"I got this," he said as he stopped her from reaching for her wallet.
"So …" Gia looked at Patrick. "You wanna eat here? We could take the food back to my house."
His eyes met hers. "How about we take it back to your place?" He grabbed the bag of food and she carried the drinks.
She nodded. He put his arm around her and led her out to the parking lot.
"What are you doing here anyway?" she asked.
"I called you this morning, and you didn't answer. I started to worry, so I came out to check on you. I thought about bringing you some food when I saw your car here." He smiled—not the normal cocky smile—but a sweet smile.
"Really? I didn't even realize. Sorry, I had so many calls from Kat, I just assumed it was her." She put her phone away and looked up, catching his icy blue eyes. "Well, I guess I will meet you at my place?"
****
PATRICK
Patrick pulled into the parking lot right behind Gia's little white Hyundai. He put on a baseball cap and sunglasses before he got out of his Hummer and grabbed the drinks.
An awkward silence fell over them as they moved from the parking lot to her apartment. Things didn't seem to be any better for her: puffy eyes, which meant she had been crying; careless appearance, shorts way too short to be in public. That was unlike Gia.
"So, you haven't been doing so great, huh?" Patrick asked as they got off the elevator and walked to her apartment.
Gia got out her keys to unlock her door. "I guess." She walked in her apartment and kicked off her flip-flops. "Make yourself at home."
Patrick looked around. It was a small apartment with an old couch and lots of beach photos. The tan walls matched the beige carpet, but her curtains were all a light blue that reminded him of the ocean. He sat down on the couch and turned on the television.
"Wait, you can't watch TV–"
But it was too late, Patrick already saw that the cable had been disconnected. "Gia?" His eyebrows raised.
"Yeah, they shut the cable off." She turned away from him and focused her attention on taking the burgers out of the bag.
"Why?"
"Well, I didn't show up for work after this whole mess. I couldn’t get out of bed for a few days … and well, they fired me. Whatever. So, the cable was due and the rent is late; I don’t have anyone to ask for help. I can't go to Kat since Ty spends so much of his time moping around her house. Obviously, I can't ask him, even though it was his idea to get the stupid mega cable package.”
Patrick walked up behind her and grabbed her around the waist. He pulled her into his arms. "If you need help, I'm here. Okay? We are in this together. While I am here, I will take care of your cable and rent. But you need to figure out how you’re going to pay for your bills going forward."
"I can't ask you to do that for me, Patrick." Gia sighed. "But you’re right. I need to get another job."
"Too late, I'm doing it anyway." He grinned.
Gia got out plates and they took their food to the dining room table. As she took a bite of her burger, Patrick grabbed her cable bill and called. If she was going to be here by herself, he wanted her to be able to watch television.
"Kat called me. She's worried about you. You haven't returned any of her phone calls," Patrick said around another bite of his food.
"I know she's worried, but Tyler is making this very difficult. I think he is punishing me by being there all the time. He knows I always go to my sister for help. I need to try to move on with my life … right? I have to assume things are over with Tyler."
Patrick shrugged his shoulders. “I agree.”
Worry flooded his thoughts again, as to how this would affect him this hockey season. Would Ty have him traded? He was prepared to be benched a lot at the beginning of the season, and he didn't blame Tyler one bit.
****
GIA
"I can't believe I ate two burgers." Gia giggled as she picked at the fries and cheese sticks. "I was seriously hungry." She sat back against the couch cushions and sipped her drink.
"That happens when you don't eat for days, baby girl." A slow smile slid across his lips.
It made her nervous when her body went warm and tingly. Why did he have this effect on her? She looked away from him as she threw away her garbage. She needed a moment away from him to cool off. She stood in the kitchen for a second and took a few deep breaths.
Turning back, she found herself face to face with Patrick. She let out a sharp gasp. "Sorry, I didn't know you were there …"
Patrick just gave her that cocky grin. He moved towards her and she backed away, pinning herself against the counter. She should have seen this coming.
