“Nothing is wrong with me, well except for the fact that I don’t have any brownie in my stomach. That will change in the next ten minutes, though.” He grins at me. “Hey, Toby?” He cocks his head to the side, greeting his brother.
“Yeah, Jake.”
“Get out of here, would ya? Steph and I are going to talk.”
“Sure, I’ll go. I really don’t want to hear the sex anyway.”
Toby hauls his container of brownie away and down to the other end of the house. I get the feeling I’ll be baking a lot more this week.
Jake closes the door and sets the container I brought for him on the bench.
“You sit down, and I’ll make you a drink.” He busies himself in the kitchen. “Would you like a tea or coffee?”
“Coffee please,” I reply as I place my bag down on the floor by the coffee table and take a seat. I watch him move around the kitchen, making our drinks. He finishes and brings them over, taking a seat beside me. I move myself sideways, tucking a leg beneath me, so I’m comfortable. “Where do we start?”
“First, let me apologise to you. I said some things that I shouldn’t have. You didn’t deserve any of it. Yes, I was furious with you. Once I calmed down, I realised you weren’t totally in the wrong. I didn’t exactly make it easy for you to tell me about the baby. I didn’t respond when you tried getting in touch. I was hurt because I thought the worst of you, and now I know differently.”
“You know, I wish I’d just come out and put it in the subject line.”
He chuckles. “It certainly would’ve gotten my attention.”
“I’m so sorry. I know no amount of my saying it will make it better. Do you think we can agree to move forward from here on out?”
“Yes, I can agree to that. I want you to know that I’m here, no matter what you need. If you have a craving at three am, I’ll get it.”
“What if it’s you?” I ask.
He grins. “Happy to oblige.”
This gives me a little hope that things will get better between us.
“May I touch your belly?” he asks.
I scoot over to sit in the crook of his arm and rest against him. I’m a little hesitant, but when he drapes one arm around my shoulders and the other on my tummy, I relax.
“You never need to ask. This is your baby.”
“Have you booked the twenty-week scan yet?”
I shake my head. “No, I don’t have the midwife appointment for another two weeks. I will book it, though.”
“Awesome. I want to be there. Do you want to find out if it’s a boy or a girl?” he asks. His deep husky voice stirs something within the baby, and I get a massive roll of movement as my stomach stretches.
My stomach isn’t big yet by any means, but I’ve never felt the baby move like that.
“Whoa! Was that the baby?” he asks.
“Yes. I haven’t felt this much movement ever.” I slide my hand onto my tummy to feel it too. Jake slides his hand onto mine, and we sit, feeling the baby’s acrobatics. We sit there for I don’t know how long, just taking in this little miracle.
“Does this mean you’re coming home?” I ask him.
“That’s the other thing I want to talk about. I don’t want you to move out. I’ve found an apartment I can move into on base. It won’t be forever; just for the time being, okay?”
“Will I see you at all?” I ask.
“Yes, I promise you will see me. I’ll be here most weekends, probably playing pool.”
“Okay,” I whisper. I’m disappointed, but maybe putting a little more distance between us won’t be a bad thing.
“For now, it’s for the best.” He gently rubs my belly a little longer.
At least he’s here now.
In time, I’m sure we will be fine.
Chapter Seventeen
Jake
“Did you talk with Steph? Are you two all good now?” Toby asks.
James is lining up his shot at the pool table. We’re at Simon and Aria’s place, and it’s been a week since Stephanie and I had our talk.
She’s been texting me every day; small things like ‘good morning’ and ‘I hope you have a great day’. It’s enough to put a smile on my face despite my exhaustion.
I swallow my mouthful of whiskey. “Yeah, we did.”
“And?” he presses.
“Dude, you’ve spent too much time around the girls. You’ve turned into an official chick needing all the information and shit.” I chuckle. “They’re all in the lounge if you wish to go join them.”
“Just hand us your man card on the way out.” James laughs as he hits a pool ball.
“You’re all dicks. I was merely trying to make sure things were good between them. There’s a baby coming after all.”
“I’m telling you we are fine.”
“Are you excited about the baby, Jake?” Simon asks as he tops up my whiskey.
“Scared shitless.”
“I’d be surprised if you weren’t to be honest,” he replies. “I still am. Don’t get me wrong, I love Aria more than life itself, and she’s been wonderful with Charlotte, but this time it’s different. Clarissa shut me out of most of the pregnancy, and I’m kind of on edge with this one. Aria has involved me, but I feel like I’m shutting her out and I shouldn’t be. Aria and I are a team, and here I am, still worried.”
“You’ve at least held a baby before. I never have. I don’t have the first clue about them.”
Simon chuckles. “True, but remember, I did everything for Charlotte alone. I had to learn fast. I even did online birthing classes, so I had an idea of what we were in for. You have Stephanie. You two need to work together despite your issues, so I agree with Toby that you two definitely need to be talking. Remember, you have family support, and it’s something I need to remind myself as well. I’ve distanced myself from you and Toby, not because I don’t want to be around you guys. It’s simply not within my nature to ask anyone other than my siblings for help.”
I look at them all and burst into laughter. “Aria is as stubborn as you mate. She’ll never let you get away without communicating with her.”
He chuckles. “Oh, I know it, and I love it. I promise you, Jake, you’re going to make a great dad. Stephanie is by your side, and if I’m not mistaken, she’s in love with you. Yeah, she made a mistake, but from what Aria’s told me, she’s trying to make it better.”
“She is trying. I need to stop feeling sorry for myself and start being there for her.”
“Finally, you get what we are trying to say.” Toby chuckles.
“Why didn’t you lot start with that then?” I ask.
“You should take her out on a date; a proper one where you stake your claim on her. If you want Stephanie, then what’s stopping you from being with her?” Simon asks.
“He’s never–” Toby starts.
I kick his leg. I don’t want anyone knowing my secret. Toby and Aria are the only two who know it, and that’s the way I want to keep it. Still, it would be awesome if my very first date ever was with Stephanie. I’ve had one-night stands, but dating was out of the question. I’ve never wanted to get close to anyone until now. I don’t need James or Simon knowing my secret. I’d never hear the end of it.