by JA Low
“I can stay over if you want, but we can’t, you know, fuck on every surface in your home because Issy is there.” She has a valid point.
“But she leaves in two weeks.”
“I guess we can christen your home properly then.” I like the sound of that.
“Move in.” The words just fall out of my mouth.
“Wait. What?” Stacey seems surprised.
“When Isla leaves, I want you to move in with me.” I’ve shocked her. I can see it on her face.
“But…I…we’re about to start working together.” We asked Stacey if she wouldn’t mind working with us until we find a replacement for Issy, as Vanessa is training up the new PR girl. Sienna and Derrick’s business has expanded immensely and they have hired a heap of new staff, which means Stacey is just delegating work now instead of doing it. Sienna is going to take over while Stacey is helping us then when she goes on maternity leave, again, in six months, we will have someone trained and Stacey can go back and be boss while Sienna pops out another Wyld child. “Don’t you think working and living together might strain our relationship?”
“No.”
“I only just bought the apartment.” Her apartment that she has lived in since arriving in LA went on the market just before Christmas so she bought it, which meant that she was now going to stay in LA. I always worried that she would one day just pack her bags and move back to Australia, I know how much she misses it.
“It’s a great investment. You could rent it out.”
“And you seriously don’t think this is going to ruin what we have? You’re that confident?” Okay. Maybe I’m not that confident but what I do know is that I want her with me.
“These last two weeks apart have got me thinking about us, but in a good way,” I reassure her. “It made me realize that what we have is something good.” She gives me a smile. “Made me think more about the future and what I want.” She squeezes my hand. “I mean you and I have been together for a year now.”
“A year?” she questions me.
“Sienna and Evan’s wedding, the first time we hooked up, that was a year ago.” I remind her. She nods her head. Honestly, it doesn’t feel that long. “Seeing Evan and Christian happy with settling down and moving on into the next phase of their life has kind of shown me that I shouldn’t be scared of committing to someone.” Stacey’s eyes well up. “I know we will never be as traditional as those guys nor do we want to be, but I do see the appeal with having someone to share things with both in and out of the bedroom.” I give her a wink.
“Oscar.” She’s crying. Oh no. I’ve made her cry.
“Are they happy tears?” I’m feeling a little worried.
“They are.”
“Does that mean you might think about it?”
“I don’t need to think about it.” My stomach sinks. I knew it. I pushed her too far. “I’m all in.” Huh? What did she say? “I’m willing to take a chance on us.”
“You are?” There’s a slight surprise to my tone. She kisses my knuckles. “Fuck, I love you.” Oh, shit! The words just tumbled out without me even thinking about it. It’s too much. I’ve come on way too strong. She kisses my knuckles again.
“I love you too, Oscar.” She loves me, she loves me, she loves me. I want to fist pump to the moon. “Hurry up and take me home so I can make love to my man.” Her wish is my command.
I’m back at the airport this time dropping my sister off.
“I’m going to miss you.” I hug her on the sidewalk.
“I’m going to miss you too.” Tears fall down her cheeks.
“Stay safe. Call me any time.” I don’t want to let go of her.
“Oscar, you’re crushing me,” Isla mumbles against me.
“Sorry.” I let her go. Isla and Stacey share a tearful hug too.
“Look after him for me,” Isla tells her.
“I will.” Stacey places her arm around my waist.
“I guess I better go. Later, love birds.” She picks up her bags.
“Have so much fun,” Stacey tells her.
“Not too much fun,” I warn her. I don’t like this Sebastien character, he’s too good looking and Latin. That’s a winning combination to get women into his bed.
“Ignore him.” Stacey slaps me on the chest. “He just can’t stop big brother mode.” Isla waves us off and disappears into the airport. My heart hurts as I turn around and jump back into my truck.
“No, Oscar you cannot jump on the next plane to Paris.” Stacey knows me so well.
“We could go for Valentine’s Day. It would be totally romantic.” Stacey just glares at me. “Okay, fine. I promise I will stop being over protective.”
