His eyes met mine, and a single tear slipped down his cheek. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him cry before. He moved closer, taking my hands in his and pressing a kiss to them. This time, I didn’t pull away.
“Can I hug you? Just this once?” he asked.
I nodded, and he wrapped me in a hug so tight it felt like he was trying to meld us into one. I could feel the dampness on my shoulder from his tears.
“When did this happen? Why didn’t you tell me? This is huge, baby.” He pulled back, his eyes shining with pure love and happiness.
I stood up, heading toward the kitchen for a glass of water.
“Well, Emma was the one who suggested I might be pregnant since I was eating so much. I took a pregnancy test here after my finals. I was so excited to tell you, but then you asked me to leave.
“I didn’t want you to think I got pregnant on purpose to trap you.” I forced a smile, but his face fell. Shit. I immediately regretted my words.
“I’m sorry, but I did think about it.” I downed a glass of water, opening the fridge without looking at him.
“Do you want something to drink or eat?” I jumped when I felt him behind me, quickly shutting the fridge door.
“I’m so sorry, baby. I’m an asshole.” His face was filled with regret.
“That you are,” I muttered under my breath, and he chuckled. God, I’d missed the sound of his laughter.
“I know how much I hurt you, and I don’t think I deserve your forgiveness.”
We fell into silence, and after a while, he spoke again.
“I can’t believe you’re pregnant. We’re going to be parents. No wonder your boobs are bigger than usual. I noticed as soon as you opened the door.”
I blushed furiously, stepping back as he moved closer. My back hit the fridge, and I found it hard to breathe. He was making me feel things I didn’t want to feel. I wanted to give in, to lose myself in him. His eyes darkened with desire, making me swallow hard.
“Jake, stay away,” I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Why? Is this affecting you?” He smirked, and I wanted to wipe that smug look off his face.
“No…I’m still mad at you, and we’re not okay.”
I walked out of the kitchen, hearing him sigh behind me.
“All right, that’s fair. Go get dressed, we’re going home. There’s a lot to do,” he said, sinking onto the couch.
I stared at him, my eyes wide.
“No way. I’m staying here. Like I said, I’m still mad at you.” I crossed my arms over my chest, and his gaze dropped to my breasts.
“Stop staring at my boobs. It’s not like you haven’t seen them before.” I glared at him.
“I haven’t seen them in a week.” He pouted, looking so damn cute. I fought to keep my face straight, raising an eyebrow at him.
“I’m not coming,” I said firmly, challenging him with my gaze.
“We can do this two ways. You either come willingly, or I’ll drag you out of here. You can stay mad at me at home. I want to be with you and our baby. I’m as much a part of this pregnancy as you are.” He smirked.
I had to admit he had a point. But I didn’t want to be around him. I wouldn’t be able to control myself.
I groaned in frustration, then an idea popped into my head.
“That’s not fair. She’s scary,” he said, swallowing hard.
I just shrugged, knocking on Emma’s door. She came out almost immediately.
“Can I kill him already?” she asked, glaring at him.
“All right, bring it on.” She sat down across from him on the couch, and I retreated to her room, leaving them alone.
He should have trusted me, no matter what. He needed to realize his mistake. I just hoped he wouldn’t be able to convince Emma. If he was around, it would be hard to stay mad at him.
Emma’s voice broke through my thoughts, calling me from the living room. I took a deep breath, standing up and heading outside.
“So?” I asked, looking at Emma hopefully.
“I’m sorry, Ashley. He’s really good. I think you should go with him. He wants to be there for you and help you through this pregnancy.”
“Wipe that smug smile off your face, or I’ll slap you again,” I threatened him, and he quickly covered his mouth with his hands.
“You slapped him?” Emma asked, shocked.
I nodded.
“I deserved it.” He sighed. “Get your things. We need to leave, babe.”
I rolled my eyes and went upstairs. I changed into my jeans and a hoodie, scanning the room one last time before heading back downstairs. I shoved the pregnancy book into my bag.
“I’m ready,” I said, and he stood up.
“Perfect.” He grinned, his dimples showing.
I went over to Emma, giving her a hug.
“I’m going to miss you so much, Em. Please come and visit.”
“Of course, take care and eat well. And don’t forget to take your medicine.” I smiled at her concern, hugging her again.
We left the house, heading home. The car ride was silent, but it was a comfortable silence. It reminded me of the old days. He took my bag as we entered the elevator.
When we got home, I gasped at the sight that greeted us. The place was a mess. The paper I’d thrown at his face was still in the living room, and everything was out of place. There were even broken pieces of a vase. What the hell happened here?
“Didn’t Mrs. Collins come to clean?” I asked, curious.
“I told her to stay away. Austin and Dan tried to drop by too, but I didn’t let them. I was in a rough spot, Ash, and I messed up. I hurt you too.” His voice was heavy with regret.
I wanted to comfort him, but I held back.
