"More like you're railroading his ass," Jules chimed in.
Charlie backhanded him in the bicep.
"Ow! Fuck. For someone so fragile, you still hit like a man." He rubbed his arm.
Sam pulled Charlie onto his lap and wrapped a protective arm around her stomach. "So, now that I know a little more about these shots than I did earlier, what can we do about them?" "Nothing. It's just something I have to do, I guess."
"Go grab one of the syringes. I want to see it."
Hopping off his lap, she disappeared into her bathroom and grabbed the box of preloaded syringes she loved to hate. When she walked back into her bedroom, the guys were huddled together over their phones, discussing something in hushed tones. "Did you two want to be alone together?" She didn’t bother to mask the annoyance in her voice.
"Those them?" Sam reached for the box.
"Yeah."
Sam opened the box, pulled out two syringe packs, and pulled them apart. He tossed one to Jules and turned the other see-through package over in his hand. "Holy shit, Batman. This thing’s big enough to tranquilize a Goddamn elephant."
"You aren't kidding, dude. How many times a day do you have to take this?"
"Once, for now. But I'm telling you it's like liquid venom." She shuddered at the thought.
The guys exchanged knowing glances before ripping the packages open, lifting their shirts, stabbing the needles into their abdomens, and pressing the plungers down.
"Oh my God! What are you doing?" She covered her mouth with both hands.
"Son of a Bitch!" Jules yelled as he jumped up and danced around. "That burns like a mother fucker. Oh God, it's like liquid fire!"
"Fuck," Sam growled as he bit down on his bottom lip. He breathed out through his lips like he was trying to keep his composure.
Charlie was in utter shock. Her mind reeled from what those two idiots had just done. "Are you two out of your damn minds? Do you understand how dangerous what you just did was?" She smacked them both in the back of their heads.
"Hey, we discussed it and who are we to criticize you if we have no idea what you're experiencing. Now we know…holy shit balls. No wonder you have a fucking panic attack every time you take one." Jules sat back down on the couch.
Sam pulled Charlie into his arms. "I'm sorry I doubted how awful of an experience that is for you, baby. Damn. You have to do that to yourself daily with the baby moving inside you? I'm sorry. We'll find some other way."
"There is no other way," she shrugged. "The other shot will be just as bad. So I just have to suck it up. Maybe I can do it in my thighs instead and it won't be as bad."
The fact that they were both willing to take a shot of something that could have been so dangerous to them, simply to experience the pain for her sake, made her want to do whatever she had to. She would make it work.
CHAPTER TWELVE
It didn't take much for Charlie to fall asleep anymore, so it didn't surprise Sam to find her curled up on top of a pile of her clothes on her bed, sound asleep.
He shook his head. "I thought she'd be done packing by now, Jules. We're only going for a couple days."
"Dude, these hormones are turning her into a crazy girl and in all fairness, I distracted her when I showed up. So, technically it's my fault."
Sam shrugged and leaned back on the couch. "It's not a big deal. We're not really doing a whole lot anyway."
"So, what do you have up your sleeve this weekend anyway, lover boy?" Jules kicked his feet up on the coffee table.
"Any and everything I can to get that one to relax and enjoy herself," Sam answered as he pointed him thumb at Charlie.
"Lord knows she needs it. I've never seen her this worked up before," Jules said with concern etched on his face.
Sam took a deep breath. He wanted to know if Jules would be able to help him get into Charlie's head in a way he couldn't yet. "Can I ask you something without pissing you off?"
"Sure."
"Why doesn't it seem to bother you when she comes to me as much as it bothers me when she turns to you?"
Jules laughed. "You must be living under a rock or she really didn't tell you about the shit fits I threw."
Sam thought about it for a moment and a smile pulled at his lips. "She mentioned a few times that you were upset about all the time we were spending together, but I don't remember her going into detail about anything."
