Intertwined Hearts Series (4 book collection): (Intertwined Hearts, An Exceptional Twist, Tangled Paths & Grafted Vines)

by Kimi Flores

  She attempted to scoot to the end of the bed unsuccessfully. "Most men would be ready to bail when they hear their girlfriend just got knocked up."

  “Bri, this is my baby too. I’m still a little shocked but you and I made a little person.” It started to sink in. Wow, we made a baby. How crazy yet incredible.

  She struggled to get down when I lifted her off the table and into the wheelchair. "Can I help you with your dress?"

  “I think that’s how we got into this situation in the first place.” She giggled, then winced.

  “There she is, my snarky girl.” I kissed her on the neck.

  She sighed. Those pain meds must’ve really been kicking in. “Yeah, that’s definitely how we got into this. Wait, I need to get dressed.” She lifted her hip showing that the gown was not fully wrapped around her. “My bare ass is almost touching the seat. It doesn’t have paper like the table. Gross.”

  I knelt down, helping her into her panties, then let her finish the job. “Did I tell you how much I liked those?”

  “Yes, you did.” She grinned sleepily. “Multiple times. Now hand me my dress please.” She took off the gown and held the balled up material up to her chest.

  My eyes couldn’t help but land on her small tummy. Our baby is in there. Before she had a chance to pull the dress completely over her, I leaned in kissing her belly.

  Smiling, Bri placed her hand on my cheek and mouthed the words, I love you. I slipped her flip flops on her feet, got up and made sure she was completely covered before I started to wheel her out of the room to the nurses’ station.

  “Well, we came in here as a couple and we’re leaving as a family. What do you think about that, mommy?” I asked, a proud glow to my face.

  “As scared shitless as I am about screwing up another human’s life, I’m also very thankful that you’ll be by my side. I’m a very blessed woman, daddy.” She exhaled with a smile.

  Once we had the follow-up instructions, we were ready to head toward the pharmacy, when the nurse stopped us. “Hold on. Here are the ultrasound pictures.” She handed the thin pieces of photo paper to Bri.

  I still couldn’t make out much, but I did see that tiny lima bean in the center. I bent down and kissed the top of her head as she stared at the photos. The moment we entered the waiting room, Stefen, Caleb, and Leah shot out of their seats. I cringed. I’d forgotten I’d even called Stefen. Just when these guys started to accept me, they’re gonna find out I’m the bastard that knocked up their girl. Fantastic.

  Stefen squatted down in front of Bri. “Are you okay? Did the doctor say what’s wrong?”

  Nodding, Bri blinked quickly. “Yeah. It was the cysts again, but I’m better. The doctor gave me some pain medication.”

  “What exactly happened?” Caleb asked, glancing at me. “Why was it so bad this time?”

  “Her cyst ruptured.” I explained but was not about to give the other news to these guys yet. Emotions were running too high.

  Covering her face, Bri started to cry again.

  Stefen rubbed her knee. “How long before the pain goes away?”

  “He gave me a shot, the pain is gone.” She sniffed. “These are happy tears.”

  Oh shit, Bri. Not yet.

  Closing her eyes, she rubbed her finger over the photos in her hands. With a bright smile, she looked at Stefen. “Meet your niece or nephew. I’m pregnant.”

  Instantly, all eyes were on me. Caleb looked confused, Stefen looked pissed, and Leah looked—ecstatic?

  Bri wiped under her eyes then smacked Stefen’s arm. “Would you stop that! I was there too, you know. I had to practically beg him to—” Stefen’s head whipped back to her, and she hastily said, “Never mind. Just don't blame him. Many beautiful things came from that trip.” She rubbed her tummy with one hand and reached up for my arm.

  Leah burst past Stefen. “Ohmigosh, Bri! We get to be pregnant together!” She screeched.

  “What? You’re having a baby too?” Her eyes nearly popped out of her head.

  Stefen tightened his lips, and nodded.

  I watched the change in Bri’s face, pure radiating joy, and something hit me. I think my girl is finally feeling like she’s part of a real family.

