The beach is packed with people. Everyone’s caught up in their own little worlds enjoying the beautiful day. I find my eyes wondering towards all the kids playing along the shore building sand castles and playing on their boogie boards bouncing on top of the waves.
I hear the sound of laughter and then spot a little girl running past me into the water, giggling as the water splashes up and soaks her pink frilly bathing suit. She looks to be no older than maybe three, still having that adorable baby face with chubby cheeks and bouncing little ringlets falling to her shoulders.
She looks carefree and content as she splashes in the water. Her mother is sitting in a beach chair a few feet away watching her play in the small waves. She has a small smile on her face as she observes the little girl basking in the simple pleasure of playing in sand and water.
I find myself thinking back to when I was that age. Life was so simple. I went to the beach every summer with my family. Some of my favorite memories are with my mom and dad building sand castles and jumping over the waves as they crashed into the shore or searching for the best sea shells to bring back home at the end of our vacation.
I want to make those memories with my baby. With Parker by my side helping our son or daughter build castles in the sand and hunt for seashells.
After a few more seconds I decide to turn around and head back up to the beach house to rejoin everyone. I bring my hand to rest over my belly as I glance one more time over my shoulder at the little girl. I know now that all my fears are like a tiny grain of sand. It’s only one small piece in a world filled with thousands of grains of sand.
From the outside it was looking like this big, scary thing. But now that I’m looking at the situation closer and with a clearer perspective. I now understand that as long as I love this baby and do my best to give it a happy and safe home like my parents did for me, everything else will slowly fall into place.
Parker loves me and I love him. That’s more than many pregnant women in this world have. I need to hold onto that and know that as long as I have his love and support we’ll be okay.
Walking into the kitchen I begin making myself something for lunch. As I’m pulling the sandwich meat out of the fridge I hear someone coming up behind me.
“You better be planning on microwaving that.” The sound of Ashlynn’s voice startles me causing me to jump and drop the Tupperware onto the floor.
“Ughh. Can you not sneak up on me like that?” I ask laughing as I bend down and pick up the container of sliced turkey. I set it onto the counter and turn towards her watching as she slides up onto a barstool at the kitchen island. “For your information I was just about to microwave my damn sandwich meat. I had the whole safe and not safe food talk with my OBGYN when I went for my exam last week.”
A smile on spreads across her lips but doesn’t reach her ears. Her eyes show she’s anything but happy with me at the moment. “That’s good to hear. I’m glad to know you’re taking good care of my future God daughter. I still can’t believe there’s a baby in there. It’s crazy to think you’re going to be a mom. No offense, but I didn’t imagine you having a kid for about another twenty years. Miss I hate responsibility and can’t stand to even think about doing chores. Now you’re going to be changing diapers, washing bottles and pumping milk morning, noon and night. Your life is going to completely change.”
With each word that comes out of her mouth I feel the knot in my stomach tightening. I’m scared to death about being a mom. I don’t know the first thing about taking care of a baby.
Tossing my turkey onto a paper plate I stick it in the microwave and turn back to Ashlynn. “I’m definitely scared. My ass is going to be growing up hella fast now. I can already picture my mother now, ‘Bless your heart, darlin’. But this poor child won’t survive a day with you carin’ for it.’ She’s so use to dealing with all my crazy antics, the thought of me bringing a baby into this world is sure as hell going to give her a fucking heart attack.”
Ashlynn whips her hand at me with a big grin on her face as she tries to hold back a laugh, “And that right there! Your freaking sailor mouth. You can’t be dropping the f-bomb nonstop around your kid or it’s going to be a mini you walking around saying fuck this and fuck that. Then your mother will seriously have a heart attack!”
I find myself laughing along with her as I hear the sweetheart of Georgia saying ‘fuck’ and being able to keep a somewhat straight face. I grab my plate from my microwave and quickly get to work throwing my sandwich together. For once in the last two weeks since my all day sickness kicked in, I’m actually hungry.
“You’re right. I think I have a list a mile long of all the sh—crap I need to do before this freaking baby enters my crazy world.”
“Number one on the list being telling Parker.”
“Telling Parker what?” Parker asks walking into the kitchen with Chase and Vance. They have coolers in their hands as they make their way towards us and set the coolers down beside the tiny kitchen table.
I swallow hard as I stare like a deer caught in the headlights at Ashlynn. My heart is racing faster than Chase’s car on race day as I look from her to Parker. I have no idea how much they heard but seeing as they’re all moving around the kitchen acting as if it’s just another day I’m thinking it’s safe to say they only caught the end of our conversation.
They all climb up onto the bar stools beside Ashlynn and pop open their cans of beer as they all eye me suspiciously waiting for my answer.
I bite on my thumb nail nervously as I try to think on my toes for a way out of this. I sure as hell am not telling Parker I’m pregnant with a goddamn audience.
Walking over to Parker I set my plate down beside him and wrap my arms around his waist, leaning casually against his arm as I watch him take a pull from his beer. He looks sexy as all hell right now, all tan from being out on the water and his day old scruff decorating his face. With these hormones I’m finding that I’m horny pretty much all the time—well at least when I’m not fighting the urge to barf my brains out.
