Reign's Pov
I'm trying not to be the creepy guy who can't stop stealing glances at his date. But it's rather difficult when she's sitting right beside me in a car all alone.
“You're comfortable right?” I asked, tipping my chin to the cushion I placed behind her.
“Yes.”
Her reply is followed by the awkwardness that hasn't stopped since we got in the car five minutes ago. We both know how intimate this setting is and it's really nerve-wracking.
“How are the babies feeling today?”
She tore her gaze from the window and looked at me. “I don't know what's wrong with them today, they haven't stopped kicking and turning since morning. It really hurts.”
My heart started beating faster with fear. “Addy if you're not feeling well we don't have to go.”
She giggled and stroked her belly. “Don't worry, it's nothing I can't handle.”
“Are you sure?” She nods confidently. “Alright but if you feel anything unusual, tell me right away. I don't care about the prom, we can leave any time you want, okay?”
She smiled at me. “Okay.” Her phone beeps and she unlocks it with her fingerprint. “Aww.”
“Who is it?” I asked out of curiosity. Surely it can't be another boy-
“George. He wanted to see me off to prom but couldn’t come because of work so he's asking for photos and telling me to break a leg. I hope he doesn't mean that literally.” She chuckled.
“Don't tell me he threw in a couple threats too? Won't be surprising.” I muttered the last part.
“What do you mean by 'won't be surprising’? George’s a nice guy, he doesn't threaten anyone.”
“I didn't mean it for him in particular. But it seems to be a running theme in your family.” She looked confused so I clarified. “Each of your family members —including Josh— threatened me to not try anything tonight.”
“No way. You're lying. They all agreed to be good to my date.” Date, that's what I am. Should I grin at her now or act casual about it?
Just then her phone beeps again and she squints her eyes at the text. “I think this is for you…”
She hands me her phone with an awkward smile and I see the text that reads, “Inform Reign I have a shotgun that I know how to use.”
“Told ya.” I chuckled giving her back the phone.
She shook her head in disappointment and leaned back against the seat to relax. Another few minutes passed in silence until she cleared her throat and spoke.
“You didn't compliment me on the dress.”
My head snaps to her when I hear her complain. She looked so gorgeous that complimenting her completely slipped my mind. I felt such a strange feeling of pride seeing her wrapped up in red that I forgot my dialogues and went to hand her flowers.
“You don't have to if you don't think I look good.” She said with an edge to her voice.
Okay now I am starting to get scared. This could very well ruin the whole night for us. I can't afford to upset her. I want her to enjoy her time with me and remember it for months to come until I give her an even better date.
“You look absolutely gorgeous, princess. I was literally knocked out of breath when I saw you.” Despite my brain screaming not to do it, I brushed my finger tip on her hand that's placed on the seat next to her. “Forgive me for not complimenting you, I just couldn't think straight when you looked so beautiful.”
Her eyes were stuck where our hands were touching. I waited for her to say something but she just hummed to my words. After a few moments of silence I lightly brushed the side of her palm before dipping my fingers under it.
She lifted her hand slightly and I laid my palm flat under hers. When she didn't do anything I initiated again and intertwined our fingers halfway.
My heart burst out of my chest when she closed the rest of the gap. It felt so good having her hand in mine. I felt at ease. There was a calmness that I always felt around her but only heightened this time.
We should do this often. It made me feel connected to her. I hope she can feel just a tiny bit of what I am right now. And I hope this isn't just in my imagination.
Her eyes haven't moved from our hands as mine haven’t moved from her face. We both stayed quiet, neither of us expected to be holding hands during the car ride.
“Thank you, Reign.” She whispered.
“Well I just said the truth, princess. You look your prettiest today.”
She shook her head and finally looked up at me with slight wetness in her eyes. “Thank you for inviting me to prom.” She took a breath as if suddenly feeling emotional. “I didn't think anyone would wanna be friends with me when they get to know…” She gestured to her bump. “No one would like to be seen with a problematic teen-”
“You're not a problematic teen, Addy.” I tell her seriously.
She smiles and wipes a tear with her free hand. “Thanks for not looking at me like I feared you would. It would've broken me if you treated me differently.”
“I could never treat you differently. You're my favorite person.” I lightly touched her cheek in a loving manner and it shocked me when she leaned in my palm.
This was perfect. One of my hands on the side of her face and the other holding her hand. It's like we're lovers finally going on their first date.
