“Well, you never know. I mean you did just get over ‘the flu’,” she said, using her fingers to make air quotes.
“Are you sure you aren’t pregnant already? The timing would fit.”
I shook my head and replied, “Sadie, I’m not pregnant. I’m pretty sure this was the flu or some kid of bug because I’m on birth control and I got my period right on time.”
“Okay, sure,” she said, winking at me. “It’s a shame though because you two would make a really cute baby.”
I smiled at her and replied, “I am sure we would if the time comes, but it’s not right now. We’ve just found each other again and I love where we are in the relationship. I’m so happy for the first time in forever and I want to enjoy our time with it being just us.”
“I get it. God I miss that,” she said dreamily. “The beginning of the relationship when everything is fresh and exciting is the best part.”
I sighed happily and said, “Well, technically our relationship isn’t new, but it’s still incredible. And if you miss it so much, why haven’t you put yourself out there and tried to find someone to start things up with?”
Sadie rolled her eyes and laughed. “Like I have time to go out and meet someone with all the work I am doing mixing this album,” she said.
“Well, what about someone a little closer to home, if you catch my drift?” I teased.
She stopped and looked at me. “Who? Jude?” she asked.
I smiled at her and answered, “I didn’t say Jude but now that you bring it up…”
She shook her head and her snowy blonde hair fell around her shoulders.
“Just don’t, Danni. I hear this shit enough from Beau and I don’t need it from you too.”
“What do you mean? What has Beau been saying?”
She sighed and rolled her eyes. “Nothing major, just big brother shit. I’m not into Jude like that anymore and he’s not convinced. But he thinks I could do better than him.”
“Well, you certainly could do a lot worse than Jude too. I love him to death and I think you two would be cute together.”
“I agree about the worse thing but again, I’m not into Jude. I used to have a crush on him when we were kids but I don’t anymore. I haven’t had a boyfriend since I dumped Jeremy last year and just because Jude and I are roommates everyone thinks there’s something going on but there isn’t.”
“Oh please Sadie,” I laughed. “You still have the hots for him and we all know it. Old crushes die hard, girl.”
“I do not have the hots for Jude!” she exclaimed.
“Come on, fess up, it’s just me and you here. Everyone in the world can see you still have a thing for him.”
Her cheeks flushed a pretty pink and she sat silent for a few moments before she sighed and said, “Apparently everyone but him.”
I smiled and put my arm around her shoulders.
“Well, girl, in my experience men can be pretty stupid at reading women. Maybe you should talk to him about it.”
“Oh hell no,” she answered. “Even if I were to entertain that idea it’s not worth the headache I’d get from hearing Beau and Ryder bitching at me to stay away from him.”
I was about to say something else when the sound booth door opened and the guys walked in carrying take out bags. My mouth instantly watered and my stomach growled. I could already smell the cheeseburger from across the room and I had an overwhelming urge to tear through the paper and swallow it whole.
“Hey girls,” Kris greeted. “Hope you’re both hungry because we ordered half the menu.”
“I’m starving,” I said as Beau closed the distance between us and knelt down to kiss me.
“I am too, baby, but for something other than food,” he said seductively.
A chill shiver ran up my spine at his words, but my stomach was winning out over my desire for him.
“Hold on-to that thought, Beau. I’m up for anything you want to do but I need food like now,” I answered and he laughed as he handed me my lunch.
“Oh God this smells good. Which one is mine?” I asked, looking through the bag for my food.
“This bag is full of cheeseburgers with everything on them, so just pick one,” he answered.
I smiled and took out the first sandwich I could get my hands on. As soon as I had it unwrapped I took a huge bite and moaned like I was having an orgasm. “Oh holy shit, this is amazing.”
Beau laughed harder and took a seat next to me. “Glad to see you’ve got your appetite back.”
I continued to moan with every bite I took. There wasn’t anything special about my sandwich but at that moment it was the most amazing thing I’d ever eaten in my life.
“Mmmhmm,” I mumbled and he kissed my forehead as I ate my food.
Soon we were all full and happy and I was kicked back on the little loveseat in the booth feeling full and sleepy. After eating as much as I had I was suddenly tired and felt like I could sleep for days. I stifled a yawn as Beau came to sit beside me.
“Danni you look exhausted. Are you sure you’re feeling better?”
“I’m sure,” I said, smiling at him. “I just haven’t eaten that much in a long time and I guess my body is racing to catch up with my appetite.”
“Listen, we are going to be here for a while wrapping things up so why don’t you go back home and get some sleep?” he asked.
“Well, I would fight you on it but suddenly a nap sounds wonderful,” I said, yawning again.
“I’ll bring you dinner. What would you like?” he asked.
I smiled and said, “Surprise me,” as I leaned into him and kissed his lips.
He groaned into my mouth as his tongue slid past my lips to taste me and I whimpered.
“Okay, I need to go home or this day is going to get awkward for everyone here,” I said breathlessly.
I heard Kris snicker in the background and Jude just smiled at me.
“Come on, I’ll walk you to your car,” Beau said, taking my hand and helping me off the love seat.
