from Steve’s scrutiny.
I studied her face. “How are you doing?” I didn’t want her freaking out every time she was around her dad.
She didn’t need to be putting that kind of pressure on herself and the baby.
“Fine, I guess. That was just...uncomfortable?” It came out like a question. She sighed, “I guess I just was worried that Dad could see right through me, like I look different or something? Standing there in front of him made me feel like I had ‘I’m pregnant’ written across my forehead or something.”
“It’ll be okay, baby. I just don’t think we should wait much longer to tell him. You don’t need to be feeling that much stress every time you talk to him, okay?” I reached over and squeezed her hand, encouraging her. “I think it’ll only make things worse, like we were trying to hide it from him or something.”
“Well, aren’t we trying to hide it from him?” Melanie frowned.
“That’s exactly my point, Melanie.” I agreed with us making some definite plans before we told him, but we couldn’t let this go on for very long.
“He has a right to know. Yeah, he’s going to be pissed.” I softened my voice, hoping to soothe her. I knew Steve could be harsh, and Melanie didn’t want to face that.
“But we’ll get through it. He loves you, and I think if we give him some time to deal with the shock, he’ll be okay.” At least I hoped that’s the way he’d react, but I didn’t want my own fears worrying Melanie more. I mean, I was eighteen, and, well, Melanie was not. Steve could have my ass if he wanted to.
There were so many things we needed to talk about, and I could see those questions and fears swirling behind her eyes. I couldn’t even think straight when she looked at me like that. All the rest of this stuff didn’t matter; we had each other. Everything would work out. It had to.
Closing the distance between us, I kissed her gently.
“I love you, baby,” I whispered against her lips.
She giggled. “I think you’re going to have to stop calling me that because I’m not quite sure who you’re talking to.” She reached down and rubbed her belly as a huge smile came to her lips.
I chuckled, reaching my hand down to cover hers. “Yes, I love you too, baby.” It was true. Sure, I’d only known about “her” for the last two hours, but I did. How could I not be in love with something that Melanie and I had created?
My body trembled as al the regrets of my life washed through me, my heart feeling as if it were on the verge of failing. My soul cried out for her. It had never stopped its search for her in nine years, and I could stil feel her cal ing for me.
It was al I had left of her, this connection that could never be broken no matter how much time and space passed between us.
“Melanie, I don’t want to do this without you. It was only supposed to be you.” I dug my fingers into the carpet, praying I could feel her for just one second more. When my body had no more to give, I succumbed to the darkness that blurred the images in my mind.
My head spun as I slowly drifted toward
consciousness. My body was stiff, muscles aching. My eyes fluttered, and flashes of floor and eyelashes were the only things visible as I tried to get oriented to my surroundings. Rays of sunlight filtered in low through the windows, an indication that the sun was just setting. My mind gradual y al owed my body to come back to life.
I brought myself to my hands and knees, trying to gain enough strength to stand. My phone vibrated on the floor beside me, surely the trigger for my arousal.
I looked to the clock on the wal —five-thirty.
“Shit.” I raked my hands over my face, trying to rub the drowsiness away. I had to get moving, or I would be late. Reaching for my phone, I ran my finger over the faceplate to read the message.
Vanessa’s address.
Acid burned in my stomach. I couldn’t believe I’d gotten myself into this mess. How could I be so stupid?
I
I studied her face. “How are you doing?” I didn’t want her freaking out every time she was around her dad.
She didn’t need to be putting that kind of pressure on herself and the baby.
“Fine, I guess. That was just...uncomfortable?” It came out like a question. She sighed, “I guess I just was worried that Dad could see right through me, like I look different or something? Standing there in front of him made me feel like I had ‘I’m pregnant’ written across my forehead or something.”
“It’ll be okay, baby. I just don’t think we should wait much longer to tell him. You don’t need to be feeling that much stress every time you talk to him, okay?” I reached over and squeezed her hand, encouraging her. “I think it’ll only make things worse, like we were trying to hide it from him or something.”
“Well, aren’t we trying to hide it from him?” Melanie frowned.
“That’s exactly my point, Melanie.” I agreed with us making some definite plans before we told him, but we couldn’t let this go on for very long.
“He has a right to know. Yeah, he’s going to be pissed.” I softened my voice, hoping to soothe her. I knew Steve could be harsh, and Melanie didn’t want to face that.
“But we’ll get through it. He loves you, and I think if we give him some time to deal with the shock, he’ll be okay.” At least I hoped that’s the way he’d react, but I didn’t want my own fears worrying Melanie more. I mean, I was eighteen, and, well, Melanie was not. Steve could have my ass if he wanted to.
There were so many things we needed to talk about, and I could see those questions and fears swirling behind her eyes. I couldn’t even think straight when she looked at me like that. All the rest of this stuff didn’t matter; we had each other. Everything would work out. It had to.
Closing the distance between us, I kissed her gently.
“I love you, baby,” I whispered against her lips.
She giggled. “I think you’re going to have to stop calling me that because I’m not quite sure who you’re talking to.” She reached down and rubbed her belly as a huge smile came to her lips.
I chuckled, reaching my hand down to cover hers. “Yes, I love you too, baby.” It was true. Sure, I’d only known about “her” for the last two hours, but I did. How could I not be in love with something that Melanie and I had created?
My body trembled as al the regrets of my life washed through me, my heart feeling as if it were on the verge of failing. My soul cried out for her. It had never stopped its search for her in nine years, and I could stil feel her cal ing for me.
It was al I had left of her, this connection that could never be broken no matter how much time and space passed between us.
“Melanie, I don’t want to do this without you. It was only supposed to be you.” I dug my fingers into the carpet, praying I could feel her for just one second more. When my body had no more to give, I succumbed to the darkness that blurred the images in my mind.
My head spun as I slowly drifted toward
consciousness. My body was stiff, muscles aching. My eyes fluttered, and flashes of floor and eyelashes were the only things visible as I tried to get oriented to my surroundings. Rays of sunlight filtered in low through the windows, an indication that the sun was just setting. My mind gradual y al owed my body to come back to life.
I brought myself to my hands and knees, trying to gain enough strength to stand. My phone vibrated on the floor beside me, surely the trigger for my arousal.
I looked to the clock on the wal —five-thirty.
“Shit.” I raked my hands over my face, trying to rub the drowsiness away. I had to get moving, or I would be late. Reaching for my phone, I ran my finger over the faceplate to read the message.
Vanessa’s address.
Acid burned in my stomach. I couldn’t believe I’d gotten myself into this mess. How could I be so stupid?
I
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