“I wanted to tell you something...” I hummed, being so comfortable that it made me dizzy. “I never wanted you to leave, Reign.” My heart stopped beating when I heard those words. “I’m so happy you stayed.”
I gulped feeling out of breath. All these months I kept thinking I'm forcing her to tolerate me when she clearly told me to leave her alone. But she never wanted me to get out of her life.
Even if it's as a friend, she does like me.
“So you don't mind if I have a crush on you?”
This was the biggest reason why she was unsure of our friendship. She didn't want a relationship when she possibly just got out of one pregnant.
I didn't want to make her uncomfortable with my question but I wanted to know the truth. I wanted to know what exactly she's expecting from me.
Her face reflected pure shock as she asked, “You still do?”
Why wouldn't I? The more time I started spending with her the more I got to know how great she is. Her presence, her kindness, her words, her views, even her tantrum and mood swings scream perfection.
My crush on her has blossomed into much more than I could’ve imagined. I know it's wrong —until she says otherwise— but I had no control over my feelings.
“I shouldn't?” I asked quietly.
“I don't know…” She trailed off and chose to stay silent for a few seconds. “You know I'm not just any other girl, right?”
The question took me off guard. “I know I- you're the Storm's Mafia Prin-” She cuts me off.
“No. I meant that… I'm a mother, Reign.”
Why couldn't I guess she won't be talking about her status, that's the least she cares about. Why do I always have to prove myself stupid in front of her each time? I'm supposed to win her over and someone like Adeline won't ever fall for a dumb boy.
“I know. But that doesn't make a difference to me.” I told her genuinely, hoping she'd believe me.
“It does. Anyone who likes me has to like my babies too-”
“Who said I don't like your babies?”
“You're not getting me. I don't come alone, I come as a package of three. If anyone would date me, he’ll have to be good to my kids too and… to some extent probably… you know, be a good influence and care for them.”
She gulps and continues. “I won't put my responsibilities on anyone else but I can't be with someone who's not willing to bond with my kids.”
“You don't have to worry about it, Addy. I'll take care of them, I might not know a lot right now but I'll learn. You just have to give me chance, I'll accept them as-”
She shushes me like she's scared of my next words. “Kids are a huge responsibility, I can't ask that from you, Reign. And…” She looks away. “You're too young to know what you'll want in the future.”
I scowl at her. “I'm older than you. If you can decide you want to commit to raising twins your whole life then I can too.”
“But it's different. I have to because no one else will. But you don't have to do this. You can find some normal girl with lesser issues than mine-”
I cut her off with a snort. “You seriously think I want any other girl?”
The blush on her cheeks got intense but she still spoke like she heard nothing. “I'm just… I’m just not sure if we should take our friendship to the next level. I don't want to rush you into making a decision you’ll regret later.”
“I won't-” She cuts me off again.
“You can take a few years and see if you still want to be with me after the kids are around. I promise I'll wait for you. And if after a few years you decide that you don't want me anymore then…” She fell silent and my heart squeezed reading her fear.
She likes me. Not just as a friend. She has thought of us being together and she doesn't hate it. She just needs reassurance that I won't back off from my commitment.
She wants a long term promise and I'm all for it.
I gave her hand a small squeeze. “I am ready for it, Addy. Trust me. I want everything that comes with you and I'm sure your mini versions are gonna be the cutest thing ever that I will instantly fall in love with. No matter how difficult it gets, I want to do this with you. I want to take care of you and your babies.”
“It’s unfair, you never signed up for it.” She mumbled more to herself.
If I wasn't in love with this girl already, I would've fallen for her now. She's so kind. Even if this was the best opportunity to be selfish, she's still worried about my happiness.
“Tell me where do I have to sign up? I'll do that right now.” I smirk at her.
Her lips form a soft smile. “Are you sure?”
“Do I look like I'm kidding?” I teased.
“We should have a trial period.” My smile drops and I free my hand from hers.
“What was that what we were doing all this time?” I asked, looking at her in shock.
She bit her lip but I wasn't in the state to take notice of it. “We were getting to know each other.”
“Exactly, that's what you do in a trial period.” I argued.
“But-” She cuts herself off. “Why put a label so soon? It's not like we're gonna do anything we don't already?”
“We’re not?” I asked, getting a stroke for the fifteen time today.