"Dude, I used to bitch her out and pout that you basically stole her from me. Looking at how ridiculous it was now, I feel like a total douche, but it's how I felt. So, I can't fault you for being upset for her turning to me with stuff. I get it. It's how you feel and no one has the right to tell you how you feel is wrong."
Sam cocked a brow up at him. He wasn’t sure if he should be surprised or impressed as hell at Jules' admission, and wished he was man enough to realize all of that on his own. "I wasn't trying to steal your best friend and I'm not trying to now. It has always been obvious from the very beginning you guys have this crazy bond I will never be able to compete with—"
Jules interjected with his hand raised. "It's not a competition, Sam, and that's where we fuck ourselves and put her in the middle. We've made her feel like she has to choose and that's exactly what she's done. Before she found out she was pregnant, she'd chosen you. You were the one she turned to for everything and it was eating me up inside that I'd just gotten her back and now I was losing her to you. She didn't need me anymore because she had you, but once she found out, she needed me again because I knew things about her past that you didn't."
Sam nodded picking up on the shift in Jules' body language that he wasn't finished talking.
Jules took his feet off the table and scooted to the edge of the couch. "Here's the thing...I'm her past. You're her future. She doesn't know who to go to when the two collide. So, she runs back to what's familiar."
"She runs to you," Sam muttered, more to himself than anything, but Jules nodded.
It clicked.
They'd started out by talking about their ridiculous jealousy and ended up solving what he'd wanted to know all along.
"Okay, so how do we fix this?" Sam hoped Jules had the answer since he seemed to have all the others. He never thought he'd take such a back seat to someone five years his junior.
"I need to back off," Jules said simply.
Sam shook his head. "No, you can't do that to her. She needs you."
"She needs you more. I'm not saying I'm going to abandon her, because that shit isn't going to happen…ever. But I do need to take a step back and become number two. She needs to start coming to you with the important shit first. I mean, you are the father of her child."
Sam couldn't help but smirk. "Thanks for saying that. I hate this jealous asshole I've become. She just makes me feel crazy sometimes."
"Don't worry, bro. She has that effect on all of us. Just promise me one thing…."
Jules had a mischievous glint in his eye that made Sam worry. "Okay. What's that?"
"Once the baby's born, I get to be the crazy, fun loving uncle and I get special time with her every week once she's old enough."
Sam laughed to hide his surprise from the request—not that he really knew what to expect, anyway. "You've really thought about this, haven't you?"
"Yeah, I have. Even if she's too scared to be excited, I am. Aren't you?"
"Of course I am. I already bought a couple of things for her. Charlie just doesn't know it yet." Sam paused to think about the haul he'd gotten that afternoon. "So, basically, you want me to sign off on you corrupting my child once a week for the rest of her life once I deem her old enough for your corruption?"
Jules nodded like it was a simple request. "Yep. Pretty much."
He knew his baby would be lucky to have an uncle like Jules in her life to dote on her and teach her all kinds of questionable things. He wouldn't have it any other way. "Deal.”
✦✧✦✧✦✧
Charlie sat on the edge of the canopy bed, dangling
her achy feet, while Sam ran the water in the large pedestal tub of their suite at the bed and breakfast. The smell of lavender and vanilla bath oils filled the air and she couldn't wait to soak her tired body in the warm water.
"Okay babe." Sam called from the bathroom as he turned the water off. "It’s ready."
She hopped down off the bed onto the cool hardwood floor. The water looked inviting and she had her clothes off in record-breaking time.
"Damn. That's the fastest I've ever seen you get naked. I don't know if I should be impressed or offended." Sam chuckled.
Charlie rolled her eyes and stepped into the water. She immediately sighed in delight. "Well, you can stand there and admire me, or your ass can get just as naked and get in here with me."
He smiled and bit his bottom lip with a raised brow as he pulled his shirt off over his head. His pants and boxer briefs were off the next second and Charlie couldn't help but laugh at finding herself staring at him the same way he'd just done to her. No matter how many times she'd seen him naked, it never got old. Sam stepped in beside her and sat down just as he pulled her down to rest back against his chest. It was heaven.