I need to focus and stop thinking about sex with Parker no matter how amazing it sounds right now.
“I was talking to Ashlynn about dying my hair like neon blue or something totally crazy. I’m growing bored with only adding highlights of color, but she said I should really tell Parker about my crazy idea first. Because it is kind of drastic.”
Choking on his beer Parker asks, “Blue?”
I smile an impish grin up at him, “Yup. What do ya think?”
He rubs his hand over his face and looks to his friends before bringing his eyes back to mine. He slowly licks his lips before tightly pressing them together. “Well—it’d be unique, that’s for sure.”
I’m loving watching him squirm. It’s adorable, and it seems to be working. They’re all falling for it.
I let out a loud giggle as I watch all them try to tell me they think I’d look good with blue hair. I now know to never ask them for an honest opinion. I’d never in a million years dye my hair blue! A few highlights, yes. But my whole head? Hell no!
“I’m joking! I can’t believe you guys would tell me to dye my hair blue! We were actually talking about the boardwalk. I love you all. I really do. But I need some alone time with my man, free from all your ass scratching and beer belching—no offense,” I say looking down the island at Chase and Vance.
“No offense taken,” Chase says honestly with a look of pride on his face.
Only a guy would be proud of the fact that he can out burp another guy in a beer drinking contest.
Men are so weird.
“I think taking you out on a date down to the boardwalk sounds like the perfect idea, baby,” Parker says before pressing a sweet chaste kiss to my lips.
I breathe a sigh of relief as I feel the disaster that almost happened just now is successfully diverted.
Chapter Seven
Becca
After the guys head upstairs to get cleaned up and wash away the smell
of fish, I take the few free minutes to fill Ashlynn in on my plans for tonight.
I’m going to tell Parker about the baby tonight while we’re out on our date. At least it’ll be just him and I without any of our friends around giving us full privacy to discuss everything together.
She agreed that it’s the perfect plan and is relieved that I’m finally going to tell him. I know it has been hard on her too, keeping this secret with me from everyone. But I’m grateful that I’ve had her support every step of the way. I think telling him this privately will be easier.
Right now I’m getting dressed to go out with Parker to the boardwalk to enjoy some delicious fried food and some carnival games. I’m going to have as much fun as possible with him and then when it’s time, I’ll pull him aside and break the news to him.
I slip into a pair of skinny jeans and decide since it’s a little cooler tonight to wear a cami and cardigan since we’ll be by the water. I apply some mascara, light eyeshadow and lip gloss before walking back into the bedroom to find my flip flops. I don’t notice Parker’s suitcase beside the bathroom door and trip over it. Stumbling I fall forward but manage to catch myself on the corner of the bed, stopping myself from falling face first into the carpeted floor.
Cursing under my breath at Parker for leaving his crap laying around, I turn around and go over to his suitcase to pick it up and roll it back into the closet. As I grab the handle to stand it up, I notice a piece of paper hanging out of the side the suitcase.
Setting the suitcase back down, I bend down to push the paper back inside but stop when a logo on it catches my eye. I pull the paper out and realize it’s an envelope with Parker’s name on it. In the upper left corner is the blue Air Force logo along with U.S Air Force written under it.
My entire body freezes as my hands shake trying to hold onto it. A million thoughts run through my head as I stare at the envelope.
We’ve talked every single day for eight months and never once has Parker mentioned anything about the Air Force.
The sound of feet stomping up the stairs snap me out of my thoughts. I bend back down stuffing the paper into his suitcase and grab the handle pulling it up onto its wheels just as Parker walks through the doorway.
“Hey, babe. You almost ready to go?” he asks while looking down at his phone. He lifts his eyes and meets mine before turning his attention to the suitcase.
“I tripped over this stupid thing while trying to get ready. It’d be nice if you could try a little harder to keep this damn room cleaned up,” I snap as I shove it into the closet and slam the door.
I feel bad snapping at him, but between being tired of feeling nauseous every second of the day and now finding out Parker isn’t going to be applying for internships in D.C. like he had said he was has me just a tad bit frustrated. And rightfully so.
How do he make a decision as big as what I’m guessing is joining the military after he graduates without talking to me first? Especially if he truly means it when he says he loves me.
This is a really big thing. Now adding a baby to the mix when he could possibly be gone for long periods of time with deployments. Not to mention the possibility of saying goodbye to him and then never seeing him again.
It terrifies the crap out of me.
I’ll practically be a single mother with him in the military. I planned on suggesting the possibility of him applying for an internship with the Governor’s office in Georgia so that we could be in the same state while I finish up my degree in Athens. Or even possibly transferring my credits to the University of North Carolina and finishing up my degree there. I know he can easily get a job with his father allowing him to stay in Charlotte with the baby and me.
Now I have no idea what the future is going to hold for us.