257
Stacey
This past five months life for the Dirty Texas crew has been a whirlwind. Let’s start with Olivia and Axel; that has been some kind of telenovela romance. Olivia chose duty over love, but when it came to walking down the aisle she couldn’t, plus she found her sister in bed with her soon-to-be groom, Eddie, on her wedding day. Her sister announced she was pregnant with Eddie’s, baby. Scandalous, right? Olivia decided enough was enough and she jumped onto the first flight to LA and turned up onto Axel’s doorstep declaring her love for him. Just like something out of an epic romance movie.
Finn has been going wild, losing himself in endless hookups while being utterly devastated by the European tabloid stories linking Isla and Sebastien together. I keep telling him it’s not true, I left out the bit where she did accidentally sleep with him, but Finn just won’t listen. He just wants to wallow in groupies. Each to their own, I guess.
Christian and Vanessa are gearing up for the twins’ arrival. They announced over Christmas that they would be having twin girls. I pray for them every day.
Sienna and Evan found out they were having another boy, which of course Evan is happy with. His vision of a football teams is slowly coming to life.
Oscar and I? Well, we have been going from strength to strength. I moved in the day Isla left, Oscar had my stuff ready to go. We spent the night christening every single surface of his home. It’s a big home. We still occasionally play at The Paradise Club, not as much as we used to because Oscar’s house is huge and we keep finding new places to christen. We’ve been working together for the past couple of months and honestly, it’s been fun. Mostly because he likes surprising me during the day for what he calls ‘stress breaks’ which is basically us screwing around in our offices, discreetly of course.
Oscar is excited because Isla is coming back, Sebastien has been offered a deal with his own television show in LA. He has a meeting with the network this week and if everything goes really well then Isla will be back in LA. Not so sure if Isla is as happy as Oscar is to be back in America.
“Congratulations.” I walk into the maternity suite to visit Sienna and Evan after the birth of their son, Levi. I hand Evan the bouquet of flowers as I give Sienna a kiss. “He is so cute.” I look down at the little blue bundle.
“He is perfect, isn’t he?” Sienna is glowing.
“Isla just texted me. She’s just arrived.”
“Can’t wait to see her.” Oscar puts his arm around my shoulders. Isla and Oscar have caught up via Skype most weeks. Oscar kept pressuring her to let him visit but she said she was too busy to entertain him. “Levi’s pretty cute,” Oscar whispers to me.
“Don’t tell me you’re getting clucky, Mr. Eriksen.” He makes a gagging face. The creak of the suite’s door alerts us to more arrivals. The room falls silent when Isla walks in, hand in hand with Sebastien. All eyes are on them. What on earth is going on? Why is she wearing such a hideous dress? It’s practically a kaftan, she’s swimming in it.
“What the fuck?” Finn says from across the room as Isla and Sebastien greet the new parents. His eyes zero in on their holding hands. Shit. Are they together? Oscar is going to lose his mind in a second.
“Holy shit, you’re pregnant,” Derrick calls out, silencing the room. Isla and Se
bastien freeze, she looks like a deer caught in headlights. Her face turns pale, Sebastien looks mighty uncomfortable. Now that I look closer, shit she is pregnant, and not just a tiny bump. We are talking baby kicking around in there. Why the hell has she been hiding this?
“You’re pregnant?” Oscar’s voice rises as he takes a couple of steps toward Isla and Sebastien. I place my hand on his forearm. Now is not the time for him to lose his shit, we are in the middle of the maternity unit. This is supposed to be a happy moment for the Sienna and Evan.
“You seriously thought you could disguise yourself in that hideous outfit?” Derrick is oblivious to what is going on in the room. Now is not the time for jokes.
“Sienna, Evan, congratulations,” Sebastien says loudly, breaking the tension as he hands over a large bouquet of flowers to them.
“Issy, are you pregnant?” Oscar asks calmly as he moves closer to her.