  The sliding glass doors opened, and Dani came running in. “What happened? Is everything okay?” She froze. “Why are you all smiling?”

  Caleb walked over to her, draped his arm across her shoulder, and led her to the group. “Apparently our family is growing. I’ve been trying to convince Abby we need another one too, but she’s not buying it. I have a feeling this news will change her mind, though.”

  Dani raised her hands, darting a look back and forth between her sister and Bri. “What the, what?”

  Grimacing liked she’d just been caught, Leah admitted, “Abby knows about us already. I couldn’t hold it in.” She raised her hand defensively. “And Dani, before you say anything, we just found out yesterday when you were working, and I was waiting until you woke up today to tell you.”

  “¿Estás embarazada, Leah?” Dani asked excitedly. From what I remembered from Spanish 101, she was asking if Leah was pregnant.

  Leah answered, “Yup.” Then she bent down to drape an arm behind Bri. “We both are. They just found out a few minutes ago.”

  Dani was still for a moment, then she squealed, “Holy shit! For real? I’m gonna be a tía times two? I can’t believe it!”

  Bri’s muffled words came as Dani was squeezing her and Leah. “You won’t be so happy when you have to deal with our cranky, prego asses.”

  Dani laughed. “No that’s what your men are for. I can just leave when that happens.”

  I slapped my hands, rubbing them together. “I hate to break up this party, but I need to get Bri home. She hasn’t slept all night. Why don’t we meet tomorrow for brunch? There’s a great little place here in town.”

  Both Leah and Bri waved their hands in the air, and Bri groaned, “Please don’t talk about food right now. I’m still a little nauseous.”

  Leah agreed. “Yeah, that was my first symptom. I’m ready to go back to sleep though, too.”

  Everyone started to head out to the parking lot when I saw my truck. I hadn’t had a chance to move it from the emergency drop-off zone. Shit.

  “Does mami know yet?” Dani asked Leah.

  “No, but I’ll tell her tomorrow.”

  “Okay, I’m going home to bed. Just got off a late shift. I’ll see you guys later. Love ya.” Dani waved as she made her way to her truck.

  Everyone said their goodbyes as I helped Bri into my truck. “I’ll come back in a few hours and get the prescriptions for you.”

  “Thank you.” She said in a sleepy tone.

  We drove in silence, both lost in our own thoughts. I still couldn’t believe I was going to be a father. My parents were going to flip out. They’d probably given up hope of ever getting grandkids from me.

  My mom is gonna pee herself.

  ⁂

  Bri

  It was just past five a.m. by the time we pulled up to the house. I’d knocked out on the last minute of our seven-minute drive and felt groggier now than I did before.

  On auto pilot, I opened the car door and staggered toward the house.

  “Hold on. Let me help you.” Josh held onto me, walking us up the stairs and into the bathroom.

  “I just wanna sleep,” I whined.

  He chuckled. “I know, but let me do this for you first.”

  He turned on the faucet for the bath, plugged the tub, and poured some of my bath salts in. Stripping off my clothes, he held my hand, allowing me to lean on him while I stepped in.

  The water was so warm and heavenly, I sighed as I sat down.

  He undressed, then stepped in, encouraging me to scoot forward so he could sit behind me. Once he was settled, my back melted into his chest.

  Running his fingertips across my belly, he rested his chin on my shoulder. “I hope we have a girl. She would be a gorgeous little thing.”r />
  I tilted my head to the side. “I’m still scared.”

  “I know, that’s normal. A part of me is too. I’ve never been a dad before, but we get to do this together, babe. Our child will have both of us, plus the whole crew you and I bring into the mix.”

  I placed my open palms on my tummy. “Our baby is going to have so many people to count on. I just hope I can give him or her everything I didn’t have and more. I wish I didn’t have to get huge to do it. Will you still love me with stretch marks and granny panties?”

  He scoffed. “You will always be beautiful, so don't even start thinking negatively. And I highly doubt you would ever wear granny panties. You love those sexy ones too much.”

  “Me or you?” I giggled, already knowing the answer.

  He kissed my head. “Both of us.”