She looked away timidly with slight frustration in her expressions. “Don't tell me you only want me for…”
“For…?” My brain wasn't in the state to understand anything at the moment.
She looked visibly uncomfortable with the question. After a few moments of fiddling with her finger she finally answers my question.
“I don't like sex.”
I need to stop the hundred scenarios forming in my head about why she hates sex and how it relates to her discomfort when meeting Jordan and her family killing that pedophile.
I can't help but draw out the conclusion that Jordan manipulated or forced her into things she didn't like. Or maybe she did it willingly and it was just unfortunate that she got pregnant the very first time they did it.
I should shut off the part of my brain that always over thinks and makes everything weirder than it already is. I shouldn't be assuming things about her life.
If she wants to, she'll tell me herself.
I finally come back to reality when she looks up at me and I realize she's been waiting for me to speak. “That's not a problem with me.” I lied. “I'm not one of those horny teenagers,” I am. “Who always think of having sex with their crush.” I do. “Maybe when I try it I won't like it either.” I say to lighten up the mood and immediately regret my words.
Fuck! Why did I tell her I haven't lost my virginity yet? She's gonna think I'm a loser who doesn't get any girls. She doesn't know I had options and chose not to sleep around.
Giving out my body like candy to anyone who asks for it or using someone else's for a few minutes of pleasure isn't my style.
She looked at me and blinked. There was a weird glint in her eyes and I didn't know what to decode it as. I just hope I didn't ruin the chance I had with her.
“You've never…?” She asked quietly. I shook my head in embarrassment and weirdly so, her face lit up. “So I'm gonna be your first?”
It took me a minute to compose myself and not burst out laughing. She got so excited by the revelation that she didn't realize what she just said.
“If you want to be,” I said, suppressing a smile. “Actually let's seal the deal,” I took off my coat. “It's time I give you your right.”
I then brought my hands to the button of my pants but did nothing and just fiddled with it. She immediately started panicking and held my hands in a death grip.
“I didn't mean that.” She rushed out the words.
I burst out laughing and freed my hands. “I was just joking, Addy.”
Her eyebrows furrowed in anger and she hit my chest. “That was a terrible joke.”
I've gotten used to her violence and so that made me laugh even harder. “Don't ruin your mood. We have a prom to attend.”
She snorted and didn't look at me again. I leaned towards her and intertwined our fingers again. If she's okay with it, I'm gonna do it as many times as I can.
“So… what are we then?”
She turned her head towards me then moved back so we weren't sitting too close. “Before or after the trial period?”
The way her eyes were squinted I believed she was teasing me. “Well since we're already done with the trial period as friends… bestow me with my new status.”
She suppressed a smile and took too long just to annoy me but I remained patient. “Because you're taking me to prom I think we can be… sort of boyfriend and girlfriend.” Gosh, how badly I've waited for this.
My heart did a flip at the words and I tried remaining calm but I'm pretty sure she could read my uncontrollable happiness so she added, “Just for the night.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Just the night?”
She nodded, acting sad. “You haven't been a particularly good friend in the trial period so unfortunately I can't hire you full time.”
“What do I do to be hired permanently?” I played along, rubbing my thumb over the soft skin of her hand.
“Maybe get better at baking? Because when I open my bakery I would need people who I can trust.”
I chuckled. “You're seriously planning to put Astor’s Mafia heir in your bakery's kitchen?”
She thought of it for a second. “Doesn't sound like a bad idea. You'll look cute with an apron and a chef hat.”
Before I could say anything the driver knocked on the partition to inform us we're at the destination. I wanted to ask Addy if she'd rather stay in the car the whole night so we could talk but I didn't want to ruin her mood as she was quite excited for the prom.
I got out first then jogged to her door and opened it for her like a gentleman. She was flattered by my kindness and smiled at me. It was a little struggle for her to get out since she was days away from delivering but we managed.
“Let's go?” I asked and brought my forearm towards her to hold.
She gently placed her hand on me and her grib got tighter with each step we took towards the entrance. There weren't many students in the parking area but there would be tons once we got in and that was triggering her anxiety.
“Relax, princess. I'm with you.” I whispered in her ear. She didn't calm down from my words but still nodded.
I looked at her for a couple seconds admiring how beautiful she was. It felt surreal to attend prom with her by my side. I had to pinch myself a thousand times today to know it wasn't a dream. She was out of this world and she was mine tonight.
I can't wait to introduce her to the world as my girlfriend.