One Week Later
Incessant knocking at my front door had me begrudgingly crawling out of my bed. My nausea had gotten so bad, I took this week off of work. I let the principal know that I was pregnant and they were more than gracious with finding a substitute to take over my classes. I was thankful for that. Especially since I've barely left the house since I dropped off Ayden and Nate at the airport.
Aside from when they landed, I hadn't spoken to Ayden or Nate on the phone since. Ayden had emailed me a few times this week. He was constantly apologizing that he wasn't able to check in more often. Each time we wrote or spoke, he would ask how I was and how I was feeling. As much as I appreciated that, I missed our old conversations and emails. The secret flirting and innuendos.
My thoughts were put to a halt when whoever was at the door decided to upgrade from knocking to ringing the doorbell. Multiple times.
"I'm coming!" I yelled with frustration. Who the hell was at my door? Harper had plans today and Jaime was still in the wind. Danielle was still out of town for a few days with Ryan.
"Who is it?" I asked when I got to the door.
"It's the Greek God, vixen."
I frowned as I unlocked the door. When I opened it, Jackson was standing there with his classic cocky grin. "What are you doing here?" I asked him.
He held up two bags. "I brought you Gray's Papaya."
My stomach growled and my mouth watered. I looked at the second bag. "And that one?"
Another devilish smile. "Triple chocolate cake."
Well, damn. Harper must have betrayed my secrets and told Jackson I was pregnant. And what food I couldn't resist.
"You may enter," I mumbled as I stepped back and held the door open for him. I closed the door behind him and followed him into the living room. "So, what's with the drive-by?" I asked as I took the hot dog from him. "Lemme guess. Harper told you my dirty little secret?"
He pulled some food out for himself and looked at me with confusion. "I already know about Ayden. You knew that." He sat his food down and eyed me suspiciously. "Why? Is there something else?"
Oh...shit. Well, Lanie, congratulations. You just outed yourself. And you owe Harper an apology. I covered my face with my hands for a moment. Deep breath, Lanie. "I'm-- I'm pregnant."
He cocked his head to the side. It was adorable and very similar to how a dog does. "I'm sorry...what?"
I leaned forward and met his stare. "I'm pregnant. Ayden and I, we're expecting."
Jackson got up from the love seat and came over to sit beside me on the couch. "You're-- bloody hell." He ran a hand through his dark hair. "Does Ayden know?"
"Yes. Nate doesn't though. So, if you talk to him, please don't mention anything."
Jackson was quiet for a moment. "That's why you didn't drink at the concert, isn't it?" I nodded and he sucked his teeth, "I'm assuming Harper knows. I can't believe she didn't tell me."
I rolled my eyes. "Sorry to break it to you, Jackson. But girls stick together. Harper and I have been best friends since we were little. I told her not to tell anyone. The only other person who knows is Danielle."
"How are you feeling?" he asked with concern in his voice. One thing I loved about Jackson, was that he really was a great guy. Ever since he met Harper, he and I made a unique friendship. We bantered back and forth, but we both cared about each other.
"It's hard to describe. I have all-day-sickness, I'm exhausted, hormonal. It's been," I cleared my throat, "it's been hard with both Ayden and Nate gone."
Jackson's voice was low and comforting. "Do you guys have a plan or anything?"
It was a valid question; but I hated answering it. "We don't have a plan plan. I mean, we're in a relationship, but we want to wait until he finishes his tour. Once he and Nate come back, we will be in a better position to make a plan."
"This must be confusing for you." He glanced around my home. "Are you sure you're okay here? By yourself?"
I nodded and tucked my feet underneath me. "I'm fine. I'm used to being on my own." Okay, maybe I wasn't okay by myself. But what was I going to do? Were was I going to go? I wasn't going to stay in a hotel.
"One thing I learned about you since I met you, was how to tell when you're lying. You are lying out of your ass right now."
I got up and walked around the living room. "So, what if I am? It doesn't matter. Nate and Ayden will be back in a little less than a month and everything will be fine. I'm just a little hormonal." As I continued to pace, something occured to me. "Wait a minute. If you didn't know I was pregnant, what are you doing here? And where's Harper?"
