“Not at all. But, the fact is, I wasn’t acting like myself the past couple days.”
“I’ve heard people say that alcohol sometimes brings out the truth in people.”
Ashley looks away, running her hands through her long, thick, dark hair. “I’m not going to lie and say I didn’t have a good time with you, but this is where it ends for us. I need to get my life back in order and I need to do that alone.”
“I’ll respect that.”
I might not like it, but I’ll respect it. Besides, what she said about acting out of character holds true for me, as well. I’ve never had a one-night stand, never slept with someone I hadn’t been dating and getting to know, and I rarely drink alcohol. At least not to the extent that I did last night. Probably why both of us got so incredibly trashed last night. Our systems aren’t used to it.
“I’m sorry.”
“What are you sorry about? And please don’t say us having sex because that might hurt my ego,” I tease, grinning. “Seriously, Ashley. We had a great time, yeah?”
She nods.
“And I’m not going to deny that you’re right, the last couple nights probably shouldn’t have happened but I don’t regret that it did. It was fun and maybe exactly what both of us needed. A night to cut loose and lose ourselves in someone else. But…”
“There’s always a but,” she jokes.
“But, I also won’t deny that I wish things were different. I wish that I’d met you on a night that we both hadn’t just had our hearts broken and that we didn’t make sketchy decisions.”
“Yeah. If only, huh?”
“If only.”
I open her car door and she slides in, I lean inside her window after the door is closed and window is rolled down and kiss her gently on the lips. “Maybe things will look different for us in a few months.”
“Maybe.”
“Would it be okay if I look you up then? Check in, maybe? Take you to coffee, not drinks, obviously. We can’t be trusted when we’re drinking around each other.”
She chuckles and nods again. “I’d like that. My last name’s Porter. I’m on Facebook and Instagram as my name, no funky screen names to remember. I have Snapchat, too, but honestly it kind of annoys me so I don’t go on often.”
“Got it. I’ll find you.”
“You do that. But not for a while. I need to sort out my head first.”
“Three months. Then I’m coming for you.” I kiss her again but this time it’s not so light. It’s a reminder of how good things can be between us.
“Three months. And maybe I’ll answer.”
“Tease.”
She smiles, her eyes twinkling and I step back and watch her drive away.
The reminder of the fact that she needed time to sort out what was going on in her head hits me hard. But how could she have done that if she was worried that she might be pregnant? I feel like such a jerk. It’s not that all the responsibility lies on one person when the sex is between two consenting adults, but I knew better. I never go without condoms. The only time I did was with my ex-wife and we were married.
My phone rings and I go on alert. Josie looks at me then at my pocket and I do the same. “Niko, you pick up that phone right now or I’ll reach into your pocket and do it for you,” she warns, sitting up and reaching for me.
I slap her hand away. “Back off, crazy. I’ll do it.”
“It’s her. I know it.”
“Would you stop?”
I reach into my pocket and pull out my phone, seeing Ashley’s name light up the screen as it rings for the third time. I don’t want her to change her mind and hang up so I quickly answer.
“Ashley? Hey.”
“Hi, Nik.”
“Speaker! Put it on speaker!” Josie whispers loudly.
“Babe. Leave the man be.”
“Yeah, leave me be,” I tell my sister in a whisper but with my hand covering the mouth piece on my phone. I don’t want her hearing Josie’s voice and getting inside that beautiful head of hers.
I walk out of the living room and behind me I see Dean holding Josie back. I may have shocked the shit out of Dean earlier by telling him that I might have gotten Ashley pregnant, but he never asked for more information. He knows that when there’s something to tell, I will. He also respects me enough to wait for me.
I close the door to the spare bedroom, the one I’ll be sleeping in tonight, and ask Ashley, “So? What’s the verdict?”
“Took all eight of the tests. They said the same thing so I assume it means that…”
“That?”
“I’m pregnant.”
I sit down on the edge of the bed and drop my head, keeping the phone pressed to my ear. “Show me?”
“Uhh, explain that please?” she asks, hesitation clear in her voice.
“Can you take a picture of one of the tests? I’m not there with you and I feel like I’m missing out on something.”
“Oh my gosh, I thought you wanted me to pee on a stick on video call or something. I was going to be like we need a discussion on boundaries and fast.”
The thought of it makes me pull a face but also is a fast reminder that her peeing in front of me is going to be the least of our worries in a few months.
“Yeah, no. I don’t really want to see that. But do you have any of the tests that you can take a picture of? My sister will want to see, too.”
“Your sister?”
“Yeah, I’m here now. She’s actually going to have a baby truly any day now.”
“Your sister.”
“Yup. Mrs. Maxi Pads,” I tell her, smiling.
“Well, shit.”
I grunt out a laugh. “It’s okay. I should have explained. I kind of knew you were thinking I was buying them for a girlfriend or something.”
“If your sister’s pregnant, why does she need maxi pads?”
“Something about after the baby comes. I honestly didn’t pay attention.”
“But you bought them for her.”
I lie back on the mattress, throwing an arm over my forehead and keeping the phone against my ear. “Yeah. It’s no big deal. Ashley?”
“Yeah?”
“Are you…” I clear my throat because saying what I’m about to say makes me nervous. “Are you planning to keep it?”
“Yes.” Her answer comes quick and sure and the relief I feel is immediate.
I blow out a breath. “Thank God.”
“I take it that’s okay with you?”
“Yeah,” I tell her quietly, emotions clogging my throat. “I am definitely okay with that. I get that this situation is far from ideal but we’ll make it work. We’ve got a lot of lifetime to catch up on and I know it will take time, but I’d really like the two of us to get to know each other better.”
“I agree. The baby deserves to have parents who at least know the basics about each other, right?”
I’m not even going to go there right now. I want to know a whole lot more than the basics but we’ll leave that discussion for later. Instead, I simply agree, “Right.”
“It’s the holidays and I’m going to be at my parents’ until the day after Christmas. You around that day? Can we maybe get together?”