I said my goodbyes to everyone and walked to my car. Before I could open the driver’s side door, Beau took my shoulders and spun me around to face him. He reached up his hand and traced my cheek softly with his knuckles.
“I’m glad you’re feeling better, baby, because I can’t wait to get my hands on you again,” he said sexily.
His other hand gripped my waist and pulled me into him where I could feel his erection swelling.
“I can’t wait either,” I breathed right before his mouth came crashing into mine. I moaned loudly and threw my arms around his neck as he tasted me and kissed me until I couldn’t think.
“I’d better go so you can hurry this along. You have a key just in case I’m still sleeping when you get there.”
“Hmm, the ways I could wake you up,” he said, and I felt his dick respond against my stomach.
I shivered at the feel of him. It never ceased to amaze me that Beau responded to me this way. Even thought we’d been through hell and back I was still in awe of his feelings for me.
“I love you,” I whispered and kissed him quickly.
“I love you too beautiful. See you soon,” he said, and with one final kiss we broke apart and I watched him as he walked back into the studio.
I got behind the wheel and as I started the car I felt my stomach start to protest all of the food I ate. That man-sized cheeseburger was suddenly threatening to make a very messy comeback.
I took a deep breath and said to myself, “It’s only a ten minute drive, Danni, don’t throw up in your car.”
As I drove home something Sadie said was sticking in my mind. Flu like symptoms, extreme appetite, feeling nauseated…I knew there couldn’t be any way I was pregnant…was there?
She was right…the timeline of everything would fit. We’d been together for over a month and had been having sex almost daily without using a condom. I was on birth control but it was the pill and sometimes it was hard to remember to take it at the
same time every day. I was sick and throwing up the last week and a half yet today I ate enough to feed a small army. Even though I’d gotten my period it was abnormally light. Suddenly I started to panic. Oh shit…what if I really was pregnant?
As soon as I reached my apartment, I got out of my car just in time for my lunch to make a comeback right next to my mailbox. After I was done heaving I pulled out my cell phone and dialed Everleigh’s number with shaking fingers.
After two rings, she answered, “Hey girl, what’s up? Are you feeling any better today?”
“Uh, are you busy right now? I need you.”
“Danni, what’s wrong?” she asked, panicked. “Are you hurt?”
“No, just a nervous wreck. I’m kind of freaking out about something and I need your help.”
“What is it?”
“Well you know me and how I tend to freak over little things and it’s probably not a big deal, but I am kind of thinking…”
“What, Danni? I am freaking here.”
“I think there’s a tiny chance I might be pregnant,” I admitted.
There was silence for a second on the other end of the phone and when she spoke again, she said, “I have a few extra tests here at the house. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
“Okay, thanks Ev.
“You want me to call the girls?”
“Yes because if this doesn’t go well I need all of my girls here. I’ll see you soon,” I said, then hung up the phone and raced inside the apartment.
I tried to calm myself down but it was impossible. Until Sadie mentioned it I would never have thought this was even possible. But now I was facing a very real possibility that I might be pregnant and that my perfect relationship with Beau was about to come crashing down.
I felt faint as I waited for the results of the most important test I would ever take in my life. As much as I loved Beau I knew neither of us were ready for a baby. We hadn’t even been back together for two months. We still had a long way to go before we were able to handle this step.
Everleigh ran a hand over her growing belly, which was rounding out and barely visible at her hips. She placed her hand on my shoulder.
“Whatever the test says we will get through it together, okay? All of us.”
I took a deep breath and fought back another wave of nausea. “Are Jess and Sadie here yet?”
“Sadie just texted me and said they were pulling into the driveway,” Everleigh said. “They won’t miss it, Danni.”
“I can’t look at this without all of my sisters here. I’m going to need them to pick me up off the floor if this test is positive.”
I ran my hands through my hair wildly and tugged at the ends like a crazy person.
“God, how did this happen? I thought we’d been careful. We haven’t been using condoms but I am on the pill. Besides, I got my period on time.”
“Well, was it a normal period?” Everleigh asked me.
I drew my brows together and bit my lip in thought. “Um, no. It was kind of light but it was enough for me to have to use a tampon for a few days.”
Everleigh sat on the edge of the tub and sighed. She placed a warm hand on my shoulder and softly said, “Danni, I’m no doctor but going through this myself right now I will bet you everything I have that you didn’t have your period. It sounds like spotting from implantation.”
“What the hell is that?” I sniffed, my mind turning to mush.
“About six weeks into my pregnancy, I had some spotting and I freaked out thinking I was losing the baby. Dr. Mitchell told me when the implantation of the baby takes place that some women have light spotting; some bleeding seems like a regular period, or sometimes nothing at all.”
Everleigh looked at me with sympathetic eyes as realization hit me.
We heard the front door open and Sadie called out, “We’re here! Where are you?”
“In the bathroom!” Everleigh yelled back.
“Danni, it’s going to be all right.”
I felt tears stinging my eyes and I asked, “Is it?”
“What are you afraid of? Are you really that scared to have this baby? Do you think that it will cause problems with Beau?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “Well, it’s not like we planned for something like this. I honestly don’t know how he feels about kids. He had such a horrible childhood, Ev.”
