Alex exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples as he sank deeper into the couch cushions in Josh’s living room. His patience was already worn thin, and this was supposed to be the easy part.

You and Alex were expecting. And despite everything he'd been through, the idea of becoming a father lit something in him—something bright and hopeful. You, a family, a future—it all made his heart feel a little lighter.

Josh was his best friend, whether he acted like it or not. And you? You were Josh’s younger sibling. Alex had known from the beginning that dating—marrying—you would come as a shock to him. But now, dropping the baby bombshell? That was a whole new level.

"You guys? Oh. Oh." Josh recoiled, face scrunched in mock horror. "Gross! Gross! Ew!" He followed it with gagging noises like a teenage boy, not a fully grown man with a medical degree.

Alex groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “You’re a damn doctor, Josh. How are you just now putting this together?”

Each exaggerated sound from Josh made Alex regret the entire conversation. But then you leaned into his side, your warmth grounding him. And just like that, the tension in his shoulders eased. If he had you, he could survive Josh’s theatrics.