by Lexy Timms
“Damn straight. And if you really want this child to be a girl, you better get used to it,” Hailey said, winking.
“I’ll love our child, no matter what,” I said.
Hailey and I grabbed a quick breakfast before we went our separate ways. I ran by the house to make sure everyone was okay after the trauma that happened yesterday, and I saw my injured worker there. He wasn’t on a ladder, but he was helping measure and cut the carpet being laid down. I talked to him for a few minutes and made sure there was nothing he needed before I headed over to Drew’s tattoo parlor.
It was now or never.
“Hey, Bryan! What brings you around?” Drew asked.
“You not open on Mondays?” I asked.
“Nope. It’s been consistently our slowest day, so I implemented new hours. Mondays, we’re closed unless someone books an appointment and prepays half of it upfront,” he said.
“Sounds like a good policy. So why are you here if you’re closed?” I asked.
“The down day gives me time to catch up on shit. Right now, I’m ordering new supplies. Come on in, dude. You sound like you wanna talk about something.”
“I do,” I said, “and I want you to be upfront with me.”
“Always am, man. Hit me with it.”
“Why have you not reconnected with Anna yet? And don’t give me some shit about your schedule. You have a damn day off, for fuck’s sake. Why haven’t you called her?” I asked.
Drew sighed as he turned away from his computer.
“I don’t know,” he said, shrugging. “I don’t even think she’s into me anymore.”
“I know for a fact that’s not true,” I said. “Just this past Saturday, Anna went shopping with Hailey. They had an entire conversation about you.”
“Really? What’d she say?” he asked.
“I’ll tell you if you agree to something,” I said.
“Shit. What are you getting me into now?”
“Another double date,” I said. “You, me, Hailey, and Anna. It’ll take the pressure off reconnecting, and if something blossoms, then that’s awesome. If it doesn’t, then we’ll lay off. Both of us. For good.”
“Somehow, I doubt that, dude,” he said with a grin.
“You’re an idiot if you think she isn’t into you anymore. She just knows you’re a pursuer, and she thinks something’s wrong with her since you’re not, you know, pursuing.”
“Anna thinks I think something’s wrong with her?” he asked.
“She didn’t put it into so many words, but Hailey’s good at reading her sister. Anna’s not reaching out because she thinks you don’t like her enough anymore to reach out. Time to grow some balls, Drew.”
“We just got busy. That’s all that happened,” he said.
“Then it’s time to get unbusy again. Both of you are established. The two of you are throwing yourselves into work to distract from the loneliness of not spending time together. You might not realize it now, but that’s what’s happening to you both.”
“A double date?” he asked.
“Yep. All four of us at the same table,” I said.
I watched Drew mull it over before a small grin tugged across his face.
“I could be behind it. I’m in, man.”
“Good,” I said. “I know Hailey can get Anna on board with that answer. How does tonight sound? Since you’re off work.”
“Wait. Tonight?” he asked.
“It’s now or never,” I said.
“Fine. Tonight. Sure. But you gotta leave me alone so I can get this ordering done, dude.”
“Whatever you need. I’ll text you the details once Hailey talks to her sister,” I said. “See you tonight.”
“See ya, man.”
I walked out to my truck and sent Hailey a text message. There was this club downtown that was going to be having live music tonight. There would be plenty of food to eat and music to dance to. The club didn’t tolerate drunken behavior, so Hailey would be safe. It was the perfect double-date venue for a moment like this, because if things got awkward between Anna and Drew, there was always the music to fill the silence.
Hailey was ecstatic about the idea and said she would call Anna immediately.
I made the plans for everyone to get together, and at seven in the evening, we were all meeting outside the doors of the club. I was standing with Hailey, her hand seated in mine as Anna stood alongside us. Her eyes were darting around the waiting crowd, looking for Drew as I threw a knowing smirk down to Hailey.
This was going to go so much better than we had planned.
“Fancy seeing you here,” Drew said.
Hailey and I watched as he walked up to Anna and embraced her tightly.
“Long time no see,” Anna said. “How have you been?”
“Good. The parlor’s going well. Got steady business and even a few inkers who work out of the shop for me as well.”
“That’s awesome. I thought you didn’t want to take on any employees,” Anna said.
“Eh, things change, I guess,” Drew said.
“That they do,” Anna said.
“How are things with your business?” Drew asked.
“They’re going really well. I don’t know if you heard, but I’m working at the same foundation as Bryan now.”
“I heard something about that,” Drew said, grinning. “Are you enjoying it?”
“I love it. Ellen’s really given me the capacity to do what I want and help people I’ve always wanted to help with my law degree.”
“Well, let’s go get some food, and we can talk about it some more,” Drew said.
Things were already going well as we trickled into the club. We got a booth toward the back so the music wouldn’t be so loud and promptly ordered some food. I was snuggled up to Hailey, and Drew was sitting closer to Anna than either of them realized, and we watched as the two of them went back and forth with their conversation. Anna talked about the foundation and her new project for the summer, and Drew talked about all the milestones he’d already hit with the parlor. Anna asked him about whether he was going to branch out into piercings or things like that, and Drew asked Anna if she was still singing.
The two of them were talking as if time hadn’t passed between them at all, and it made me smile watching the two of them settle back into enjoying one another.
It was a nice change of pace from what Hailey and I had been experiencing lately. I felt relaxed, Hailey’s smile was genuine, and everyone was happy without reservation. The stresses from work were quickly fading into the background, and the conversation flowed easily. The food was phenomenal, and the music was even better. I took in all the positivity surrounding us as I pulled Hailey close to my side, and soon Drew was offering his hand to Anna to dance.
