by K, S
I smiled up at his kind offering. "No, thank you, water will be fine."
There was a choking sound next to me, and before I could look over and assess as to whether someone needed to do the Heimlich or not, a familiar voice filled my ears, "Savannah Prescott drinking water? Shall I alert the authorities?"
Rolling my head in the direction of the voice, I came face to face with none other than Luke Wellington. Utterly surprised by his presence, I quickly tried to regain my composure. "Luke," I sat up straight trying to keep his attention off my belly, knowing full well there was no sign of a baby, just yet, "it's actually Savannah Worthington." Holding up my four-carat diamond ring, I flashed it in front of his face and smiled. "I got married a little less than a year ago. So did Brooke."
Luke smiled, reaching up to run his fingers across my cheek, and I shuddered at his familiar touch.
"I heard the two of you settled down, and with none other than our biggest competition, Worthington Squared." He winked at me as his hand reached for his drink.
"We did. Brooke and Josh are so in love. They're even expecting a baby. We are so thrilled for them. It's all she talks about, being a mom." Taking a sip of my water, I imagined it was the mimosa I'd been offered earlier.
"And what about you?" Luke asked. "Are you happy? Will you and Jake be bringing a baby into the world anytime soon?"
Taking in a deep breath, I pondered his question before answering. "Of course I'm happy. I love Jake, and he is perfect. It's just…" Faltering slightly, I tried to form the rest of my sentence.
Luke's eyes peered into mine. He may have turned my and Brooke's lives upside down, but, regardless of all of that, he still knew me like the back of his hand.
"What is it, Sav?" he probed, sounding concerned, like a friend, not like someone hoping their ex was secretly miserable without them.
I quickly stood before I leaned in and hugged him tightly. "I've got to run. It was great seeing you, Luke." I rotated on my heels and darted out before he could say goodbye and hustled back toward Hourglass to retrieve my car.
I climbed into bed and closed my eyes tightly, thankful Jake was away on business until Sunday as I tried to stop the tears from flowing. Luke's question played over and over again in my head. Are you happy?
Was I happy? Had I made the right decision? Sure, I loved Jake; he was the best thing that'd ever happened to me. But had we moved too fast? Lying there, I questioned it all. Knowing that, regardless of the answer, I was stuck; I was pregnant, and there was no way out. Tears pooled down my face and sobs wracked my body for what seemed like hours. Finally letting exhaustion take over, I succumbed to darkness, falling sound asleep.
Loud bangs on the door brought me out of a deep slumber. Rolling over, I looked at the clock; it was ten-thirty in the evening. My hands tugged the covers over my head, and I ignored them. Maybe the building is on fire, and I'll burn to death. The bangs against the door thumped loudly for the second time, and I ignored them, again.
Pulling the pillow over my head, I began humming, trying to drown the noise out of my head. It was actually working until the covers were pulled off my body. Sitting straight up, I looked into the eyes of my very pissed-off best friend. "What the hell, Brooke? What are you doing here?"
Brooke's hands rested on her hips as she tapped her toes against the floor. "I'm here because your husband is worried sick about you. The poor man is out of town, he hasn't talked to you all day, and apparently you felt the need to turn your phone off, so he called me and asked that I come check on you. This has got to stop, Savannah. You can't continue on this way. It's not fair to Jake, to me and Josh, but especially to the baby. Think about what all of this unnecessary stress is doing to your child. Do you even care?"
Sitting up, I allowed the tears to spill down my cheeks. "I don't care. I don't want this baby. Why is it so hard for you to understand that? I ran into Luke today. He looked so happy, so carefree. That could have been my life, but instead I'm married and pregnant."
Brooke took a seat next to me, gripping my shoulders. "First off, don't you dare compare your life to Luke's. He is a thing of the past, and I should kill him for trying to put doubt in your mind. Jake is an amazing man who worships the very ground you walk on. He would do anything to make sure that you are the happiest person alive. And now that you're pregnant, you know his love for you will grow even more."