He had an odd look on his face. "She's having lunch with her mom today. I couldn't sit at the apartment and do nothing; and Ryan is still out of town. I decided to come by here and see how you were doing since your brother and Ayden left." He smiled lightly. "I was not expecting to find out you're pregnant."
I fell into the plush recliner. "You and me both." I closed my eyes as a million different thoughts went through my head. All of them were stressful enough to make me want to pull out my hair. Was the baby going to be okay? Was Ayden and Nate going to make it back okay? I swear, if I kept this up, I was going to lose it.
"Come on."
I opened my eyes to see Jackson standing in front of me with his hand outstretched. "Come on where?" I really didn't feel like leaving the house today. Or for the next three weeks, actually.
"I'm going to take you somewhere." When I didn't move, he added, "If you don't come with me, I'm going to throw that cake in the garbage."
"You wouldn't dare."
He turned and walked straight for the triple chocolate cake. He picked it up, walked to the garbage can and--
"Okay, okay!" I yelled as I jumped up. I help up my palms. "Just put the cake down and walk away. I'll go with you."
He let out an amused chuckle. "Glad you see it my way." He took a seat at the dining room table. "I'll wait here while you go get dressed."
Realizing I had no other choice, I went to my room and got dressed in clothes that were more decent than the pajamas I had on. When I was finally ready, I grabbed my purse and met Jackson by the front door.
"So, where are you taking me?"
The smile on his face told me I wasn't going to like the answer. "We're going pregnancy shopping."
What. The. Fuck.
"Get this one," Jackson said cheerfully, "it's bigger."
I met Jackson's stare. "This is weird, Jackson."
"Come on. Feel it. It's squishy."
I rolled my eyes as I reached out and felt the large body pillow. I had to admit, it did feel really soft and squishy. "Wow, that does feel nice. Are you sure I need this, though? It's huge."
He grabbed it off of the shelf and put it under his arm. "Yes. I read online that the sleeping positions are really important when you're pregnant. It also said the C-Shaped ones are the best." He held it in front of him again. "Yeah. I like this one. We'll get this one, for sure."
I looked at the price tag and gawked. "It's way too expensive for a freaking pillow!"
He waved me away. "Let's go towards the books section."
I followed after him and honestly...I was enjoying myself. When Jackson first explained to me in the car what he meant by pregnancy shopping, I thought it was going to be things like maternity clothes. Thankfully, it wasn't. Besides, it was way too early for that. Jackson figured we could get everything we needed at the mall, so that's where we were. I was glad that the mall wasn't real busy this time of day.
"Here we are," Jackson said as we got to the pregnancy books.
"What books do you think I'll need?"
He started browsing through the multiple shelves and picked a few off. "This one for sure."
He handed me What to Expect When You're Expecting. "I've heard about this book. I flipped through it and was definitely interested in reading it. He handed me another one and I frowned. "You really think I need this? It's a book on handling pregnancy emotions."
He turned to me and laughed. "Yes, vixen. You are the queen of mood swings and this will help. Also," he handed me a green book, "it said online that pregnancy journals help, too. You write down how you feel, your food, everything. It should help you."
"Thank you," I said as I took the journal. He was right. It was probably a good thing to keep a journal.
I followed him to the front of the store after we picked up a few more things he thought I needed. He also wouldn't let me pay for anything. We loaded everything into the car and headed back to my place.
The car ride was pleasantly quiet as I looked out of the passenger window. Jackson was right to get me out of the house. It definitely helped.
His deep British accent cut through the silence. "You should come stay with us."
My head whipped in his direction. "What?"
He kept his eyes on the road. "You should come stay with Harper and I until they get back. That way you aren't by yourself."
"Jackson--"
He cut me off. "Just think about it. We have a guest bedroom that will be perfect for you. I know it will mean a lot to Harper."
I cleared my throat as I tried to process his offer. "Can I think about it?"
He smiled as we pulled into my driveway. "Of course. Let me help you get this stuff inside."
As Jackson helped me get everything inside, I found myself leaning towards accepting his offer. It might be good for me to stay with someone; and there was no one I trusted more.
Tomorrow I would decide. I'll sleep on it tonight, and tomorrow I'll decide for sure.