“Fucking fun, huh? Is that a clue?”
“A clue? What are we, five? It’s fun. And we’re not fucking.” He raises an eyebrow at me and I amend, “Yes, we’re having sex but I wouldn’t call it fucking.”
“You realize how that sounds, right?”
“I do. I can’t bring myself to care, though.”
He blows out a breath and mimics my position. “Well, my friend, you’re quite literally fucked. I give it less than a year and you’ll be marrying her with your baby on her hip.”
The scene flashes before me and I can’t say that it’s a bad one.
He bursts out laughing and stands up, slapping the desk. “Make that nine months, if the look on your face is anything to go by. Now, tuck your dick in your pants and wipe the drool from your face. We’ve got a shit ton of people we need to hire for this job to electrify the school,” he smirks at his wording, “and unfortunately for us, that means a day full of interviews.”
“I know what my day has in store,” I grumble.
As we walk out of my office, he slaps me on the shoulder. “Cheer up. At least we get to watch a bunch of young punks squirm. After we get these hires done, everything else will be gravy.”
“Gravy? When is anything ever that simple?”
“It isn’t. And it won’t be. But it got your mind off Ashley for a beat, didn’t it?”
Chuckling, we head to the conference room to get ready for the day of interviews. For the most part, everyone coming today has been vetted already. Because of the urgency of the job, we need people who already have worked as electricians, which means, for the most part, today should go smoothly. As long as the references check out and we don’t get a bad vibe from him or her, they’ll be hired.
Luckily, I already know that tonight will be a good way to end the day. Ashley asked me to come over for dinner and to look online at a few houses with her that she found through her realtor. The problem seems to be finding something that’s decent in her price range.
But I have to get through these interviews first.
Then I can see my girl.
And just like every other day, I’ll be counting the minutes until that time comes.
Chapter Sixteen
Ashley
“Now listen here, my little bundle of joy paired with a pain in my ass. You had your chance two weeks ago to show us what was between your legs. You chose to be private. That’s a good trait to have in the future but right now, your daddy and I would really appreciate a little less modesty.”
Lying in bed, I rub my small round stomach, talking to the baby, and trying to rest. We had our ultrasound two weeks ago where we had hoped to find out the sex of the baby but he or she was being difficult. Seeing the baby had been wonderful, of course, and finding out that the baby is healthy and is developing right on track was even more wonderful.
But darn it all, I want to know what names to focus on.
Today is my regular checkup with Dr. Fletcher and we’re hoping that she takes pity on us and pulls in the portable ultrasound machine to do a quick check. She had mentioned it once, and Nik already promised that if she didn’t bring it up, he would. I have no doubt that he’ll follow through. He’s nothing if not ambitious when it comes to the baby. Well, in most things, but especially about the baby.
The baby kicks me and all I can think is that he or she is trying to tell me that they can’t be told what to do.
“Don’t you sass me, Mr. Or Miss. Whatever.”
Another whopping kick that makes me gasp.
“You stinker!”
I get out of bed, still scolding the baby about talking back while inside the womb, and almost pee myself when I hear my front door open and close followed by very heavy footsteps.
Footsteps that didn’t take the time to remove his or her shoes which is not a good scenario. Everyone who comes to my house knows to immediately remove their shoes. But also, I’m the only one who has a key to my house aside from Grace.
She asked for one in case she felt like not being home and around Samuel again. I hesitated at first because she had been so awful to Nik. But when the six of us got together for dinner a few weeks later, she pulled him aside and apologized to him without me having to tell her to. Grace doesn’t admit she’s wrong or apologize easily, so to me, that was a big step in the right direction. She didn’t make excuses for her behavior, she simply said that it was uncalled for and that it would never happen again.
I’m not sure that I believe that she won’t act that way again, but I’m giving her the benefit of the doubt and hoping for the best. It’s not forgotten, but I refuse to dwell on the past.
But the sound of the feet that are coming into my house are definitely not Grace’s. I look around my bedroom, hoping to find a bat or a gun or a big stick. But since I have none of those, because I don’t own any of those, I stand in my bedroom completely unprepared for the person who just broke into my house.
“Don’t worry,” I whisper to my stomach. Then I rush to my nightstand and grab the only thing I can find then brandish it like a shield, extending it out between the door and myself.
Holding my weapon in the air, my heart beats out of control as I wait for my demise.
“Ash?” Nik calls.
I blow out a breath. “Oh my gosh, Nik. What are you doing?” I call back, walking toward my bedroom door just as he appears.
“What do you mean? I’m here for your appointment. Your door was unlocked.”
“So you just came in?” I shriek.
“I knocked three times. Sorry, when you didn’t answer, I got a little worried.”
“I didn’t hear it, sorry. Dang.” I place my hand on my heart. “You scared the crap out of me. I…” I trail off when I notice how wide his eyes are, staring right at my chest. That’s not entirely uncommon because he’s a boob guy and mine have just so happened to double in size. It’s been quite something. But that’s not what he’s staring at.
He’s staring at my weapon of choice.
I stare at his face and wonder if this is how he felt when I saw his teddy bear tattoo. No. This is far worse.
Because I just panicked and pushed a button.
So now my weapon is vibrating against my chest, my hand shaking.
“Whatcha got there?” he asks. Oh, he’s funny.
“Nothing.”
“Hmm. Sure doesn’t look like nothing. It looks to me like you were… massaging your neck.”
“That’d be right.”
“Do you massage your neck… often?”
Narrowing my eyes, I make a big show of turning off my neck massager and tossing it onto the bed.
“Good place for it. Easy access for later,” he says.
“Oh my gosh! You’re such a jerk!” I laugh, covering my face with my hands. How embarrassing! What was I doing? Did I think I was going to massage my kidnapper to death? Beat him with my vibrator? Whop him upside the head with it and run for cover?
Nik uncovers my face and lifts my chin. “Tell me about this,” he says, pointing to the bed.
“I heard you come in and panicked.”
“So you decided to get a quick masturbation session in?”