“From the sounds of it. And a lady’s man to boot, too.” Mom handed me the dishes, and I quickly dried them. “Now I gotta go pack,” she huffed.
“Don’t forget to pack the aloe,” I reminded her. I reached up to put the bowls away, and my t-shirt pulled up slightly. I pulled it down quickly, fearful Mom would see my stomach. I know I had told myself I was going to tell her tonight, but after her talking about it, she didn’t seem very approving of Jay’s situation.
Entertained, but I didn’t think she would be so entertained when she found out I was the woman.
I was going to be pregnant for the next seven months. There would be plenty of time to tell her. More than likely, it was going to have to be when she got back in three weeks since I’m sure my little bump wouldn’t be so little anymore.
She rested her hand on my shoulder and pressed a kiss to my temple. “Thank you for making a little time for your mom in your hectic schedule.”
“Becoming a doctor isn’t easy,” I laughed. My life had been hectic and go, go, go for the past four years, and I still had at least four more years before things settled down.
“I guess it shouldn’t be since you’ll be saving lives every day. I love you, Delaney.”
“Love you, too, Mama,” I sighed.
She bustled out of the kitchen, and I set the bowl I was drying in the cabinet.
But was she going to love me as much when she found out I was pregnant?
*
Chapter Six
Jay
“Bro, you gonna quit for the night?”
I looked up at Remy. I was sweeping out the trailer thinking I should have texted or called Delaney today. “Just cleaning up.”
“It’s ten fifteen. We’re all going to be up in eight hours just to make it a mess again.”
I reached for the dustpan. “Doesn’t mean we need to start messy.”
“Who in the hell are you and what did you do with Jay Perez?” Remy hitched his thumb over his shoulder. “You know there is a party going down over the Brent Spokes’ trailer, right?”
“There’s always a party going on over there. Nothing new.” I crouched down to sweep the dirt into the dustpan then dumped it in the trash.
Remy clutched his hand to his chest. “Bro, what in the hell is going on? I think we need to check your temperature or something.”
I rolled my eyes and rested the broom and dustpan against the wall. “Nothing is going on.”
“I call bullshit. Ever since you found out you’re gonna be a dad, you’ve turned into a ninety-year-old man who can’t have a lick of fun.”
“Lick of fun?” I laughed. “I may be acting like a ninety-year-old but you’re the one who’s talking like one.”
Remy flipped me off. “You know what the hell I mean. You’re acting like the damn world is ending.”
“The world ain’t ending, but my life sure as shit just changed, Remy.”
“You’re having a baby, Jay, not having your leg cut off or something.”
I leaned against a workbench and folded my arms over my chest. “What would you do if Harlyn came up to you and told you she was pregnant.”
“We’d have a baby and then maybe she’d finally agree to marry me.”
I shook my head. “She won’t marry you now because every time you ask her, she thinks you’re joking.” Remy had asked Harlyn to marry him four times in the last two months, and each time, she just laughed.
Remy scoffed. “I’m not even going to talk about that. Nothing like asking the woman you love to marry you and she just shakes her head and walks away.” Remy may act like he was joking, but I knew he was somewhat hurt by the fact Harlyn laughed him off.
“You’re telling me if Harlyn got pregnant, you would be okay with it?”
“I’d be an asshole if I wasn’t okay with it.” Remy leaned against the workbench next to me. “Look, bro. You gotta know each time you have sex, there’s a chance you can knock the chick up.”
“Are we having a Sex-ED. class right now?” I hadn’t missed the day the teacher told us how babies were made.
“No,” Remy laughed. “I’m just saying, you can’t really be that pissed off or upset because every time you take your pants off, you’re taking a risk.”
“What in the hell are you two talking about in the race trailer at ten thirty at night?” Frankie stood at the entrance to the trailer with her arms folded over her chest. Brooks stood behind her with a shit-eating grin on his face.
“I think they were talking about Jay’s pants,” Brooks guessed. “Maybe you should put some caution tape on your dick, Jay, if it’s a risk.”
I closed my eyes and dropped my chin to my chest. Of course, Frankie and Brooks would walk in right then.
Remy pushed off the bench. “We were having a man-to-man talk. Maybe you should head back to Brooks’ cushy trailer.”
Frankie rolled her eyes. “You’re a dick. Like I’m going to sleep in the damn car hauler with you assholes when forty feet away, I can sleep in a trailer that is nicer than our duplex.”
She had a damn point. God knows, if I had the chance to sleep in an actual bed when we were at the track, you bet your ass I would. “Why don’t both of you go to bed and leave me alone?” I suggested.
“Because I like reveling in your misery.” Frankie stepped into the trailer. “Besides, I was headed to Brooks’ trailer when I saw the lights still on in here. I was surprised to hear you two talking about pants coming off.”
“That wasn’t all we were talking about.” I cracked open an eye and saw Remy point at me. “Jay thinks the world is ending because his chick is having a baby.”
“She’s not my chick,” I insisted.
Remy wrinkled his brow. “Baby mama?” he suggested.
“She’s totally Jay’s chick. He may not remember her, but I know why he’s so quiet.” Frankie cocked her hip out and rested her hand on it. “I saw her. She’s way out of his league, and I’m sure that is driving him insane.”
“She’s not out of my league,” I insisted.
Frankie laughed. “You remember that one girl he dated who he brought out to Red Lobster with us?” she asked Remy.
Remy immediately laughed his ass off.
Frankie smirked and looked at Brooks. “The chick struggled reading the menu. Jay ended up having to order for her. When the food came, she freaked out until Jay ordered her mac and cheese off of the kid’s menu. That girl is in your league.”
“Yuck it up, assholes,” I mumbled as they all laughed. “She said she was dyslexic.”
Frankie tilted her head to the side. “Right,” she drawled. “I think she was also barely eighteen and had the appetite of a hungry twelve-year-old. I’m sure if there would have been pizza rolls on the menu, she would have ordered those too.”
Frankie was right on point. The chick’s name had been Monica, and on the way home, she had asked to stop at the store. She came out with a plastic bag that had two cans of Fanta and pizza rolls. It hadn’t been the best date, but sex and pizza rolls ended up being a good combination. “Did you three come in here to be assholes?”