I breathe in a deep breath as I feel Parker’s arms come around me from behind and hugging me to his chest. His hands come to rest on my waist just below my belly causing a shaky breath to release as I exhale slowly trying to keep my tears at bay.
I can’t cry.
I need to reel in my emotions and wait until later tonight to let the tears fall in private.
I really need to talk to Ashlynn. See what she thinks about of all this.
I feel awful for being a bitch to him when if I wasn’t so damn moody I would probably be looking at this entire situation more rationally.
“I’m sorry I left the suitcase out. You didn’t hurt yourself did you?” he asks as his fingers rub gently over my exposed skin peeking out where my tank top meets my jeans.
“No. Thankfully I still have my coordination from all the years I did gymnastics growing up,” I laugh as I try to shake off the stress and lighten the mood in the room. “I caught myself on the bed. I’m sorry for snapping at you. I’m just tired since your drunk ass snored most of the night last night. But I’ll feel better once we get down to the pier.”
He kisses my neck before stepping away from me so I can finish getting my shoes on. I slip my feet into my flip flops and grab my purse, slipping it over my head letting it come to rest on my hip.
As we’re walking out of the bedroom Parker slaps me on the ass making me jump slightly and an array of giggles to fly from my lips, “Ouch. What was that for?” I ask, glaring back at him between my laughter.
With a cocky grin on his face he says, “That is for saying I snore.”
Chapter Eight
Parker
After spending the entire day listening to Vance and Chase busting my balls about needing to tell Becca about the Air Force—I swear I almost had a fucking heart attack when I walked into the bedroom and found Becca with my suitcase which has my paperwork from my recruiter in it giving me my official date for when I’ll start my boot camp in San Antonio, Texas.
A small part of me was actually hoping she found the letter. It’d take the stress off of me having to tell her. With each day that passes the guilt eats away at me.
I regret not telling her when I first began contemplating joining. But now with my basic training starting in three months it’s a little too late to discuss it with her.
I can only hope after the initial shock sinks in she’ll be supportive and understanding. With my college degree I have a great chance at climbing the ranks quickly. It helps that my father was in the Air Force for twenty years before retiring when I turned fifteen. Then he got into politics and worked for a few years at the Pentagon.
He says the same future is possible for me as long as I use the same work ethic I’ve used all through school and college.
With Becca earning a degree in history she can easily find a job anywhere the military takes us.
For right now I’m trying to push all my worries into the back of my mind and try to enjoy our evening alone.
I thought a date at the boardwalk sounded like the perfect way to spend our night together here in Daytona. Especially since Chase has planned for all of us to go to the track tomorrow.
“You look beautiful tonight. Powdered sugar and all.” I bring my finger out wiping powdered sugar from her chin. I suck it off my finger and laugh as she rolls her eyes at me before taking another bite of her funnel cake.
“Thank you” she says sweetly between bites. “Want a bite? It’s seriously the best funnel cake I’ve had in a long time.”
Shaking my head yes I open my mouth letting her put a small piece in. I playfully bite at her fingers as she tries to pull them away from me.
“You bite me, I’ll bite you right back.” She teases as she grabs my hand and bites down on my index finger before seductively teasing the tip of my finger with her tongue.
A low growl resonates in my chest as my dick jumps in my shorts.
“Fuck. You can bite me any time, Darlin’. But I gotta warn you that if you keep this up I’m going to end up dragging your ass down to the beach and fucking you until the cops come and haul our asses away.”
Tossing her plate in the trash she says nonchalantly with a hint of mischief in her voice, “Maybe I wa
nt you to bring me down to the beach…” before walking ahead and smiling seductively back at me.
I jog up behind her snaking my arms around her waist and lifting her slightly off of the ground, spinning her around. The sound of her laughter filling the boardwalk makes my heart slam against my fucking chest like goddamn snare drum. Making her happy is the only thing I care about. I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure she knows everything I’m doing is for her.
I want nothing more than to give her the best life possible.
“God I love you,” I murmur into her ear before setting her back down.
She leans against the rails overlooking the ocean and slowly runs her hands up my chest. The spark from her touch scorches my skin through my t-shirt and makes my dick ache harder to be buried deep inside of her.
“I love you too…” Leaning up onto her too toes she grips my shoulders to steady herself and brings her lips up to mine. Her kiss is sweet as the taste of funnel cake lingers on her lips. I moan softly against her lips as I squeeze her hips and tangle my tongue with hers.
It takes every ounce of self-control in me to make myself stop and break away from her sinful lips before I get the point of no return.
I may joke about fucking on the beach, but that kind of thing on my permanent record would not be looked upon lightly.
She pouts up at me as I back away, tugging her hand to pull her further down the boardwalk.
“I wasn’t done kissing you yet.”
I let out a deep chuckle as I pull her towards the Ferris wheel. “Unless you want a cop seeing you buck ass naked with sand in places sand should never be then, I think you’ll thank me for stopping that kiss.”
Cringing she twists her face up in disgust. “Good point.”
As we get in line for the Ferris wheel, Becca suddenly becomes very quiet. She’s been doing this off and on all night which is unusual for her.
