Chapter 23

**Sam**

Staring at my phone, I move to read and reread Annabel’s last text message. My mind now spiraling at the thought of Zac, my friend of the last 11 years now expecting a child. Now at 32, I almost didn’t think that he would, but here we were, a man who was not only hiding his true identity from just about everyone to now expecting a child and with a girl no older than 21, a mere child in my eyes.

Swallowing a lump within my throat, I moved to look carefully at my friend for Zac had been coming over to my place for the last two weeks ever since Alyssia had been almost raped within the boys bathroom.

After having checked up on her over at Annabel’s dorm, Alyssia had all but slowly withdrawn herself from Zac, not fully ready to let him in as she struggled with the situation she had been dealt. So, wanting to be the type of man that she could trust, he moved to honor her wishes and he all but withdrew himself from her as she came and went from class, knowing she was avoiding him as much as she could.

Sighing, I move to look over to Zac, my friend and brother as I debate with how I was going to tell him, knowing either way it would completely be up to him and how he handled the situation moving forward.

“Yo dude, I need you to sit down for me, it’s kinda important.”

Confused by my words, I see him move to take a seat, having been looking at all my books and other collections, I decided to just jump all in with the pregnancy bit, knowing better than to sugar coat anything when it came down to things like that.

“What’s going on? Everything okay?” asks Zac, confused by my choice of words.

“Look, there’s no easier way for me to say this, so I’m just going to rip the bandaid right off and say it,” I start hoping to ease him into what I was about to say.

“Tell me what?”

“Annabel texted me just now, she was looking for you. She had wanted to know if you were here” I admit, his body now solely focused on me because of Annabel.

“Annabel? Why? Is Alyssia okay?”

Catching the slight panic in his voice, I move to hold up a hand hoping to calm down his worry as I move to speak yet again. “She’s fine. But Annabel thought you should probably know this and I have to kinda agree with it as well. But, your Pregnant, or at least Alyssia is, so congratulations are in order, you're about to become a father.”

Blinking in shock, I’m unsure of what’s running through his mind, his face still blank of any emotion until suddenly he all but grins, jumping to his feet before shouting.

“Father? Are you sure? Oh man, I’m so fucking happy I could almost cry” exclaims Zac, moving to stand, excited by the news that was just given to him.

Watching Zac hoot and holler I can’t help but feel a slight smile begin to rise on my own face as I move to watch him bubble in utter happiness.

================

**Zac**

“Father? Are you sure? Oh man, I’m so fucking happy I could almost cry” I exclaim, a warmth now filling my heart, the news my friend had just given me all but rushing through me at the thought of becoming a father for the first time.

This… This… Is the best news that I’ve been given in over 2 weeks. Because for the past 2 weeks all I’ve been doing is hanging out with Sam, trying to all but keep a safe distance from her, my Princess.

My Woman.

Feeling the warmth still spreading, I can’t help but smile more. *Alyssia.. My sweet Princess.. Pregnant, and its with our first child,* I muse for granted we weren’t exactly trying to have a baby but we weren’t careful either and I needed her to know that I was more than willing than to step up and be the man that she needed me to be and know I would support not only her but our child as well.

“I have to go to her, I have to tell her how excited I am. To let her know how much I want to be a part of this child’s life” I all but exclaim, about to stand and rush to the door only to be stopped by Sam.

“Whoa.. Hold it.. Let’s not rush here.. Are you even sure that you want this? I mean she’s only 21 you know… You both have your whole life before considering a child, for babies are hard work” replies Sam, as if trying to get me to stop and reconsider this for a minute.

“You don’t think I know that? Where are you going with this? Are you trying to say that with our gap in age that I won’t be a good father, to be the man she needs in her life?” I ask, suddenly annoyed that Sam would say that to me. My friend for the past 11 years all but trying to prevent me from being with my woman.

“What? No! I’m just trying to say.. She’s 21, she’s still a baby to most people. And while you might be 32, rich and ready for a family, you have to stop and think in terms of her. Is she truly ready, is she ready to become a mom. After all, you both barely know one another. You have to stop and think about this and take it in a pace that she feels comfortable in” answers Sam, not wanting to step between him and his girl.

Sighing, I know he’s right. Our 11 year age gap could put a damper on whether or not she actually wanted to be with me or if she actually wanted to have this child, to love and raise it with everything we had that it wasn’t something that had naturally crossed my mind.

“So what do you suggest I do? I haven’t exactly seen her over the past 2 weeks other than in class. I miss her, and I want to go back to seeing more of her. You don’t realize just how badly I want to hold her, to touch her, to kiss her, to hear her moan sweet nothing as I make sweet love to her” I admit, for while Sam didn’t need to know about my sex life, I wasn’t about to lie and not say that these past 2 weeks have all but been torcher for me.

“First of all… let her come to you. She probably doesn’t even know that Annabel even snitched on her, and if Annabel snitched on her that means Annabel has reason to believe that she wasn’t planning on telling you just yet, which makes me think she’s still trying to process all of this. So please, if you truly love her, let her be the one to come to you first” pleads Sam, another sigh leaving my lips as he did, for I knew he was right even if I didn’t want to admit it openly just yet.

“I hate it when you're right. But fine, I’ll let her come to me. But.. if she doesn’t approach me within the week I’m all but going to her” I all but say to him, knowing that I didn’t have time to waste, for I wanted her and I wanted our child.

“Fine, we’ll play it by ear and if she doesn't approach you then, then I’ll more than let you chase after her like the lovesick fool that you are” laughs Sam, knowing just how true his words were for he too was a love sick idiot.

Grinning like an idiot, I try to control my excitement as I move to reply back to his words.

“Careful, I’m not the only one who’s a love sick fool. For if memory serves me correctly you have Annabel now, and if you hurt her, you better be prepared for the ass kicking of a lifetime. She ain’t only to be messed with” I chuckle, knowing how Annabel was based on the few interactions that I had with her.

“Oh don’t worry about that. I don’t plan on pissing her off ever. She’s mine, now and forever and I’ll be damned if I let her slip past my fingers. I love her fiery personality and that sexy 5’5 curvy body of hers as well… Gods… my dick just twitches from just thinking of her” purrs Sam.

“Eww… Dude… I so did not need that mental image thank you, but glad to know that her friend gives you a boner. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going home so you can handle that as you see fit” I move to say, not needing to see him walk around like that for the rest of the day as I all but leave, leaving him to handle his situation on his own.

Once gone from the apartment, I all but take a breather, the news of Alyssia’s pregnancy all but mind numbing as I move to head for home, having promised myself that I would let her come to me first. Thoughts still running through my head as I did.

*Father? Oh sweet Princess, you’ve just made me the happiest man ever. And for that, I’ll forever cherish you, now and forever. I Promise.*