He leaned in and kissed her, brushing his lips softly over hers, then ran his tongue across them. She kissed him back, biting at his lower lip. Patrick pulled her hips to his and pressed his hard center against hers.
When the phone rang, she looked up at him and smiled. "Saved by the bell."
CHAPTER 12
GIA
Gia looked at her calendar to see how long it had been since she talked to Tyler last--almost four weeks. She had lost all track of time since the day Tyler walked out. "Wait …" she said aloud.
Oh shit … a white-hot feeling of terror washed over her. Her period was due on the tenth, and today was the twenty-second. She was never late.
She picked up the phone to call Kat but then thought twice. She didn't want to bother her sister just yet, especially with Tyler over there so often. She ran to the drug store and found the pregnancy tests.
"Seriously, why do there have to be so many? I just need a damn test," she mumbled, looking at the wide assortment of boxes to choose that included digital, smiley faces, pluses and minuses, multi packs and single packs. "Seriously?" she whined aloud.
A young woman’s voice startled her from behind. She was the cashier. "Actually, any of them will work. I suggest the cheapest. No need to spend all kinds of extra money when they all work the same … unless you want to."
Gia smiled at her. She was so rattled, and the young girl seemed so sweet. "Thanks, yeah, I guess they do all work the same, huh?" She grabbed the cheapest box and took it to the checkout.
"Good luck!" the young girl called to her as she left.
Good luck… She didn’t know if it was luck that she needed. She had never thought about being a mom and didn’t think she was ready.
In the safety of her bathroom, she opened the box. "A lot of directions for something so simple. Don't you just pee on the damn stick?" she muttered to herself, following each step carefully as she read through the directions.
"Okay, that's done. Now keep the stick flat and wait. Great, the waiting game …" She washed up and paced the room, watching the clock. Four minutes never felt so long.
She finally walked back into the bathroom. Her heart pounded as she looked down at the pregnancy test. Oh hell, she thought as she read the words PREGNANT. Should she try the second test? Retreating to the kitchen, Gia downed a bottle of water. Nothing. She drank one more then paced the living room until she felt the urge and used the second test. She closed her eyes as she moved to read the results: PREGNANT.
"Oh shit," she whispered as she sunk to the floor and dropped her head into her hands.
What am I supposed to do now? I should call Kat, or Tyler… No, not Tyler. Oh no … she realized she had been with both Tyler and Patrick in the last few weeks.
Have I really just turned my life into an afternoon talk show? She let out a little scream as her hands covered her face.
The word ‘slut’ ran through her mind.
Gia sat down on her bed. Her instincts were still to call her sister, but instead she dialed another number.
"Hey, sweet thing, couldn't stay away?" Patrick cooed into the phone.
She wasn't in the mood. "Look, I need to talk to someone and you seem to be the only person still listening to me."
"That isn't true, Kat is there for you. Tyler just seems to beat you over t
here most days."
He's right about that.
"Well, I’m here if you want to talk. Or did you want to come over?"
Gia sighed; she just needed to talk. Then her stomach growled. Ugh. "I'm hungry." She didn't mean to say that aloud but figured he could hear her stomach growl through the phone.
"Well, come over here, I can make you lunch."
"Okay, I guess. Oh wait." She remembered she needed gas and didn't have any money on her. She really needed to get another job.
"Gia?" Patrick asked. "Are you still there?"
"Yeah. Hey listen, I don't have enough gas to get to your place and no money right now to fill the tank. Do you think you can come over and get me? I need to get out of here."
"No problem, I'll be there shortly."
****
PATRICK
When Patrick arrived at Gia's building, she was waiting outside for him. It was mid-September and raining again. She ran over to his car in her skimpy, light pink shorts made out of soft sweats, with a matching light pink hoodie over it. She pulled the hood up over her head as she ran to the car.
