Free That Baby by Jillian Dodd Page A

embarrassed.”
    “Seriously, it’s okay. Just think of how fun it will be to be pregnant together.”
    “It will be nice,” she says.  
    “Come on. Let’s go downstairs.”

    We go back down to the family room, where everyone congratulates us both.  
    Once the excitement dies down and everyone starts watching the game again, I notice Joey fidgeting. Chelsea isn’t sitting by him, she’s over by Lori with her knees pulled up on the couch. She almost looks scared.  
    I can understand why. This pregnancy business is scary stuff.  
    Emotions. Body changes.  
    When another round of commercials starts to play, Joey stands up in front of the TV, blocking everyone’s view.  
    “This isn’t how I planned to do it,” he says. “I was going to do it later tonight, all romantic-like. Candles. Hotel suite. But I think you need to hear me say this in front of everyone.” He holds his hand out. “Chelsea, please, come here.”
    Lori half pushes her up off the couch.  
    When Chelsea joins him in front of the TV, she says, “What are you doing?”
    Joey takes both her hands in his. “We've had a long history of almosts. Almost kissed. Almost dated. Almost were single at the same time. When I pulled you in the bathroom this past New Year's Eve, I told you I didn't want almost anymore. That you needed to kiss the guy you should be with for the rest of the year. What I should have said was for the rest of your life right then, because that’s how I felt. And I don't want you to feel like we're almost pregnant just because it happened so fast. I want to tell everyone that you’re having my baby. There are going to be no more almosts for us. Chelsea, sweetie, I want you to marry me. Almost as much as I love you.”
    Chelsea is crying and so am I, because Joey, my goofy, perpetually horny, childhood friend looks sincerely happy.
    He bends down on one knee and pulls out a ring box. “Chelsea, will you marry me?”  
    “You got a ring?” she asks, shocked.  
    “Yes,” he says.  
    As he opens it, Chelsea starts shaking. “It's beautiful. You picked this out by yourself?”
    He smiles at Danny and Phillip. “I got a little advice from a few friends, but yeah.”
    When he slides the ring on her finger, I notice that he's starting to sweat.  
    “You haven't answered me yet,” he says nervously.
    She throws herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Yes, Joey! Yes!”
    I smack Phillip playfully. “You knew?”
    “I thought he was going to propose tonight at the hotel. Been a pretty exciting Super Bowl, huh?”  
    After Joey and Chelsea stop kissing, Lori asks, “So when are you due, Chelsea? You and Jade have to be due about the same time.”
    “October the fourth,” she says.
    “And I’m due on the first. In case you all didn’t notice, the numbers on our shirts are our due date.”
    Chelsea runs over to me. “I’m sorry I ruined your announcement. The way you told everyone was so adorable.” She stares at her sparkly new ring and gets tears in her eyes again.  
    I glance at the close game on the TV and decide it’s just not that important.  
    “You need to come with Lori and me,” I say, dragging her upstairs.
    “What are we doing?” Lori asks.
    “We need to do something and she needs the practice.”
    “Practice for what?” Chelsea asks.  
    I grab a taper candle off my mom’s dining room hutch and hand it to her. “Practice passing your candle. I'm your sorority big sister, and there's no way I'm missing out completely.”
    She grins. “Is there an I’m-engaged-and-knocked-up version of this?”
    “No,” Lori says. “You’ll announce the engagement first. The rest of it is no one’s business.”
    “He just told me he wants to get married soon,” Chelsea says. “I’m throwing up every morning. I have a full load of classes. Sorority. How am I going to plan a wedding?”
    “We'll help you,” Lori says, lighting the candle and humming. “Pinned,” she says passing it