Wiping my eyes, I responded, "He wasn't trying to put doubt in my mind. He's different, and I've even heard he's in a healthy relationship. He was concerned for me, Brooke. He knows me. He may even know me better than Jake in some respects. I look at Luke and think of my old life, the life where I could do whatever I want, and now I look at what my life has become, and I just can't comprehend it sometimes." Lying down, I wiped the tears from my cheeks. "I know I love Jake, but I just wonder if we rushed into things, especially now."
Brooke lay down next to me and grabbed my hand. "Sav, you've got to talk to Jake. I really think he is the only one who can help you with this."
Sinking deeper into the bed, I let out a huge sigh. "I can't, Brooke. I'm just not ready. Please, promise me you won't say anything to anyone. You're the only person I have to get me through this."
Brooke squeezed my hand tightly. "I can't hold out much longer. Josh knows something is up, and I'm about ready to burst. I hate lying to him. I hope you realize that when they both find out, we are going to be in serious trouble."
Agreeing with her, I whispered, "I think I'm willing to risk it."
Standing, Brooke looked down at me. "Call Jake, let him know you are okay. I've got to get home. Josh gave me an hour before he was going to send Carl up to check on the both of us."
Forcing a smile, I thanked her for checking on me as she walked toward my bedroom door. Lying there, my body shivered. "Hey, Brooke?" I whispered, hardly audible.
Turning around, she looked at me sympathetically.
"I know there is post-partum depression, but do you think there is such thing as pre-partum?"
Brooke rushed back over to my side, and her hand brushed my hair off my face. "Sav, you're not depressed. I've known you my entire life. Depression isn't in your DNA. You're scared. I promise you'll feel so much better once you tell Jake." Leaning in, she kissed my forehead. "Get some rest. I'll call you in the morning. Love you, Sav."
Closing my eyes, I held back more tears. "Love you too."
CHAPTER NINE
Brooke
I WALKED IN THE front door of our dimly lit home and just felt the exhaustion weighing on me. Josh wasn't home yet, and every piece of me needed him to hold me, rub my back, and wipe my tears. I pulled out my phone and checked for any missed messages. He had thought he'd be home before me, but it seemed with Jake out of town, he was working later each night.
I peeked into the fridge, and nothing called to me to be cooked. Really, I wasn't even in the mood. I tugged the freezer door open and felt the cold icy air blasting me as I scanned for something quick and easy. No success. After dialing Josh's number, the phone rang twice before I heard his sultry voice.
"Hey, sweetheart, I'm on my way home now. Is everything good with Savannah?"
Sav! Sav! Sav! I was so tired of Savannah and her taking over my life with this baby drama. I loved her so much, but she was driving me crazy. "Yeah, you know her. She was caught up in some drama show going on." Not a total lie, but I cringed, knowing each one had come a little easier than the last.
Josh's deep chuckle rang through the phone, and I closed my eyes so I could create a picture of his dimpled smile as he tossed his head back.
"So, you calling to tell me I'll see you tomorrow?"
Confused, I didn't respond immediately. Why wouldn't I see him until tomorrow?
"Huh?" I asked, still not sure what he meant.
"Oh, good God, pregnancy brain's hitting you hard. Are you and Savannah having a girls' night, or will I get the pleasure of my wife's company?"
"First off," I grouched at him, "I don'
t have pregnancy brain. You weren't being clear. Second off, I'm already home and hungry, and there is nothing to cook, and I don't want to cook." Yeah, I was being snarky, but damnit, I was so over people. I was the pregnant woman who was supposed to be catered to.
"Whoa, babe. Um, why don't you just relax." I could hear the wheels in Josh's sweet, loving head spinning as he tried to back pedal out of my crabby mood. He didn't have to experience it often, but he'd learned quickly it was something to avoid. "Why don't I pick something up for dinner? What would you like?"
I blushed from embarrassment as five different restaurant items buzzed through my head at warp speed. I wanted each one just as much as the last and every one of them desperately. Apparently, I was taking too long to respond because Josh spoke up again.
"Whatever you want, Brooke. Don't worry about what's on my way home. If you want it, you got it."
"Well, if you insist." A smile spread across my face. "I want a nachos grande from Taco Bell, some waffle fries from Chick-fil-A, a chili-dog from Sonic, and a sundae from Mickey Ds."