“Yes,” she whispers, a single tear falling down her cheek. Shit, she doesn’t look happy about it.
“Excuse me.” Finn bolts from the room. Shit. This is an epic clusterfuck.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Oscar sounds hurt and confused.
“Because...” Isla pauses for a moment to catch her breath. “Because I was ashamed. It was a one-night stand, a mistake.”
“But I’m still your brother,” Oscar pleads.
“I know, I just...”
“Do Mom and Dad know?” Isla shakes her head. Oscar doesn’t look happy.
“So you have kept this from all of us for what, the past four or five months?”
“It was just easier.”
“Easier for who?” You can hear the hurt in his voice and the silence in the room.
“It was a shock. It wasn’t planned...I just...”
“Were you ever going to tell us? Or would you have just turned up one day saying, oh by the way, Oscar, here is your niece or nephew?”
“Nephew, it’s a boy,” Isla quickly adds. Oscar’s face softens a little but he’s still really hurt and I don’t blame him. What the hell was Isla thinking?
“You’re having a boy?” Oscar asks. Isla bursts out crying. “Shit, Issy.” Oscar pulls her against him and she wraps herself as far as she can around the hulking Viking.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you,” she mumbles into his shirt. He brushes her hair from her face.
“Shh, it’s going to be okay. You’re home and it’s going to be all okay.” Isla stiffens.
“I’m not staying, my life is in Europe, not here.”
“What? Are you seriously going back to Europe when you are about to pop out a child?”
“I’ve just gone five months, Oscar. I am only half way.” Oscar frowns at her.
“Oh shit, it was a wedding baby,” Derrick adds. Isla shoots daggers at him. “Sorry.” Derrick holds up his hands.
“Is this true?” Oscar asks.
Isla waves her hand at him. “I’m not answering that, it doesn’t matter. What matters now is that we are here to celebrate Evan and Sienna, not me and my drama.” She turns and looks at the new parents, walking over and hugging them both. “Sorry about this.” They both shake their heads at Isla indicating that it’s fine. Oscar storms out of the room.
“Sorry guys,” I tell Sienna and Evan as I rush after Oscar.
“Babe, wait.” I run after him. His face is furious. I chase him all the way to his truck. As soon as he gets in he starts hitting the steering wheel and cursing before he starts crying. I jump into his lap and wrap my arms around him.
“How could she…?” I’ve never seen him so devastated before. “How could she do that to her family, Stace? Her fucking family.” He bangs his chest.
“I suspect she’s scared, maybe even embarrassed.”
“She knows she can tell me anything. I’m her brother.” The pain is etched so deep in his face. “Mom is going to be so upset.”
“I’m sure once the shock has worn off she will come around and you will too.”
“Derrick said it was a wedding baby. What was he talking about?” Oh, shit, he remembered that.
“She said it was a one-night stand.”
“If that fucking little shit Tyler knocked her up, I’ll fucking kill him.” Isla had a little fling with Tyler from Sons of Brooklyn, but they are just friends.
“There will be no killing of Tyler. I saw him with someone else at the wedding,” I tell him. Oscar nods.
“I’m going to kill whoever knocked my sister up and left her alone like that.”
“If she didn’t tell her family, do you think she would have told the father?” Oscar sits up straight.
“You think she hasn’t told the father?” I nod my head. “That is so fucking cruel. Why is she being so cruel?”
“Babe.” I run my hand over his cheek. “We may never know why Isla kept it from everyone in the beginning, but we all know now and that is what matters. You’re going to be an uncle.” Oscar tilts his head and stares at me.
“An uncle?” I nod my head. A small smile curls on his lips. “An uncle, to a little boy.” Yep. “I’m going to buy him his first bass.” I let out a sigh of relief. “And a football, so we can throw it in the backyard.”
“See, so many positives rather than dwelling on the negatives.”
“You’re right, Stacey.” He leans over kissing me. “You are so fucking perfect.” He kisses me again. “I’m so lucky to have you in my life.” He kisses me again and again and again.