"A girl could get used to this."
He kissed her neck just below her ear before he spoke, "You've got the rest of our lives to get used to this, my dear."
For once, she was going to allow herself that dream. "Sounds good to me."
Sam poured body wash on a loofa and started slowly rubbing Charlie's arms and shoulders. "So, what do you think about the name Savannah?"
That was the last thing she expected him to ask. Turning to look back over her shoulder, she gave him a quizzical look. "Do what?"
"The baby. What about Savannah?"
Charlie laughed and leaned back against him again. "We are not a southern state map. Charlotte and Savannah. Um, no."
"Okay. What about Olivia?"
"So she and eight other girls in her class can have the same name? No way."
Sam's chest vibrated with laughter against her back. "Okay, Ms. Know-it-all. What do you like?"
"What about Violet or Harlow?"
"Harlow? Are you kidding me?"
"There is nothing wrong with that name," she stated defensively, even though she was not particularly attached to it.
"I like Emma or Lilly."
"Meh." Charlie wrinkled her nose. Neither of those would do.
"Meh? What the hell kind of answer is that?"
He ran his fingers down her sides causing her to jump. She smacked his hand. "Stop that. There is no tickling allowed when I'm relaxing."
"Yes, Ma'am," he growled into her ear, nipping on her lobe. She rolled her head to the side as his finger dug into the flesh of her shoulder, massing her aches and pains away.
"Mmmmm," she groaned, not wanting him to stop.
"That's not too hard, is it?"
"No. It's perfect."
Charlie's eyes fluttered closed and she felt all the tension fade from her body as Sam worked his way from her shoulders to her neck and down each arm to her fingertips.
"What about Stella?"
Something about that name struck a chord with her. It was old fashioned, but not over used, and it was timeless. "I love it."
"And I love you," he said, kissing her cheek.
They stayed in the bath until the water cooled off to the point Charlie couldn't handle it anymore. Sam helped her out and wrapped her in an oversized towel. "Let's get you into something comfy and in front of the fire place."
With a push of a button, the fireplace came alive. Flames danced before her eyes and heat radiated off the glass door in front of them. "This is amazing, Sam. I can't believe you did all of this. Thank you."
"You haven't seen anything yet."
She wondered what else he had up his sleeve as she pulled on a pair of maternity yoga pants and an oversized sweatshirt. "I hope you weren't expecting sexed up and lingerie?"
Pulling on a pair of loose fitting sweats that hung off his hips and a hoodie of his own, he smiled. "Not at all. But for the record, I think you're sexy in anything."
"You're insane."
He shook his head as he wrapped her in his arms. "No, actually the doc confirmed you are…but that's okay. I love you anyway."
Charlie rolled her eyes and pulled his mouth down to hers, kissing him briefly. She knew sex wasn't on the table and it killed her.
"Why don't we go downstairs and get some dinner? Then we can see what else I have in my bag of tricks."
Confusion set it. She'd read about this place on the way there and didn't remember seeing anything about dinner. "They don't serve dinner here. It's just cheese and wine."
Sam gave her his signature smug, cocky smile. "Don't be so sure."
Right then and there, she knew he was up to something.
✦✧✦✧✦✧
The familiar scent of blueberry pancakes attacked her senses as soon as they walked out of their room. She turned to face Sam and her smile widened. "Oh my God. Do you smell that? It's heaven on earth! If they have fresh strawberries and chocolate of some sort down there, someone's going to get hurt if they're in my way." She sprinted for the stairs.
"Don't hurt anyone. I'm sure there's plenty."
By the time she followed her nose to the dining room, she found the table set with breakfast for dinner for every guest there. They all stood behind their chairs like they were waiting just for them so they could sit down. Charlie glanced back over her shoulder to Sam, who stood there with a brilliant smile.
Yep. That asshole had a hand in this.