“Well, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want a family. He loves you so much and you both went through hell to get to where you are now. Whether you are pregnant or not he’s not going to abandon you,” Everleigh replied.
“I hope you’re right.”
The bathroom door opened and Sadie walked in with Jessie behind her. She knelt down in front of me and pulled me into a hug.
“Don’t panic, girl. Whatever happens we’re with you,” Sadie answered.
“Thank you Sadie.”
I looked up at Jessie and she smiled at me.
“Don’t worry about it, Danni. I can tell you’re scared and it’s probably about how you think Beau’s going to react. I’ve known him almost my whole life and I really believe that he’ll be happy about this.”
“I really hope so. I wish I was as sure as you all seem to be.”
At that moment, the alarm on Everleigh’s phone beeped. “It’s time,” she said.
I felt like I was going to puke. “Can you look for me, Ev? I just can’t.”
She nodded and picked up the test from the counter. After a few quiet moments, she cleared her throat and I looked up at her. Judging by the look on her face I already knew the answer before she said, “It’s positive.”
I blinked a few times and a tear fell down my cheek. “I’m pregnant? Are you sure?”
She handed the test to me and I took it with shaking hands.
“Pretty sure, girl.”
I looked at the results window and the word pregnant flashed at me.
Jessie came to me and knelt down next to Sadie.
“Danni, don’t be upset. I know that this wasn’t planned but this is a really good thing. No matter what you decide to do we are behind you one hundred percent. And I really think that this baby will be the best thing to ever happen to Beau besides you.”
“I think so too,” Sadie replied. “I know my brother better than anyone. He was a mess in more ways than one before he met you and you’ve saved him. You made him want to be a better man and when he finds out you are carrying his child he’s going to be so happy, Danni.”
I wiped my eyes with my hands.
“I don’t even know if I want to keep this baby. You’re all telling me that he will be happy about this and I’m sure he will be a great father, but I don’t know if I’m ready to be a mother yet. I was looking forward to being an aunt to your baby and now this is going to take away from your moment, Ev,” I cried.
“Aw, Danni,” Everleigh said, putting her arm around me, “You aren’t taking anything away from me. This is so exciting! Think about it, girl. Our babies will grow up together just like we did.”
One thing I loved about Everleigh? She always knew just what to say. My heart warmed at that thought. I let what she said sink in and suddenly I had a vision of Everleigh and Ryder’s baby, a little boy, at about four or five playing with a beautiful little girl with wavy blonde hair and dark eyes…eyes just like her daddy’s. I could picture the two of them chasing each other around a swing set in the backyard, their carefree laughter filling the air.
Just like that my mind was made up. I wanted to know that little girl…I wanted to hear her call me mommy and call Beau her daddy.
My smile must have given me away and Sadie grinned at me. “We’re having a baby, aren’t we?” she asked.
I nodded. “I think so.”
We all grouped up and hugged each other.
“Danni, this is wonderful. I’m so happy for you,” Jessie said. “There are babies just popping up all around in our family, aren’t there?”
“That’s the way it should be. Life goes on
,” Everleigh said.
She giggled and placed her hand on her stomach.
I instinctively placed my hand on her belly and gave it a light kiss. Even though I was still scared about being a mom and to be honest, terrified to tell Beau, feeling Everleigh’s growing belly gave me hope that everything was going to be okay.
Three weeks later, I still hadn’t been able to tell Beau I was pregnant. I wanted to wait until after my first prenatal appointment because not only did I want to have a picture to show him, I just needed official confirmation that this was really happening. I was also still scared as hell even though Sadie, Jessie, and Everleigh were all optimistic, I still had my doubts that Beau would be happy. We’d just found our way back to each other and finally had things right for once. This baby was definitely going to throw a road block in our way.
When I went to the doctor I found out that I was almost twelve weeks pregnant and that meant we’d conceived the baby the weekend we got back together. Everleigh had been right; my “period” was actually spotting from the baby implanting into my uterus.
I was also far enough along now that at my next appointment I’d be able to have another ultrasound to see the baby and hear the heartbeat. I prayed Beau would be okay with all of this because I really wanted him there with me when I went for my ultrasound.
Beau had been in the studio all day and was on his way to my apartment. I was cooking him dinner and planned on dropping the ball on him tonight. He had lived off fast food for years and never turned down the chance to have a home cooked meal, so I was hoping dinner would soften him up for when I told him about the baby. I needed to do it soon because my stomach was already starting to pop out and soon he was going to notice.
I made him lasagna, tossed salad, and garlic bread. I had just taken the food out of the oven when my phone rang. I set the lasagna on the counter and picked up my phone.
“Hello?”
“Hey baby, I’m on my way. Sorry I’m running a little late,” Beau said.
I looked at the clock and noticed the time. Beau was supposed to have been here twenty minutes ago. I hadn’t noticed because I was so distracted by my nerves.
Reckless Redemption: A Bad Blooded Rebel Novel (Bad Blooded Rebel Series) Page 10
