He holds out his arms. “We have time.”
But we don’t as the front door opens and Toby walks in, proceeding to the kitchen and hugs Jake. “Hey, bro. We weren’t expecting you home until later.”
“Sorry, I wanted a chance to talk with Steph,” he replies.
“I’ll grab a beer and let you two finish. Come out for a game of pool once you’re done,” Toby says, grabbing two beers from the fridge.
“Yeah, sure. I won’t be long.” He exits down the hall, and Jake turns to look at me.
“Start talking, Steph. Why is all your stuff in my room?”
“Everything happened over the period of a week. I found out I was pregnant, went for the scan to check on the growth on the baby and that same day, I was told by my landlord I had to move out of the house I’ve been renting for the last three years because he wants it back,” I explain. “Before you even say anything about me moving in with my family, that wasn’t going to work either. My parents are selling their house to move into a smaller one. My sister and her husband have been given the all-clear to build their family home. They’re moving in with his family so they can sell their current house then move into their new one.” I take a breath. “I spoke to Aria about it. Though she and Simon offered a room, I couldn’t take it because they’re having their own baby and it doesn’t seem fair to them. Sasha and Toby offered for me to move in here. I swear, since the day I moved in, I’ve been looking at places to move, but nothing is coming up. Oh, and to top everything off, I’m losing clients because someone is stealing them from me.”
He rubs his hand over his face. “Damn meddling siblings.”
“They didn’t meddle, Jake. They were generous, unlike you’re being right now. I’m carrying your baby for Pete’s sake, so they gave me a home.”
“What the fuck did you think would happen? I’d move back, and suddenly we’d be a happy family and getting married? I hate to tell you this, sweetheart but you’re living in fucking La-La Land.”
“We can’t change reality, but can’t we make the best of it?”
“We could’ve if you’d told me.”
“What are you saying? Are you saying you would’ve urged me to get an abortion because once I saw that little blob on the scan, I knew I couldn’t ever do that? Jake, the thought of not keeping this baby horrifies me.”
He runs his hand through his hair. “I don’t know, Steph. I don’t know what I would’ve done or said because you selfishly made the decision for me whether I wanted it or not.” His words are like a knife to my heart, cutting deeply.
Toby enters the house at that moment. “Time the fuck out! I can hear you two from the garage.”
“Jake, I’m sorry,” I say.
He looks at me, anger filling his usual sparkling green eyes. “It’s a bit late for that. You know what, fuck this! It’s my first night home, and I don’t want to spend it arguing with you.”
“Let me pack my bag,” I say. “I’ll find somewhere else to go.”
Toby shakes his head. “Stop! Steph, you aren’t going anywhere. He is. Jake, you’re coming with me.”
“You can’t drive, you idiot, you’ve had beer,” Jake says.
“Actually, I haven’t, and I am driving.”
“Jake, I can leave if it makes it easier.”
He shakes his head. “I’m not a complete monster. I just need some time and space away to clear my head. I’m not going to make you leave. You are pregnant after all and have nowhere else to go. Stay here.”
“Will we talk again?” I ask, hoping he’ll say yes and be man enough to work with me so we can come to some sort of civil arrangement.
He shrugs his shoulders and exits the house.
I turn to look at Toby, who opens his mouth.
“Don’t bother with the ‘I told you so’. I know, and I should have fucking listened. I’m an idiot and have probably lost any chance of him and I being together.”
“Okay, I won’t say it, but I don’t believe you’ve lost anything. He’ll come around.” With that, Toby exits the house, leaving me alone. I decide to head up to my room to cool off and maybe design a dress; it always calms me when I’m mad.
As I stretch out with all my things on the bed so I’m comfy, I rub my tiny bump.
Don’t worry little one. I’m sure your daddy will come around once he stops being so bloody stubborn.
Jake
Toby pulls the car up Simon and Aria’s drive.
“Why are we here?” I demand. I don’t particularly feel like a lecture from both my siblings tonight. Instead, I really want to find a bar and get drunk.
“Because I thought you might want to see our sister. You know she’s missed you. We all have.”
I shrug, and we get out of the car. Making our way inside, we find Aria sitting on the couch reading as usual with what appears to be a wine glass in her hand.
“That had better not be wine in there,” I growl out from the door.
She glances up. “No, it’s sparkling grape juice; thank you very much.” She gets out of her seat and comes around the couch to hug me. “Why are you here, anyway? Shouldn’t you be at home with Stephanie, celebrating the baby? It’s exciting that we’re pregnant together. I always said we should have babies together.”
Great, now my sister thinks this whole baby thing is amazing.
“I can’t believe this. Do you all think we should be a couple now? We’re having a baby. A baby that up until about four weeks ago, I knew nothing about. Nothing. The two of you did, and neither of you told me.”
“Jake it wasn’t our place to tell you, but we were urging her to say something,” Toby says.
“We were, and for once, I’m a little upset with her. I told her it didn’t matter how she told you just that she should’ve done it,” Aria admits.
“I can’t believe you kept it from me. All of you.” I sit down on the couch and rest my elbows on my knees. “All I wanted was to come home to my family and see Steph. I had this big romantic gesture planned to let her know I wanted her to be my girl, but now, I don’t know anything anymore.”
“This isn’t how she wanted your homecoming to go either. I think Steph had planned to cook your favourite meal. You were a bit harsh on her,” Toby says.
“Is this going to be some kind of sibling talk? If so, I’m outta here. I don’t need this shit.”
“No, it’s not, but we’re just trying to get through to you that Steph was as shocked as you, Jake. We practically had to force her to do the fucking pregnancy test in the first place because she refused to believe it had happened. This baby didn’t ask to be here, so I suggest you be a man and get your shit together,” Aria snaps at me.
“Are you mad because of the baby or because she kept it secret?” Toby asks as Aria hands me a beer. I take a sip, allowing the liquid to bubble down my throat.
“Angry because the pregnancy was kept from me.” I stand up and pace by the ranch slider. “Aria, did Steph think I was going to come home and marry her? Did she do this on purpose?” I know I can ask Aria this and get an honest answer.