"Um…" Josh stuttered, I imagined trying to figure out if I was serious and what he could do about it. "I mean, can I just get you a meal from one place?"
"Well," I whined, being sure to add every drop of pity into my voice, dragging on each syllable as I added in a sniffle for extra effect. "I mean, if you're too busy, I guess…"
"It's fine, Brooke. It'll just take me a minute. I didn't want you to be sitting at home hungry."
"Nope, I'll be okay," I said, my voice cheery and uplifted. "I'm actually going to go soak in the tub while the house is nice and quiet." After disconnecting the call, I made my way to the bathroom and filled up the claw-foot tub I'd had put in our master bath. As it filled, I found some music on my playlist and turned up the volume so it would drown out the thoughts running through my head about Savannah and Jake. Just as I stepped in to the warm tub water, my phone dinged with a text.
Savannah: I think I'm getting a bump. This is ridiculous. Why is this happening to me!
A sigh slipped out of my lips as I tossed the phone back on the counter. Checking my naked form in the mirror for a bump of my own, I ran my hands down my toned stomach. Sadly, even at three months along, I didn't even have a hint of one coming, unless I jutted my stomach out just so. This was when I'd pour a glass of wine, probably a large one. Thinking it'd help if I went through the motion, I wrapped my silk robe around my body and tied the sash in a bow.
I padded out barefoot to the wine fridge and grabbed a cheap bottle I didn't care for and poured a glass. Lifting it up to my nose, I inhaled deeply, breathing in the smell of the oak barrel and Muscadine grapes. Heaven in a glass, although this one didn't taste as good as it smelled, so I knew I wouldn't regret dumping it down the drain. Just holding the frosted glass, twirling the stem, was soothing my battered soul. The front door lock twisted, and I heard the click as it disengaged. Tub forgotten, I walked out toward Josh, ready to chew his arm off if he didn't hand me the bags fast enough.
"Hey, sweetheart," he huffed as he dropped his gym duffel and briefcase to the floor with a clunk. Josh quickly spun around to face me and instantly focused his eyes on the glass in my hand, narrowing them into a scowl. "Brooke Worthington, have you lost your mind!" he roared, making me jump back a foot.
"I—I," I stammered, trying to spit out words that were on the tip of my tongue.
"You what?" He tossed the bags of food on the couch and snatched the glass out of my hand, splashing some wine on the floor before stomping to the kitchen.
"Josh," I called, chasing behind him. "It's the nasty one. I wasn't going to actually drink it. I was just pretending." Okay, that officially sounded stupid as sin, pretending like a kid playing house. I snatched up the bottle and held it out to his face, close enough to where it was practically touching his nose so he could read the label. "See?" I defended.
A smirk tilted the side of his cheek as he fought back the dimples appearing. "Seriously, hun, is it that bad?"
Turning quickly, I tried desperately to dodge the scrutiny I knew he would subject me to if he saw me waver. I scooped up the bags and sank in to the couch, not in the mood to sit at the table tonight.
Josh joined me, beer in hand, smiling as I pulled items from bags and spread them out on the coffee table, the plastic rustling as loudly as my stomach was growling. Each bag had been emptied, but my nachos were missing. Grabbing the balled-up bags, I squeezed and shook them, praying to God the nachos would appear as tears pooled in my eyes.
"Brooke, what are you looking for?" Josh asked as he flipped through the television guide, finally looking to me when I didn't speak.
I couldn't talk because I knew that it would just come out as a sob as the tears began to overflow and streak down my face.
"Brooke? What's wrong?" Josh turned to me and took my hand, squatting down to look into my eyes.
"My, my…" I'd turned into a blubbering fool, all because of missing nachos. "…my nachos aren't here. I want my nachos. Where are my nachos, Josh?" My voice was reaching a level of hysteria as I shifted the bags around once more, just in case.
Josh leapt up to his feet, panic in his green eyes. "I ordered it. I told them nachos grande because I got the meal. See, here is the soft taco that came with it. And the drink, see, I got a drink too. It was in a bag. Maybe I left it in my car." He twisted around to face the door again and ran out of the house, leaving the front door wide open. Minutes later, he returned, shoulders slumped, as his eyes met mine.
