Really quickly I just want to wish everyone well during this time. I know its scary, and I know you're frustrated but I hope you don't lose hope <3. If anyone needs to talk feel free to message me and I'll try and help in the best way I can. I hope to update a bunch since my college extended spring break and I was able to get my living arrangement figured out. I also can't work because I'm a campus tour guide but we're figuring it out :). Much love <3
I awaken to soft tapping against my windows, and open my eyes. I'm in my bedroom, moved from where I fell asleep against Colton on my couch. The rain against my windows is steady. As I look outside I can't tell if its evening or if I slept until the next morning. I feel rested, like very rested, so it could very well be the next day.
I can hear Colton's voice coming from what sounds like my living room, most likely talking to someone on the phone. I take a minute to think about everything thats happened, and I can't help but wish Colton and I could have had a normal start to our relationship. I wish we could have dated, and gotten to know each other instead of being forced together by a baby. Of course the blame falls on both of us, but there's no harm in wishing right? I also wish our second meeting wasn't in the hospital with his brother and sister in law's life on the line. I could wish for a billion things, but the fact is life goes the way it does for a reason, and I just have to remember that.
I stand from my bed, making my way to the bathroom before heading to the living room to find Colton. We needed to have a serious conversation, and not have me break down sobbing in the middle of it.
When I walk into the living room I can see he's still on the phone, so I make my way to the kitchen for some water. When I open the fridge I see my two bagels from earlier, but no evidence that Colton's egg sandwich had ever been in the house. I grab a water and leave my bagels for later, still feeling unrest in my stomach. I should really make a list of foods that don't agree with me anymore, starting with enemy number one, eggs.
As I turn back to the living room with my water, Colton hangs up his phone and looks a little surprised to see me.
"To be honest I thought you were never waking up," he says, with a small smirk on his face.
I shrug as I sit down on the couch next to him, pulling a blanket over my frame. He looks at my face, studying me for a moment.
"Are you feeling any better?" he asks.
I shrug again. "My stomach still feels gross but I don't feel the imminent need to throw up so thats definitely an improvement from earlier."
He nods. "By the way, I had someone get your car from the parking garage at the hospital, I hope you don't mind but I didn't want you to worry about getting it later."
I look at him surprised, "I'm not angry, but more confused. How did you even get it out? Also who got it out?"
He chuckles. "I had someone who works for me come by here and get your keys. I figured you had to swipe into the parking garage at work so I just had him pay a lost ticket fee so I didn't have to take your hospital badge."
I nod, feeling a bit bad. "I can give you cash for the fee."
He shakes his head. "Its not necessary, it was my idea."
I nod, not having the energy to dispute it. We sit in silence as I try and figure out what to say next. We have so much to talk about I don't even know where to start.
"I think we need to talk about some stuff, but I don't even know where to start," I say.
He nods. "We do, I think we should start with what you want to do, its your body and I don't think it's fair for me to demand anything of you."
My jaw almost drops at his words. The respect this man has for me seems a bit insane, considering the assholes I've had in the past.
"To be honest everything in me knew I was keeping this baby the minute I found out I was pregnant, no matter what. I love my job, but I've been working myself to the bone for a little over a year to fill voids in my life in regards to love and family. If work was crazy I had an excuse for why I didn't have a boyfriend or a family, and it kept my mind off a lot of things."
He nods, and for some reason I feel more understood telling him this than when I've told anyone else. To be fair I've really only told Taylor this and she just didn't seem to understand it.
"To be fair I've been doing the same thing for the last couple years. I threw myself into work after I broke off an engagement a few years ago and haven't really stopped since. I've grown my business in ways I didn't think possible, but I always wonder at what cost. I want this baby too, Faye, with my entire being."
I nod with tears filling my eyes as he brings me closer to him. We sit holding each other, the only noise that can be heard is the rain hitting against my house. After a few moments Colton speaks.
"I really like you Faye. You're strong, smart, and you're so passionate about your job. I want to get you know better, and I don't think we should be in a relationship just because of the baby, but I genuinely want to try and have something with you.
I nod, looking up at him. "I want to try too, but I can't promise it will be easy. I'm not the easiest person to understand I say half laughing."
I wish I were joking about that but I'm not an easy person to be around. I push people away for no good reason other than I'm stuck in my head and its a wonder Taylor is still around.
He laughs at my comment, "You seem to forget you also have to put up with me."
I laugh in response and we sit like this for the rest of the night, getting to know each other through all of a good parts, and some of the parts we've kept away for a long time.
He tells me that he's in business, providing more accessible technology and media resources to people while innovating the way people work with the technology they have, and creating new ideas everyday. He also tells me he has a nonprofit dedicated to allowing technology to reach everywhere in the world, especially to underdeveloped communities to help with education rates. He tells me he's passionate about education because both of his parents were educators. His dad was a high school principal who became a part time professor after he retired and his mother is still an elementary school principal. He tells me he has a younger brother and sister in law, Alex and Callie , whom I met in a very unfortunate way, and an even younger sister Ellie who is a Sophomore in college, and is currently studying abroad in Spain. He's 32, his brother is 29, and their sister is 19. The older brothers like to call her the oops baby, very much to their parents' dismay.
I don't ask about the fiancé, and most of me doesn't even care to know about her. It was a long time ago, and Colton has clearly changed since then.
Finally we get to the toughest question of all, our parents.
"So how mad are your parents going to be at me when they find out you're pregnant?" He asks half joking, half serious.
I give him a soft smile, "My parents were killed by drunk driver in a car accident when I was a senior in high school. I do have an older brother who you'll have to deal with," I say smirking, trying to lighten the mood. "You're lucky he's doing wildlife research in South Africa right now."
Colton gives me a sad smile. "I'm really sorry about your parents, and I'm very scared to meet your brother."
I laugh, "Well, are your parents going to hate me for being your pregnant mistress?"
He lets out a full laugh, "Faye, you literally helped save Callie's life, you could murder a puppy and they would still welcome you with open arms."
I scoff at the idea of murdering a puppy, which makes him laugh harder. "I would never murder a puppy!"
He finally finishes laughing before he speaks again, "Seriously though Faye, don't worry. We don't have to tell them it was a one night stand that brought us together, although I don't know that they would really be too upset about that. We're both financially stable adults and know what we're getting into.
I nod, leaning into him more, somehow feeling tired even though I slept most of the day away.
"Will you stay the night?" I ask softly.
He nods, standing me and himself up and leading us back into my room. As I change into pajamas and get ready in the bathroom he strips into his boxers and crawls in bed. I fall asleep to him rubbing soothing patterns on my back, and I can't help but wish this moment would last forever.