"How'd you pull this one off?" She raised brow as they all took their seats.
Melinda, the owner of the B&B, walked in with a fresh plate of bacon and set it down right in front of Charlie. "I couldn't say no to those dimples when he skyped me with the request."
"Those damn dimples could get away with murder," a lady from the other end of the table murmured a little louder than she expected to and gasped with wide eyes.
Charlie laughed, knowing how dangerous they were. "Hey, don't feel bad. Those dimples were what lured me in and got me knocked up."
Sam's face blushed beet red as Charlie took a drink of orange juice. She was satisfied she'd put him on the spot like he'd just done to her.
"Oh darlin'. If you think that's how he put that baby in you, we need to have a little talk about one eyed snakes." Melinda did not miss a beat.
Orange juice sprayed from Charlie's mouth as she choked and gaged at Melinda's response. The entire table erupted in laughter as Sam leaned into Charlie's ear. "Karma's a bitch."
"Obviously."
Melinda walked back in and set down three more plates filled with food before she took a step back behind them.
"Y'all, I don't normally do dinners like this, but I had a special request from Sam here." She clasped him on the shoulders. "His beautiful little lady has had a lot going on and is getting closer to having their baby, so he wanted to do something above and beyond for her. Men, you better take notes from this man. He knows how to treat his lady. And girl, if you screw this up, I will be more than happy to take him off your hands, even if he is young enough to be my grandson. I can be one of them panthers."
Everyone giggled and someone chimed in, "Don't you mean a cougar?"
"Yeah, that too. So, enjoy the food and company. If you need anything just let me know."
Charlie was grateful Melinda hadn't told the entire room all her dirty laundry. It wasn't like she could hide her pregnancy anymore, so she thought her speech was endearing. "Thank you for everything."
"Anytime, sugar. Oh, hold that thought." She disappeared into the kitchen and came back out holding two small bowls setting them down next to her plate of blueberry pancakes. One was full of mini chocolate chips and the other had fresh sliced strawberries.
Charlie gasped and covered her mouth with both hands as her eyes filled with tears. She mouthed, "Thank you" to her and looked at Sam in awe. "You remembered?"
; He brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear and caressed her cheek. "Of course I remembered. Baby, I know you better than you think I do. I know you like your coffee blonde with one splenda, but if you get it from Starbucks, you can taste the difference between a skinny and a nonfat latte. I know you yawn when you're annoyed and your brows crease when you're lost in thought. You chew on your bottom lip when you're nervous and you refuse to make eye contact when you're keeping something from me. You run when you're scared and fight hard for what you love. And food is something you never joke about."
There were no words. Nothing she could say to express how she felt, so she grabbed his face and pulled it to hers, kissing him. He let out a small groan as their kiss deepened and a man from across the table cleared this throat. "Now, that's what led to her getting pregnant." His wife backhanded him in the arm as he chuckled.
"Do you know what you're having?" his wife asked.
"A little girl," Sam answered with pride written all over his face.
"Have you all picked a name yet?"
Charlie gave him a knowing smile. "Stella Rae." They hadn't discussed middle names yet, but it wasn't up for discussion as far as she was concerned. As soon as they'd picked Stella it was set.
"Rae?" he asked, obviously confused. "It was my mom's middle name."
"I like it," he said and kissed her forehead.
"That's beautiful and timeless," the woman said with a smile.
She was glad conversation seemed to cease at that point as she dug into the spread before her. The pancakes were the most incredible things she'd ever tasted and the chocolate and strawberries just set her taste buds ablaze.
✦✧✦✧✦✧
After stuffing herself to the point where she was sure he was going to have to actually roll her up the stairs, she and Sam made their way back to the room.
"Oh my belly," she groaned as she rubbed her stomach. "I think I ate another person."
"I don't think there's any room in there as it is. Is there?" Sam put his ear against her belly button and pretended to listen. "Really? Hmmm. Well, I'll tell her, but I'm not sure she's going to like what you're saying."
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