Patrick loved watching her body move. As Gia jumped up into his white Hummer, she tossed a small bag in the truck with her.
"Hey, hot stuff, what's the bag for?" Patrick asked. He looked at those teeny tiny shorts. What did they call them on television the other day? Booty shorts, he chuckled, remembering the nickname.
"It's some clothes to change into; I just don't feel like being home. I might have you drop me off at Kat's later, if Tyler isn't there. I think I deserve a turn." She pulled out a pair of round sunglasses from her bag and put them on.
Patrick looked over at her sunglasses--the lenses were big, very movie star looking. He smiled as she slid off her hood, her long brown hair pulled back into a pony tail. She looked cute. "Hey, you wanna just grab something from the drive thru? Then I could make us dinner later?"
"That sounds great, I'm starving." She sat back, let out a breath and crossed her legs with one hand on her stomach.
An uncomfortable quiet fell over the car as they drove. He had no idea what to say to her. Why did she keep turning to him? He didn’t want to complain but she confused him.
****
It had stopped raining for the moment but the gray clouds still hung in the sky, and there was a chill in the air. Patrick carried Gia's duffle bag in one arm, while he juggled their food bags in the other.
"Hey, Patrick."
"Yeah?" She stood in his doorway watching him. Her hood was pulled up on her head again and her sunglasses peeked out from underneath. He tried his damnedest to keep his eyes on her face.
"Thanks," she said softly.
"Hey, I'm here for you." His eyes wandered to her pouty lips, wanting to kiss them. Before he could move towards her, she brushed by him.
"I'm starving, we should eat," she called back to him as she entered the kitchen. He wondered if she had the same thought. He could feel her heat as she passed by him, his dick at full attention. Control yourself. For whatever reason, she called him. She needed him to be there for her.
She spun to face him, her dark hair bouncing, and her chocolate-brown eyes wide. Damn, she was hot.
Focus!
Gia rubbed her stomach as he heard a loud rumble.
"Seriously?" He laughed. "Was that your stomach?"
Gia giggled and her face reddened.
"Alright well, let's eat." Patrick emptied the bags and they sat down at the table. Gia unwrapped her burger and ferociously dug in. He watched her, concerned she might choke as she inhaled her food quickly. She acted like she hadn't eaten a solid meal in a week.
"So …" Patrick said as Gia quickly nibbled her burger down to the last few bites. "You're staying for dinner. I'll put together a lasagna."
Gia looked over at Patrick and then down at her last bite of burger. Redness filled her cheeks and her stomach gurgled. Sliding her hand over her belly, she shyly smiled at Patrick. Suddenly, a loud belch escaped her lips.
"Oh my god!" Gia squealed. "I'm so sorry, excuse me." Her face turned the darkest shade of red he’d ever seen.
"Wow! Quite a loud noise for such a little lady." Patrick chuckled. "About dinner–"
Gia opened her mouth to speak but he interrupted her. "Forget it, I refuse to take 'no' for an answer. You need a home cooked meal, and you're going to get one."
****
GIA
Sitting down on the soft, comfy couch, Gia sunk down into the cushions and cuddled against a pile of pillows.
"So what's really going on, Gia?" Patrick sat down beside her.
She knew he’d be curious about why she called him. She hadn’t brought up any drama since she’d been here.
She shrugged and looked away. She had no idea how to bring this up, or if calling him was even the right thing to do. Should she tell him? "Thanks for lunch by the way. I really need to find a new job. I hate depending on people for everything." She had no idea where she could look for a job in her condition. Maybe a gas station or grocery store …
"Hey," Patrick said, snapping his fingers in front of her face. "You look like you’re a million miles away."
