The Way Back Read Online Free PDF Page B

now.”
    Gigi pulled her hand away. “I love you, but I don’t want to feel some alien creature trying to claw its way out.”
    â€œCool.” Colby glanced at the porch. Gram stood in the doorway, a dishtowel tucked into the waistband of her nylon pants. She blew Colby a kiss. “Gram!” Colby ran up the steps and hugged her. “So good to see you!”
    Even as she hugged Gram, though, Colby scanned the living room behind her.
    No sign of Milo.
    She hadn’t seen Milo since before she’d found out that she was pregnant. Despite all the phone calls and texts, she was nervous about actually seeing him. Like it’d make the baby real in a whole new, uncomfortable way.
    He’d texted her and said he would be there when she got to Gram’s, but Colby wasn’t surprised that he wasn’t. They were going to tell Gram and Gigi that night.
    That he was the dad.
    But Milo was never on time. Not ever. She did wish that he’d managed to be on time just this once, because waiting was worse.
    Gram insisted on Jordan staying for supper. Milo texted that he was on his way and would make it there by the time the lasagna was ready to come out of the oven. He wasn’t though. He didn’t get there until almost nine o’clock, just as Jordan was getting ready to catch a bus to Burnaby. He knocked on the front door, which was when Colby realized he was not as okay about everything as he constantly claimed to be when they talked on the phone. Otherwise he would’ve walked right in like he always did. Was he high? He was only a week out of detox, so there was a good chance. He hadn’t had three months, like Colby and Jordan. He’d had forty-eight hours and willpower.
    Colby opened the door. Milo stood there with a bouquet of flowers in his hand. He handed them to her and then went down on one knee. He pulled a small velvet box from his pocket. Inside was a ring with a tiny diamond set in the middle.
    â€œColby.” He looked up at her, not smiling. “Will you marry me?”
    â€œAre you high?” Colby asked.
    â€œTotally straight.” He laughed. “In a manner of speaking.”
    â€œOh, this is going to be good.” Jordan rubbed her hands together. “Really good.”
    Colby stared at him. She had no idea what to say. What to do next.
    Gigi appeared behind Colby. “What the hell are you doing, Milo?”
    â€œAsking Colby to marry me.” He shifted from one knee to the other.
    Colby felt the baby flutter. “Milo—”
    â€œClearly, detox didn’t stick. What are you on? Why the hell would you ask Colby to—” Gigi suddenly stopped talking.
    â€œI’m not high.”
    â€œOh. I see.” Gigi’s hand drifted to her mouth. She glanced at Colby, then Milo. “I get it.” She nodded. “I totally get it now.”
    â€œI—” Colby swallowed. She didn’t know what to say.
    â€œWe—” Milo went pale.
    Gram came into the room and saw Milo on one knee. “Milo? What’s going on? Why are you—”
    â€œNever mind. It was a dumb idea.” Milo snapped the box shut and stood up. But it was too late.
    â€œPraise God!” Gram clapped her hands. “You’re not a gay anymore!”
    â€œGram, it’s not what you think.”
    Gram grabbed Milo’s hands and brought them to her lips and kissed them. “My sweet boy. Such a big heart. You will raise the baby like it’s your own. You’ll be so happy together. You’ve always loved Colby. And she has always loved you. A perfect match!”
    â€œIt is not a perfect match.” Gigi grabbed Gram’s arm. “Milo is gay , Gram. Nothing has changed about that.”
    â€œBut he asked Colby to marry him.”
    â€œI’m still ‘a gay,’ Gram.” Milo spoke quietly. “Gigi’s right.”
    â€œI don’t understand.”
    Jordan guffawed from the