I almost felt bad, but I really wanted my nachos.
Shoving a waffle fry into my mouth, I tried to pretend it was the nachos that were suddenly all I was craving, but it wasn't cutting it. I grabbed the Sonic pack and pulled out the cardboard to find chili-cheese fries. I was done. After pushing my body up off the couch, I stomped off to the room, knowing it was ridiculous to cry over food, but it was like the universe was out to get me. Karma for lying, the devil on my shoulder taunted.
Josh came bustling in, chewing his lip as he decided how safe it was to get near me. "Brooke, I am so sorry. I told them what you wanted, and I just didn't check the bags, trying to get back home."
"No, it's not your fault." I shook my head furiously as one by one teardrops leaked out of my eyes. "It's just this day… it's been awful. Work was awful. None of the pages were formatted right. Then Jake calls in a panic, and I have to deal with Savannah. You think I'm drinking wine, and then," I tossed my arms in the air, "my nachos are nowhere to be found. I just want my nachos!"
"Brooke, if the nachos are that important, I'll go back. I'll get them." Josh was grasping at straws, frantically trying to just restore order in the house.
"It's not the nachos!" I cried, throwing myself down on the bed. "I'm pregnant. I want a bump. Why does Sav get a bump, but I don't?"
My body tensed, panicked as my words caught up with my brain, and I prayed that Josh didn't catch on. But his silence spoke volumes, and after what felt like hours, I peeked out at him, seeing furious green eyes bearing down on me.
"What I mean," I attempted, chewing on my finger. I never was a good liar.
"Yes, Brooke. What do you mean?" Josh's voice was slow. Controlled. Terrifying.
"Well, you see what happened was, um…"
My spirits sank as Josh's face switched between anger and disappointment.
"How long have you known?" he asked.
"A week," I whispered, hoping that the bed would just open up and swallow me whole. "Savannah just confirmed it, and she just needed time to process it all. You can't tell Jake. She swore me to secrecy, Josh! You. Can. Not. Tell." I tugged on his hand and squeezed it tightly, grounding him to me.
"Brooke, I am so… furious with you. You've known — and lied to me. I'm calling Jake this instant. He deserves to know." He stormed out of the bedroom and slammed the door behind him. I heard him stomp down the stairs one by one. Thud, thud, thud.
In a panic, I scrambled off the bed and ran to th
e bathroom. I noticed the tub already filled to the brim, waiting for a body to sink down into it. I wasn't that lucky though. I tugged the plug out and grabbed my phone, texting Savannah quickly, just in case she was asleep.
911!!! Call me ASAP!
I waited and waited for Josh to return, for Savannah to call, but I heard from nobody. My eyes fluttered as my body finally succumbed to sleep. At some point in the night, I felt the bed sink as Josh joined me in bed. Snuggling close, I breathed in the smell of his citrus bodywash, emotionally spent.
"I'm sorry," I softly whispered into his chest.
Wrapping his big muscular arms around me, he pulled me in closer. "I know you are. Just please don't start keeping secrets from me, even for Savannah."
Nodding my head in agreement against his shirt, I heard it make a swishing noise in my ear as a few leftover tears moistened the cotton.
"Hey," he soothed, grasping my chin firmly between his fingers and tilting my head up to him. "All I told Jake was that he needed to get home. Savannah was feeling under the weather. He doesn't know why. But you tell Savannah she has until I see him Monday, or else I will tell him. Understood?"
I didn't respond, because it wasn't necessary, instead deciding to tease and taste his lips as I inched myself closer to him, grazing his bottom lip between my teeth as his hands explored my body further. Shutting off my mind, I let my body fall into a state of bliss, letting each nerve stand on end as his fingers trailed lines over my body, and my skin tingled with each lick and nip of his mouth. I would worry about Savannah tomorrow. Tonight was for Josh.
CHAPTER TEN
Savannah
A SET OF SOFT lips caressed my cheek, pulling me out of a deep slumber. "Hey, babe," Jake whispered. "You feeling okay? Josh called me last night and said you weren't feeling well, and I needed to get home."
Panic forced me wide awake and I searched the disheveled covers for my phone. Shit, there was a text from Brooke.