by Unknown
“No baby, this isn’t about Seattle, or football. It’s about us, and me wanting to be with you always.”
“What happens if I don’t want to leave?”
“You’d stay if I chose to go?” my brother asked, terrified of the answer.
“Maybe, I mean Maggie offered me a buy-in on the diner after I graduate.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I wanted to wait until you made your decision. I didn’t want you not going because of the choices I made for me.”
“I thought we were in this together,” he bit out, his temper obviously rising.
She cupped his face in her hands. “We are in this together, but I didn’t want you to base your decision on me. I want you to decide based on what’s best for you.”
“I want us.”
“You’ll still have us,” Whitney tried to reassure my brother.
“Not if we’re on other ends of the country,” he snapped.
“What do you want me to do, Travis? I don’t want you to walk away from this amazing opportunity because I want to stay here.”
“I want you to be honest with me.”
“I’m trying,” she cried.
“I want you.”
“I love you.” She kissed him.
“Take the ring, Whitney. Say you’ll always be with me.”
“Of course silly, I’ll take your ring and whatever else you want to give me.”
MOM SLAPPED ME with her tea towel after I checked my watch for the fifth time. “Why don’t you help me put the finishing touches on dinner; Haley and her family are on the way.”
“Finally,” I breathed.
I followed mom into the kitchen as she laughed at me, “It’s like watching you the first time you liked a girl and tried to figure out if she like you back.”
“Mom,” I groaned.
“Why won’t she tell me if she likes me, or not. I tell her she’s pretty every day,” Mom giggled, mocking me in a boy’s voice.
“I can’t believe you just brought that up. I was seven.”
“I do these things because I love you boys.”
“I love you, too, Mom. Thanks for all my gifts today; you and Dad out did yourselves.”
“We just gave you boys what you deserved.”
“Can I talk to you about something?”
“What it is…wait, try this…” she brought a spoon up to my mouth, “what do you think?”
“It’s good.”
“I think so, too,” Mom smiled.
“Mom, I’m moving out.”
Mom dropped the spoon, “You’re moving?”
“Yes, why don’t you sound happy? Aren’t you supposed to be happy I’m finally leaving?”
“You’re leaving?” Mom and I both whipped around and met a white faced Haley.
“Yes,” I smiled and pointed out the window, “about two hundred feet that way.”
“You’re not moving off the farm?” mom asked, confused.
“No, Mom. I’m staying here, just moving in a mobile home in.”
“When?” Haley asked relieved.
“After the new year. Dad and I have the backhoe coming to start the trenches for water, sewer and power.”
“Your father knew about this, and he didn’t tell me?” Mom sounded hurt.
“I asked him to wait until I found something I liked,” I tried to explain.
“Did you?” asked Haley.
I walked over and hugged Haley to me, “I found two, but I’d like you to make the final decision with me.”
“Why me?” Haley looked at me surprised.
“That’s easy. ‘Cause one day you’ll live there with me,” I said popping an olive in my mouth.
“Bentley…”
“Not today, or tomorrow, but one day.”
I turned to my mom, “The blue pattern right?”
Smirking at me, mom replied, “Yes.” She knew I was talking about which china pattern to set the table.
Walking out of the room, I heard Haley ask my mom, “What was that?”
“That, my dear, was my boy proclaiming his love for you, same as his father did to me. Good luck getting out of this, darling.”
Grinning, I finished setting the table before joining the others in the living room.
“Oh, Bentley, Merry Christmas.” Mrs. Wells wished pulling me into a hug.
“Merry Christmas.”
“It sure smells good in here,” Mr. Wells said to my dad.
“I hope it tastes as good as it smells.”
“I’m sure it does, Mom is one hell of a cook,” Travis said passing around drinks.
“That’s why I married her,” Dad joked.
“Here I thought it was for my good looks,” Mom scoffed as she walked into the living room. “Dinner is ready.”
“Of course it was.” Dad slid up to mom, kissing her neck.
“Will, we have company.”
“I’m sure no one will mind if I get dessert first.” Dad flashed everyone a wicked smirk.
Rolling her eyes, Mom ushered everyone into the dining room.
I GRABBED HALEY’S hand as she was leaving the table, “Would you mind coming with me? I want to give you my Christmas gift.”
“You got me a gift?”
“Of course,” I said getting up.
“Good, I got one for you, too.”
“You did?”
“Of course I got my baby daddy something,” she laughed.
“Have I ever told you I hate that phrase?”
“What phrase?” she asked innocently. “Oh, you mean the one that makes the veins in your neck stick out?”
“That’s the one,” I growled into her neck. “Come on, it’s in my room.”
“Lucky me.”
I opened the door and waited for Haley to walk in first.
“Bentley, I don’t know what to say,” she breathed and walked deeper into my room and ran her fingers along the bassinet.
“My mom made the quilt and matching bumper pads with her and my dad’s old quilt.”
“Our good luck,” she whispered, taking the quilt out of the bassinet and hugging it tight to her before turning around to face me.
I walked in and kissed her, “Our good luck quilt.” I tapped the tip of her nose.
“This is what she was making when you found out, isn’t it?”