  Reaching to the side of the tub, he grabbed my shampoo. Picking up a small dish I kept decorative soaps in, he dumped everything outside the tub, dipped it into the bath, then poured the water on my head.

  A few bubbles floated in the air as he lathered shampoo onto my hair and massaged my scalp. His soft lips ran a trail across my shoulders, causing me to shiver. “I love you, Bri. You’ll never know how much better my life is because of you.”

  Completely relaxed as he rubbed my scalp, I admitted, “I thought I was in love with you so many years ago, but it was nowhere near what I feel for you now. I love you too."

  Using the pads of his thumbs, he pressed small circles into my temples and I melted further into him. “Babe, why don’t we make this official?”

  I snickered. “Josh, I don’t think we can make this any more official than it is. We’re having a baby, there’s no turning back.”

  He wrapped his arm around me, hugging my body closer to his. “That’s not what I mean. Why don’t we get married?”

  I sucked in a breath, stunned. The only thing I heard for a few moments was the running bath water. Finally, I said, “It’s not that I don’t want to marry you. It’s that I don’t want us to get married just because we’re having a baby.”

  When he loosened his grip, I knew I’d just disappointed him. “That’s not the only reason,” he insisted. “I can’t imagine my life without you. We’re a family now. Our child deserves to have us make that commitment to our family before it’s born.”

  Leaning into him, I hoped he’d understand where I was coming from, while not feeling dejected in the process. “I’m not saying no. I need time. I’m still trying to get used to the changes in my life. Between my mother’s death, my dad possibly not being my biological father, us moving in with each other, and now I have to figure out how to be a mom? I’m overwhelmed.”

  He ran his hands up and down my arms. "I get it. I’ll give you whatever time you need. And promise to do whatever it takes to make you happy. Will you let me do that?"

  "I'll try." I smirked over my shoulder playfully. Warm water was poured over my head. I jerked forward when shampoo started to run into my eyes. "Josh, what the heck?"

  "You'll try?" Laughing, he poured more water over my head.

  I held my hand out in front of me, unable to open my eyes. "Okay! I will! I will let you."

  "That's better." He tilted my head back so he could remove the shampoo without getting any more in my eyes. His warm lips caressed my forehead as he rinsed my hair. "What am I going to do with that snarky attitude of yours?”

  “Love it unconditionally?” I asked in a teasing tone.

  And man did I love his answer. “You’ve got that right.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Oh, How Things Have Changed

  Bri

  “Ohmigosh! Look at my boobs.” I stood in the bathroom doorway, wearing my now snug jean capris and an opened button down shirt, exposing my enlarged, bare breasts to Josh. I lifted the bra in my hand. “It’s only been a few days since I put this on, and it won’t fit. None of my bras fit.”

  There was an unmistakable hunger in his eyes as he stared at my chest. “Oh, no you don’t.” Backing up, I held up my index finger as he stalked after me. “They hurt. Do not touch them.”

  He dropped his shoulders, jutting out his bottom lip. “But—but—but they’re so pretty. Can’t I have one little touch?”

  “No way.” I closed the top few buttons, wincing as the material scraped across my sensitive skin. It still amazed me that I’d found out less than a week ago I was pregnant yet I’d felt every symptom all along. The last several weeks, I’d thought my exhaustion came from dealing with my mother’s death and the nausea, cramping and sore boobs were because of the hormone spike due to my cysts and fibroid.

  “What’s the use of having beautiful boobs if they can’t be touched?” Josh gave me a sideways smirk.

  Ugh, men.

  Facing the mirror, I fluffed my hair and swiped some mascara on my lashes. “Hey, what are you complaining about, I’m on my fifth day of no coffee. We each have to make sacrifices for the baby.”

  “I thought I read you could have some caffeine, just not a lot.” He leaned his butt against the sink, his eyes glued on me.

  “I’m not taking any chances.” I tossed the mascara in my makeup bag. “I’m determined to let go of whatever I need to for this baby.”

  He stepped behind me, watching my reflection in the mirror as he wrapped his arms around me, thankfully above my tender breasts. “See, I told you you’d be an amazing mommy.”