I flicked on the lights and began tidying up the room.
“What are you doing?” He scooped me up in his arms, carrying me like a bride.
“And what exactly are you up to?” I questioned, surprised and tingling with unexpected pleasure.
“You need to rest. I’ll handle the cleaning.” He carried me into our bedroom and gently set me down on the bed.
“I want my own room,” I declared.
He looked at me as if I’d sprouted an extra head.
“Nice try.” He chuckled, turning to leave.
“I’m serious, I don’t want to share a bed with you.”
He froze. I never thought I’d say that to him, but I needed distance until I could forgive him. I didn’t want to surrender to my desires.
“Too bad you’re stuck with me. Good luck finding the keys to the other rooms.” He smirked and exited the room.
I was too exhausted to argue, so I collapsed onto the bed. I decided to tackle this issue later.
I slipped out of my jeans, tied my hair up, and turned on my phone. Notifications flooded in.
I took a deep breath and dialed my mom to tell her I was pregnant. She answered on the first ring.
“Oh, thank God! You finally answered. I tried calling Jake too, but he didn’t pick up. What’s happening, sweetheart? Are you okay?” Her voice was laced with worry.
“Ummm…don’t freak out, but I’m pregnant.”
“Oh my god! That’s wonderful, honey. I’m going to be a grandma. I’m so excited. Does this mean the wedding is postponed or are you guys still going ahead with it?”
“We’re just taking things as they come, Mom. Right now, we’re focusing on the pregnancy. I’ll let you know soon.” I held my breath, hoping she wouldn’t press further.
“All right, sweetheart. Your dad and I have booked tickets. We’ll be there for your graduation this Saturday.”
“That’s great, Mom. I can’t wait to see you.”
I missed her so much, and the thought of her coming filled me with joy.
“Me too, baby. Take care of yourself. But I know Jake will look after you.”
Her words brought tears to my eyes, and I fought back a sob.
“Yes, Mom. He’s taking care of me. I have to go now. Jake’s calling me for dinner. I’ll talk to you soon. Love you,”
“Love you too, sweetheart.”
I ended the call and wiped my tears.
“Hey,” I turned to see Jake standing there with a tray of food.
I hoped he hadn’t overheard my conversation.
“Hey,” I replied softly.
He set the tray in front of me. He’d made spaghetti with meatballs, my favorite.
I smiled and started eating, moaning at the taste. He chuckled and sat down next to me.
“We have a lot to discuss,” he said, and I looked at him, my mouth full of food.
I must have looked like a pig. I quickly swallowed and cleared my throat, nodding in agreement.
“Do you have a gynecologist or should we find one?” He pulled out his phone and started typing.
“Emma took me to her gynecologist. He’s really good. I think we should stick with him.”
I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear as I spoke.
“He? No fucking way. We’re finding a female gynecologist,” he stated firmly, causing me to roll my eyes.
“Jake, he’s a doctor.”
“I don’t want some random guy looking at your vagina. We’re getting a female doctor. End of discussion.”
He replied sternly, and I decided not to argue.
“I’ll make an appointment for next Monday and put it on my calendar. Now, what about your job?”
He was so focused, so involved. It made him look incredibly attractive.
I found myself staring at his lips as he licked them, making me drool.
“Uhh…Job? Yes, I start on Monday.”
I tried to focus on my food instead of him.
“I was hoping you wouldn’t go, since you’re pregnant,” he said it so quietly, as if he was afraid I’d explode.
“I’m going to work, Jake. I’ll take leave when I’m closer to my due date.”
I made my stance clear. He seemed disappointed, but he agreed.
I answered a few more questions about the pregnancy. He was clueless about a lot of things, and it was adorable.
“Uhhh—I think I need to borrow your pregnancy book.” He scratched the back of his head, looking embarrassed.
I giggled. He was so cute, and I almost forgot we were still not okay.
He always made me forget everything. It was hard to believe he’d said those things to me last week.
I tried to understand his perspective, but he should have given me a chance to explain. I shook my head and kept a straight face.
“I missed that smile.” He looked at me, tears in his eyes.
“One mistake and I almost lost everything. Thanks for not leaving me. I thought you’d break up with me.”
His voice wavered as he spoke.
“I…I can’t break up with you, Jake. Any other girl would have, but I don’t think I can.”
I replied honestly, and he smiled at me.
“I swear I’m going to make up for my mistake. I’ll prove how sorry I am. I’ll wait, no matter how long it takes for you to forgive me. I love you so much, baby.”
He said, looking deep into my eyes.
“I know, but I need time to forgive you.”
I gave a small smile, trying to keep my emotions in check. He nodded.
“You can sleep here. I’ll sleep in one of the guest rooms. I was just kidding earlier. You can have your space.”
He stood up to leave. I was disappointed, to be honest. This was the first time we’d be sleeping separately in our house.
I pouted and started playing with my food, lost in my thoughts once again.
