Chapter 16

One rainy Saturday, Jen hung out at Ryan's house. He'd gotten his license the Thursday before, and picked her up himself. He felt so free all of a sudden.

One of his mom's friends was over, and had brought her newborn with her. Karen was cooing and dying over the little boy. Jen gasped and did the same as soon as she walked in and saw the baby. She got to hold him, and was in heaven.

Ryan teased them, imitating them. "But it is a cute baby, though," he added.

"Why don't you hold him?" suggested the baby's mom.

"Oh, no! I might drop him!" he protested.

"Ryan, you don't even fumble the football. You're not going to drop the baby!" insisted Jen.

"Well, okay... "

He gingerly took the small bundle, which smelled like formula, in his arms. He stared down at it in awe. He smiled down at the sleeping baby. Sitting on the couch, he gently touched the tiny hands, feeling its satiny skin.

"It's so small... " he breathed.

Jen watched as he leaned over and softly kissed the baby's cheek. She nearly burst into tears from the breathtaking sight. Her maternal instincts, which were already going in mock speed from the baby's presence, went crazy watching this. He's gonna be such a good daddy, she thought. He looked up at her staring at him, with that same look on her face she had when she had held the baby.

He smiled at her. "I betcha I was this cute."

She laughed. "You still are."

He grinned at her, then gave the baby back to its mom, who was about to leave, when his brother came in the room.

"Hey Robby," he said, getting up. "Did you take my GameGear?"

"Yeah, I borrowed it."

"Well, give it back," he said in an annoyed tone.

"I can't. I left it at school."

"You took it to school?" Ryan demanded angrily. "What if it got stolen, you dumbass?"

"Well, it didn't."

"What's the matter with you? I didn't say you could take it you little brat!"

"Fuck you," he said.

"Robby!" yelled his mother.

Ryan took off after his brother, who fled with a wail of terror, chasing him into the rec room where he soon began pounding him, as all older brothers do. Jen ran after them. Robby burst into tears. Only ten, he was no match for his brother.

"Mom!" he cried.

Ryan pinned him to the couch, pulling his ears and kneeling him in the legs.

"Ahhhhh!" Robby screamed.

"Ryan! Leave him alone!" commanded Jen, who was quite amused, but felt sorry for Robby.

"Asshole! Get off me!" sobbed Robby, desperately flailing underneath him. Ryan flicked his cheek, and he screamed again for his mom.

Karen came in, yelling. She wasn't in the best mood anyway, babies always did that to her. "Get off your brother!" she snapped. "Or you can't have the car tonight!"

"What the hell?" Ryan demanded, climbing off Robby with one final smack. "He started it! He took my video game without asking. Didn't you hear what your son said to me?" he asked angrily.

"Well, it's not your job to punish him, now is it?"

"Oh, like you were gonna do it! He's such a brat."

"Ryan, just never mind," she snapped exasperatingly.

"Come on, Ryan," said Jen, pulling him away before he got into a big fight with his mom. "Come on, it's okay," she said, dragging him down the hall.

He complained about the unfair treatment. He threw his books off his bed and laid down, saying, "I'd better get the car tonight or I'm gonna be pissed!"

Jen locked the door behind her, then climbed on the bed next to him, rubbing his shoulders and saying, "You already are pissed!" She changed the subject. "You liked holding the baby? You looked so cute... "

He smiled, remembering, his temper cooling. "Yeah it was just so small! I was scared I was going to drop it. It was so cute!" he said, using the same tone Jen and his mom had when fawning over the baby.

Jen threw her arms around him and squeezed him. "You're gonna be such a good daddy, Ryan," she whispered, gazing into his eyes, her own shining.

"Of course," he bragged. He looked mad again. "Man, if Robby were my son, God!" he said, making a face.

"Calm down," she said, kneeling between his legs.

He made another face. "I know, it just really pisses me off. God, I'm so pissed!"