  I turned my head, kissing his scruffy jaw. “I’m going to do my best.”

  “Okay, so what’re you going to do about these today?” He moved his hands in front of me, pretending to cup my breasts.

  Swatting his hands away, I walked into the bedroom, dug through the top drawer of our dresser, and pulled out one of my sports bras. “I’m hoping I can squeeze them into this and buy a bunch of bras while I’m out with Leah and Abby today.”

  “Need some help?” His lips turned up into a sexy grin as he made his way to our bed, plopping down on his side to watch me.

  “No, but thank you.” I took the shirt off, tossing it on the comforter next to him. Grunting and sighing, I struggled into the sports bra.

  He chuckled, never taking his eyes off me. “This is like watching Thelma and Louise in a wrestling match. I’m rooting for Thelma.”

  Once I finished squeezing into the bra, I glared at him. My sensitive girls were spilling over the top and definitely weren’t happy to be shoved into something one size too small.

  Wide eyed, he pointed to my chest. “You’re going out in public like that?”

  “No. I’m covering up with my button down.” I motioned for him to toss my shirt back. With everything in place, I pulled my hair out from under the collar and held my arms out. “See?”

  He lifted an eyebrow. “Okay, but while you’re out getting new bras, you might wanna buy some maternity clothes. If not, can you get me some safety goggles? At this rate, those buttons are gonna start flying off, and I’m liable to lose an eye.”

  My eyes narrowed. “I don’t need maternity clothes yet, Josh. I just need shirts that fit my new porn boobs.”

  Like any man would, his mouth turned up into a huge grin at the mention of the words porn and boobs. “Works for me.”

  I chewed on my bottom lip as I crawled on the bed, laying on my side to face him. “You know, I’ve been thinking a lot lately. Ever since we got together, it’s been one thing after another and you’ve been putting everything on hold.”

  He frowned. “What have I put on hold?”

  “Well, like all the time you’ve been spending with me, and—”

  “You think spending time with you is putting my life on hold?”

  I smoothed a hand through his thick wavy hair. “Not necessarily, but I’d love to see you start thinking about what we talked about in Catalina. You need to do something for yourself too. Talk to your dad about those other acting roles.”

  He let out a heavy breath. “I don’t know, Bri. With the baby coming, I don’t want to get
all wrapped up in that world again.” He swiped my hair away from my eye.

  Lovingly, I pressed my cheek against his hand. “I don’t want the baby or me to be obstacles for you. We’re here to support you, not keep you away from what you want to do.” Turning my head, I kissed his palm.

  His face said he was contemplating it. He couldn’t argue with me because he would’ve told me the same exact thing. “Dad did mention a few things to Brad when we were at my parents’ house. They were roles my brother would never be interested in. I think it was my dad’s way of letting me know there are still opportunities out there, without actually telling me. I’ve turned him down so many times, I think he just doesn’t want to push me.”

  With a hopeful smile, I said, “You can tell him he’s not pushing you. This is something you want.”

  Flipping onto his back, he rested his hands under his head and looked up at the ceiling. “I can’t stop thinking there’s something else I want to do too, but I haven’t pinpointed what. You know, my way of giving back.” He turned his head to look at me. “I feel like I can use my experience to help someone that might be going through something similar. What’s the point of going through shit like that if I don’t use it?”

  I leaned into him, planting a kiss on his soft lips. “I love you, Josh.”

  He took advantage, lifting me until I was straddling his hips. Kneading his fingers into my hair, he deepened our kiss, igniting my already overly eager hormones. The moment his hand squeezed my ass, I knew exactly what was on his mind.

  I sat up and wiggled my finger. “You still aren’t touching my boobs.”

  “Dammit,” he sighed. “It was worth a shot.” He put his hand behind his head again, smiling as I got up.

  “If you call your dad before we see them tomorrow, don’t say anything about the baby. I have something special in mind for your mom.” I fussed with my now messy hair in the dresser mirror.

  Tomorrow was Thanksgiving, and I was excited to see his family again, but I wanted to make sure I had my ducks in a row before we told his parents.