"Yeah." She let out a little laugh and curled up close to him. Wrapping her arms around his middle, she laid her head on his muscular chest. He pulled her close; the warmth of his body was making her heart race. She didn't plan to end up here again, at his home, in his arms; but she felt safe with him. She needed to tell him. After all, this baby might be his. "Patrick–"
Before she could say anything else, Patrick tilted her head up and pressed his lips to hers, softly. He pulled away, looking into her eyes. Her breathing increased and her heart hammered against her chest. Not knowing what came over her, she leaned in and kissed him hard. Her mouth opened against the heat of his and he slid his tongue through her lips to intertwine with hers.
She didn't know why he made her feel this way. It was different than the usual lust; this feeling warmed her belly. His arms made her feel safe and at home, like she belonged here.
Patrick pulled away. Standing up, he held out his hand to her and pulled her off the couch. He unzipped her little pink hoodie, tossing it aside. He guided her up the stairs to his bedroom. As she stood in the doorway, he lit two candles. Moving toward her again, he slid his hands around her waist and pulled her body close to his warm, rigid frame.
Gia wanted him, and that's all she could focus on: his rock hard body, his inviting smile and his mesmerizing eyes. She tangled her arms around his neck and he lifted her off the ground. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he kissed her, his tongue in her mouth, his hands on her ass.
He carried her to the bed. She loved the feeling of his strong body between her legs. In no time at all, she stood in nothing but her bra and panties. Patrick took a minute to look over her body, practically salivating.
Gia grew tired of waiting; she needed him. She grabbed at his army green shirt, pulled it off and tossed it to the floor. The sight of his rock hard abs made her heart pound. She didn't think there was an ounce of fat on this man and damn, she wanted his hard body pressed against hers. She tore at the elastic waist of his shorts and gasped when she saw he wore no underwear. His large erection popped out of his shorts, and she groaned aloud at the sight of it. Her hand explored his stiff shaft; her girly parts throbbed with need to have him buried in her. Patrick ran his hand along her stomach, until he reached her breast; her hard nipples reacted to his touch.
He pressed his erection against her dampness. She moaned and looked up at him, gazing into his eyes while he slid her bra off. Patrick bent down, took her breast into his mouth and sucked on her hard nipple while he slid his hand between her legs.
He slid her panties to the side, dipping his fingers inside her. She wanted to scream; she was ready to come right there. His touch made her quiver, and she wanted more.
Her eyes squeezed shut from the pleasure that flooded her body. Heat surged through her limbs and her nails d
ug into his shoulder. She opened her eyes and looked up at him. His were dark and heavy with passion.
"Patrick," she whispered in his ear. "I want you."
He grabbed at the waist of her panties and forcefully yanked them off her, kissing her stomach and thighs as he did. Sliding his body along hers, he positioned himself between her legs again and thrust his hard length into her. Gia let out a gasp. She didn't know what came over her. She wasn't a screamer, but with every thrust she got louder and louder.
Part of her was afraid someone would hear, and the other part was excited at the thought. Patrick's hard body pushed on top of her but she didn't mind. As he thrust inside her, keeping a quick tempo, she let out screams of pleasure. She grabbed his broad shoulders and pulled herself as close as possible to him.
Covering her lips with his, he muffled her screams with his warm mouth.
Gia's whole body was an inferno. God, she loved how hot sex was with him. He thrust into her once more before she climaxed and by the look on his face, he was about to explode too.
Patrick slid his tongue in her mouth and kissed her long and deep, their sweaty, clammy bodies still tangled. He pulled away smiling. "Damn." Then let out a chuckle.
"Yeah." She smiled.
Patrick pulled her under the covers, and cuddled against her bare skin, sliding his hand over her ass, cupping it and caressing it. He whispered, "I really wanted to bend you over that dresser."
Gia yawned. "Oh really?"
"You just wait, sooner or later I will bend you over something and have my way with this amazing ass." He kissed her shoulder.
CHAPTER 13
GIA
Gia woke in a dark room, smelling tomato and garlic. She glanced at the clock as she dressed--almost four-thirty. She shook her head; he let her sleep for almost two hours. Gia slowly made her way downstairs and stood in the doorway to the kitchen.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct Page 8
