad?” Mallory asked. I reminded myself it was a normal question to ask someone who had just revealed they had two boyfriends. What I found funny was they didn’t even know who the boyfriends were yet.

“We both are,” Riley answered, sitting up a little straighter. “Cole and me,” he gestured between us.

Shock washed over Jay and Mallory again as they processed this new revelation.

“Wait, that makes so much sense,” Mallory blinked. Jay’s mouth still hung open. “Y’all are always riding together when we hang out somewhere. And that explains why all three of you disappeared after the fight at Ronnie’s party.”

Nica continued to blush as Riley nodded. Anyone that had been paying attention, like Willow, would’ve probably noticed there was something more than friendship going on. Luckily, all our friends were stoners and needed the pieces lined up in front of them.

“Wait! So you’re not f*****g each other?” Jay asked, his brows pulled together tightly, his forehead creasing.

“What?” Riley and I both scowled at the same time.

“Jay, we’re brothers,” Riley pointed out, as if this was brand new information Jay was learning for the first time.

“Yeah, but like…neither of you have dated in the whole ten or so years that I’ve known you. You live together, you do everything together.”

“That doesn’t mean I’m f*****g my bother!” I pointed out, eyebrows arched as I was hit with the realization that all this time, my best friend had convinced himself that Riley and I had an intimate relationship with each other.

Nica and Mallory were giggling over Jay’s admission. Riley seemed to be in relative shock over it.

“Right…So you’re what…you’re just…sharing Nica?” Jay asked.

I nodded. “Something like that, I guess.”

“That’s how their parents describe it,” Nica interjected.

“So…you’re not f*****g each other?” he asked again.

“No,” I confirmed, shaking my head. “We are not, never have, never will.”

“So you both just f**k Nica?”

“Oh my God!” Her face turned red from Jay’s bluntness.

“Like...one at a time? Or at the same time?”

“Mal, what time do you have to be inside?” Nica asked, rising to her feet.

Mallory checked her watch, “Now.” She stood too, and they abandoned us with Jay. “You have no idea how many times I’ve had to listen to him, high as a kite, at two in the morning. He has whole conspiracies about them being together,” Mallory was saying as they walked away.

“At least he’s not judgmental,” Nica replied, as if that somehow made this whole conversation not the most embarrassing moment of my life.

Their giggles faded, and I was forced to confront the fact my best friend had conspiracy theories about my love life.

“You have to consider how it looks on the outside,” Jay was explaining. “Two good looking guys live together, never date. It’s just natural that people would think you’re dating each other.”

“Not when it involves brothers!” Riley finally interjected, exasperation in his voice. “I guarantee that you’re the only one that has thought this.”

“Well…” He winced as he drew out the word.

“Jay, how many people have you told that you think we’re together?” I asked, trying to keep my voice calm and rational.

“I haven’t told anyone that you’re actually dating. But I might’ve told Mackenzie, very pointedly, that she isn’t your type after you broke her heart.”

“First of all, I didn’t break her heart,” I defended. “I just…didn’t reject her in the nicest way.” Still not good, but I didn’t see where setting boundaries with someone who was reading too much into friendliness and telling everyone made me the bad guy. “Second, she’s the last person you should say anything to, ever. As sweet as she is, she can’t keep a secret to save a life. How many other people do you think she might’ve told what you said?”

“Ah, I wouldn’t worry about it,” Jay insisted, brushing it all off with a shrug. “Anyone she might’ve told has never said anything, so I doubt you really have anything to worry about.”

I sighed, shaking my head as I looked down at my feet. “Give me one of those,” Riley held his hand out as I took out my pack of cigarettes. I handed him one and lit my own before passing him the lighter.

“You’re lucky you’re my best friend,” I muttered before taking a long drag.

Around nine, Eli cut down to the closers. While Nica and I were clocking out, Riley approached us. “Should we just finish ripping off the bandaid?” he asked, his voice low to keep anyone from overhearing. “We could go ahead and tell Eli, that way when you have appointments or you call out for any reason, he knows what’s going on.”

Nica looked between us. He was making a good point. Honestly, we probably should’ve brought it up sooner.

“Yeah, he should know,” she agreed, nodding.

While I punched my numbers into the computer screen, she stepped over to the office door and knocked.

“Yes?” I heard Eli’s voice as he opened the door.

“We need to talk to you.”

“Okay.” I heard the wheels of his chair roll across the floor, making space for her to enter the small room.

Riley and I entered behind her, and Eli pushed his chair back further. “I didn’t realize you had an entourage,” he joked, grinning. “So what is it?” he asked as Nica sat in the empty chair across from him.

“Uh…well…” I squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. “I just wanted to let you know that…well,” she paused for a moment, swallowing.

“Nica’s pregnant,” Riley blurted out, unable to contain himself. Then to Nica, “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” she reassured him, her fingers tangling with his.

“Oh, well, congratulations,” Eli grinned again. “Are you two…” He cut himself off as his eyes drifted from Nica and Riley’s intertwined fingers and my hand on her opposite shoulder. “Three?”

Was he just perceptive, or had Jay’s stoned conspiracy theories reached him too?

“Three,” Nica nodded.

“Oh,” he blinked. Then, “Makes sense. You are oddly close to each other.” Another grin formed as he chuckled softly.

I wasn’t sure whether to smile or to scowl.

“I’ll look into maternity leave and what you have to do to set that up and when,” he continued, as if there had been no break in the topic. “If you need anything, let me know.”

Nica nodded, smiling, “Thank you.”