“It was,” I confirmed.
“Why do you think it’s their good luck quilt?” Haley asked sitting on my bed.
“Because the first time Charlotte and I made love on that quilt, she got pregnant with Bentley,” Dad said, leaning up on the door jam.
“Oh,” Haley and I breathed at the same time.
“Mom set me up,” I chuckled.
“She did,” Dad laughed. “You’re not the only one that does late night camp fires and hot chocolate.” Haley and I laughed as he stepped back into the hallway and pulled the door closed.
“Bentley, I’m not sure I want our child sleeping with that quilt now.”
“How about we just take it out when my mom stops by.”
“Good plan,” Haley said still looking over the bassinet.
“The lady at the store said it’s a good size and should fit easily by your bed. You know, for those nighttime feedings.”
“Bentley, what are we going to do?” Haley asked, hugging the quilt.
“What do you mean?” I sat beside her wondering where he mind was going.
“I mean, what’s the plan for visitation? God, I hate that word… visitation. It makes me feel like I’m punishing you.”
“What do you want?” I asked.
“I don’t want to keep our child away from you.”
“I don’t want that either.”
“So what should we do? One week with me, one week with you? What about breast-feeding, I want to breast feed, but how does that work if you have the baby. I can’t breast feed then, so do I freeze my milk for you? Or should we supplement with formula every second fee
ding so the baby will be used to it?”
Holy crap, listening to Haley rattle off options a mile a minute made me realize we really needed to sit down and figure things out. I took a deep breath and dove in, “First of all, I think you need to breathe and slow down.” I took the blanket out of her hands and pulled her into me. “We will work this out, I promise.”
“What happens when you want to date someone? I’m not comfortable with women walking in and out of our child’s life.”
“Who said anything about dating? Which I don’t plan on ever doing, Haley. Don’t you get that? I love you, you are it for me.” Haley sat motionless and stared at me with hope in her eyes. “Honey, don’t look at me like that, it’s been a long time since I’ve been with you.”
“It only happened once, I doubt you remember,” she muttered, turning away.
“Not true, every time I close my eyes I can still see you, feel you…”
“Stop…please…I’m pregnant, hormonal, and horny as hell all the time.”
As fast as her next breath, I had her on her back, kissing the shit out of her. Her hands roamed my entire body, scratching to get under my shirt, moaning as I gripped her hips bringing them up to mine and moving her up the bed.
A knock at my door startled us both, knocking me off the bed and almost into the bassinet. The door slowly opened as Whitney popped her head in, “Sorry to interrupt, but I can hear your moans while peeing in the bathroom. Y’all might want to cool it before someone else hears.”
Turning beat read, Haley fixed her top, “Thanks.”
Shutting the door behind her, I crawled back on the bed beside Haley, “That is exactly why I want my own place.”
“I can’t believe I just did that. I’m so sorry, Bentley.”
“Hey, I kissed you.”
“It’s getting late, I should go.” She tried shuffling off the bed.
“Please stay,” I begged, holding on to her arm lightly.
“I can’t,” she said letting out a breath before she continued. “If I do, we both know what just happened won’t stop there, and I really don’t need any more confusing things on my plate right now.”
“Please,” I whispered into her shoulder.
“I’m sorry, I can’t. I need to go home, alone.”
“Can I text you later tonight?”
“I’d like that,” Haley smiled, getting off the bed.
Bentley: Something is wrong.
Haley: what is it?
Bentley: I’m in my bed
Haley: and?
Bentley: you’re in your bed
Haley: and…
Bentley: one of us in is the wrong place.
Haley: Oh really?
Bentley: Just say’n.
Haley: Night Bentley.
Bentley: Good Night Beautiful and Merry Christmas.
Bentley: Haley?
Haley: Yeah?
Bentley: Curtis and Loran are having a New Year’s party, will you go with me?
Haley: is this where I check the box yes or no, to tell you if I like you?
Bentley: MY MOM TOLD YOU?!
Haley: LOL :D
Haley: [X] YES
THE PARTY WAS way bigger than I thought it would be. I’d much rather be at back at Haley’s, with her tucked into me with a bowl of popcorn and watch more of the lame-ass movies she’s been making me watch all week.
“Bentley, it’s a little crowded in here. Would you mind if we stepped outside?” Haley asked.
“How about we dance to one song, do the count down in…” I looked at my watch, “in seven minutes then go home.”
She looked up to me with the biggest smile, “Really?”
I kissed her shoulder, “Really. Have I mentioned how stunning you look tonight?”
“No.”
“Well, you do. You take my breath away, Haley.”
“I think you’re a little biased, Bentley, considering I’m as big as a house because of your baby, and I still have four months to go.”
I dropped my hands to her hips then slid them around to her bum. “It’s all baby. Your body is still drop-dead gorgeous. Are you still running every day?”
“I do, it helps clear my head.”
“Well let me tell you, Miss Hot-Grade-School-Teacher, you have had eyes on you from the moment we got here.”
“Really?” she said, stepping up into me.
“Hey Guys,” Whitney slurred, “Happy New Year!”
“Yeah, Happy New Year.” Travis grumbled.