“Um, babe, we are in the carpark of the hospital. You’re going to have to remove those hands from my boobs, unless you want us to get arrested.”
258
Oscar
“Good luck, babe.” Stacey gives me a kiss. “And don’t forget, just listen to her.”
“I’ll try.”
“And don’t shout at a pregnant lady.” Stacey points her finger at me.
“I’ll try not to.” She gives me the evil eye. “Love you, babe.” I blow her a kiss and head over to Derrick’s.
Butterflies take off in my stomach as I walk up to Derrick’s front door. I rap my knuckles against the wooden door. Derrick opens the door dramatically.
“Behave, you hear me?” He warns before I even enter. I agree and follow him inside. Isla is sitting down on the couch, her baby bump on display. “I thought this would be a safe environment. Sit, Ragnar. And if you upset the pregnant lady I will kill you.” And with that he disappears into the kitchen. Isla and I sit awkwardly together on the couch, both of us as stubborn as each other.
“I’m sorry, Is.” She looks at me in shock. “The way I spoke to you at the hospital, I...I was in shock.” Isla’s face softens.
“I know it was kind of sprung on everyone.” She lets out a heavy sigh. “You just need to know that I have a little person coming into my life who is my sole responsibility. You can help, be the baby’s uncle, but you will not control my life like you used to.” My heart breaks at her words.
“You think that’s what I’ve been doing?” My gut twists in knots.
“Yes. Every aspect of my life you have controlled. Why do you think I left?” Her words are like daggers to my heart.
“I thought I was protecting you. I had no idea I was pushing you away, Issy. I thought I was helping.” Fuck. How did I get this all so wrong? Isla moves over to sit beside me, her arms wrap around me in a hug. I take it.
“I know you thought you were doing the right thing, but...” I see things a little clearer now. All these years trying to protect her, I pushed her away. I let her down. You’re such an idiot, Oscar.
“But I need to butt out.” She gives me a weary smile “You know I love you, Issy. And I just want what’s best for you.” I hold her hand in mine.
“I know you do. But your love seems a little controlling sometimes.”
“Shit.” I hang my head, feeling utterly ashamed. “Why have you not told me this before?” She gives me a skeptical look. “I would have...I would have at least tried to sto
p it. You’re my family. I never want to lose you.” Isla cuddles me again, tears falling down her cheeks. I guess the hormones are kicking in, I’ve never seen her cry so much in my life.
“I love you, Oscar. I’m about to start a new phase of my life and I need you to respect it. Respect my choices.” I can do this. I hug her tighter.
“Damn you, Ragnar, you beautiful beast.” Derrick comes out looking at the two of us, he places a couple of bottles of water on the table. There’s another knock at the door.
“I’ll be right back.” Derrick flitters off.
“I’m sorry, Is.”
“I know you are. I should have spoken up more over the years.” Footsteps echo down the hallway. Finn is standing there, what on earth is he doing here? Did she ask him to be moderator between us? I think Issy and I are sweet now.
“What are you up to, D?” Finn asks Derrick, who ignores his question and waves him into the living room. Finn takes a seat the furthest away from the two of us, that’s strange.
“Okay. Thank you all for coming here today. I will be your interrogator, no sorry, your mediator,” Derrick chuckles.
“Why is Finn here?” I look between them all. Derrick is shooting daggers at Isla, who is shooting them right back at him. Finn looks like he would rather be anywhere else other than here. Isla lets out a heavy sigh.
“I need you to not freak out.” Those words do not sound good. “All those nice things you just said to me. I need you to mean them.” Stacey’s warning of not yelling at a pregnant lady sticks in my mind. Count to ten, man. One…two…
“What’s going on?”
“Finn is the father of my baby.” Isla says it really quickly. What in the absolute fuck did she say? She looks dead serious. I look over at Derrick who is nodding. Then my attention turns to Finn, who can’t even look at me.