“Oh come on, party pooper, lighten up,” Whitney pouted leaning into my brother more.
“Whitney, come on, you’re hammered. Let’s go home.”
Whitney tapped Travis’s nose, “You’re just upset because you have to look after me for a change…” then she looked over at us, “and I won’t have sex when I’m drunk.” Whitney placed her finger on her lips, “but shhhh, I didn’t tell you that.”
Haley and I looked over to Travis and started laughing.
“Yeah, laugh it up…this is soo funny,” Travis said, the sarcasm dripping from his tongue.
“I think it is,” cheered Haley.
“Any other secrets you want to share, Whitney?” I taunted my brother.
“Only that he likes it when…”
“All right, party girl, that’s enough. Let’s go home.” Travis tried drawing Whitney away from us.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” Amanda made her way through the crowd to us. “I heard you two were a pair, but I must be honest, I didn’t believe it.”
Whitney twirled to face her cousin giving Amanda a full view of Haley. “Oh, my God, who would have thought the little church mouse was so manipulative she got herself knocked up by the town’s star.”
“Don’t,” I snarled at Amanda.
“Well, kudos to you, Haley, for trapping Bentley here for the next eighteen years.” Amanda lifted her glass and took a swig.
I stepped in front of Haley, “Don’t you ever talk to the mother of my child like that again. Do you understand me?”
“Oh, come on, Bentley, look around.” Amanda swung her arm around the room, “Everyone is talking about it. I just didn’t think you’d be stupid enough to not wear a condom and protect yourself. Who knows who else she’s tried this with; who knows if the baby is even yours,” Amanda sneered.
Out of nowhere, a fist flew and hit Amanda square in the face. “Don’t you ever talk to her again, do you understand me?” Whitney said, rubbing her hand.
“You bitch! I’m your cousin, and you picked her over me?”
“I’d pick her any day. In fact, I’d pick anyone in this room over you. You are a spoiled dipshit that needs to grow up.”
“How dare you talk to me like that in my sister’s house!” yelled Amanda.
“I did what she can’t do,” Whitney snarled back.
Travis grasped Whitney’s shoulder, “I think we should leave.”
“No, I’m so tired of her shit, Travis. She needs to know she isn’t wanted around here. She needs to leave and not come back until she fucking grows up.” Whitney took one more step toward her cousin. Amanda quickly took a step back. “That’s right, you remember what if feels having me punch you in the face the next time you try to get into Haley’s face.”
Whitney grabbed Travis’s hand and began pulling him from the room. Before she got to the door, she turned back to Amanda and the gathering crowd. “And I’ll tell you one more thing cousin, Bentley loves her because she is amazing and nothing like the piece of shit you are. See you Sunday at family dinner.”
Amanda looked around the room, “What are you all looking at? Go back to your drinking and sappy as lives. This party is dull anyways. I’m leaving.”
Haley’s body sagged against me as I watched Amanda leave. I turned to face her clutching her to my chest as I whispered, “Let’s go home.” Feeling her head nodding yes, I walked us to my truck.
THE RIDE TO Haley’s house was quiet, neither of us havin
g much to say. I’ve known Whitney forever, and I never would have thought that she’d punch anyone.
Haley walks straight to her bedroom once we’re inside her house. “I feel so embarrassed,” she said as she slipped off her dress in front of me with no care in the world.
“Why? You have nothing to be embarrassed about,” I said sitting on the bed.
“Do you really think that’s what people think, that I trapped you? God, I can only image what my students’ parents must think.” Haley flopped on the bed wearing only her black lace bra and panties. “How am I going to fix this?”
I got up, trying not to let what Haley is wearing affect me. I faced the wall and adjusted my jeans in an attempt to hide my big ass boner. “Why does it matter what people think? I thought it only mattered what we thought and what our families thought.”
“Because it’s my job, Bentley,” Haley snapped as she pulled herself off the bed. “I need to have the respect of my parents and of my boss. Without those two things, I have nothing. I may as well quit teaching.”
I got into her face, “You and I both know Mrs. Harris would never believe any of that shit.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because she ran into me when I bought your engagement ring.” The words flew out of my mouth before I could stop them. This is not how I wanted this to go.
Haley gasped then retreated to the other side of the room.
“Haley, don’t do this. Don’t check out on me,” I crossed the room toward her as she continued to back away, until she hit the wall. “Don’t, don’t do this, Haley…please. Don’t retreat on us now, I worked too hard to get us to where we are today.”
“I think it’s better if you leave.”
“Please,” I begged.
“It’s too much, too fast.
“Is it? Haley, I love you, and you love me, I know you do.”
“I do,” she whispered. “But what…”
“Stop with the what ifs and live in the now with me, sweetheart.” I went to take her into my arms, but she recoiled and pushed me away.
“Bentley…I…I need to think. Please go.”
“Fine, but if you send me away now, then I’m done fighting for you, for us. I’m tired of being punished for things I did in my past. I’ve changed, Haley, and for the better thanks to you, but maybe it’s not me that needs to keep fighting for us.” I waited for her to say something, when she didn’t I continued, “When you are ready, Haley, come find me.”