Anna smiled as she took his hand, and the two headed to the dance floor.
“It’s about damn time,” Hailey said.
“Look at how happy they are together,” I said.
“I’m glad we didn’t miss this. Thanks for shitting on my plan,” she said.
“I’ll shit on anything anytime,” I said.
Hailey giggled, pressing herself deeper into me as her hand slid up my thigh. I loved it when she massaged my legs. Underneath a table or while we were sitting on the couch. It was this mindless ministration thing. It was almost like she didn’t know she was doing it. It was just something that came to her naturally. It was natural for her hands to want to touch me.
I loved that and so much more about her.
I watched as Drew and Anna danced. Drew twirled her around, and Anna was laughing. He pulled her in close, and Anna leaned her head against his cheek. With all the dark clouds of my mother and Hailey hiding stuff from me again, it was nice to simply be in the moment, to take in the beauty of a budding relationship and simmer in the breadth of our own. I closed my eyes and pressed a kiss to Hailey’s hair, feeling her hand creeping higher on my thigh. I drew in a deep breath as my leg began to jiggle, her tou
ch shooting electricity through my veins.
“If you’re not careful, we might have to end this party early,” I said.
“Oh, sorry,” Hailey said. “I didn’t realize I’d gone that far up.”
“You don’t need to stop. You just have a certain effect on me.”
“Even with me seven months pregnant?”
I tilted her gaze up toward mine before I captured her lips. They tasted like ketchup and french fries and like the soda she had allowed herself to drink. She tasted like the love I had for her and the warmth that blanketed my body every night. I swiped my tongue against her lips, begging for entrance as she willingly let me in.
She melted into me, her breasts pressing into my strong form.
“Especially seven months pregnant,” I said.
“Can you believe it took us so long to get these two to hang out with each other again?” Hailey asked.
“You would think we were asking them to run for president,” I said.
“Or become the pope.”
“Or summon the devil,” I said.
“Can you say devil so close behind pope?” Hailey asked.
“I think I’d be more concerned with the fact that we just attempted to relate the pope to the devil in the first place,” I said.
Hailey’s giggle fell from her lips, and it set my soul aflame with happiness. This night was perfect. Drew and Anna were dancing and enjoying each other’s presence again, I was holding the love of my world next to my body, and there was no stress to be found. I was glad we could be here to witness the two of them reconnect, but I was even happier that Hailey and I had finally taken a little slice of happiness for ourselves for once.
“Want to go dance?” Hailey asked.
“I thought you’d never ask,” I said.
Chapter 12
Hailey
I danced in Bryan’s arms as we swayed on the dance floor. Even though the music was upbeat and lively, it still felt good to swing in his arms. My back was pressed to his chest, and his hands were cupping my stomach. I could feel our child kicking against his hands, pulling a smile across his cheeks. With every kick our unborn child made, Bryan kissed my shoulder. This moment couldn’t have gotten any more perfect, and as I leaned my head back onto Bryan’s shoulder, I felt his lips descend onto my neck.
After a few songs, my feet started to ache. I could feel my movements sputtering as my knees grew weak. Bryan tightened his grip around me before he led me off the floor, and we made our way back to the booth.
We were about to sit down before I grabbed his wrist.
“You ready to go?” he asked.
“I think Drew and Anna are enjoying their evening, so why crowd them?” I asked.
Bryan’s eyes looked over my shoulder before a grin crawled across his cheeks. I had spotted them a few times on the dance floor as Drew spun my sister around. They looked radiant together like they had during the first double-date we had done. They were lost in one another the same way I would always lose myself in Bryan’s eyes, and I figured they would be none the wiser if we slipped out.
Plus, I could feel a warm bath calling for me.
“Let’s get out of here,” Bryan said. “I’ll take you home.”
“Such a gentleman,” I said with a smirk. “Will I get a kiss out of it?”
“Play your cards right, and you just might.”
I felt really good despite all of the things looming in the back of my mind. Part of me wished I could’ve had a few drinks to help settle my nerves, but it was going to be a long time before I could do that again. I planned on breastfeeding this little one from my breasts that seemed to keep growing and getting more sensitive with each passing day. There were days where I would step into a hot shower and squeeze them just to relieve some of the tension. Every single baby book I’d ever read warned me against that. They explained how that would just signal my breast tissue to increase its milk supply. But sometimes the pain was unbearable, and I had no other choice.
Either way, alcohol wasn’t happening for at least six more months. But probably more.
As we rode back to the house, my eyes traveled the length of Bryan’s body. I could feel myself heating up in his presence. I could feel my libido taking over my rational thought. In the glow of the moonlight, with his legs flexing as he drove his truck, he looked sexy as hell. The light scruff on his face that was tickling my neck while he kissed me sent shivers down my spine, and I could feel my pelvis tightening with want.
“What?” Bryan asked.
“Nothing,” I said. “Just admiring.”
I reached over and placed my hand on his thigh, creeping it steadily closer to his crotch. I felt him trying to back away from me, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. I started my massaging again as I pulled his girth to life. His backing away turned into a slow undulation of his hips, and I knew then and there that I had him.
We pulled up to the house, and the two of us stumbled out. I waddled up to the porch as Bryan followed behind, unlocking the door as fast as he could. We both pushed through and slammed the door behind us, making our way up the stairs. Our clothes were being stripped from our bodies as we left a trail of them in our wake, our legs stumbling on our way into the bedroom before we collapsed.
“Such a naughty woman,” Bryan said into my neck. “Teasing me like you were all night.”
“What can I-I say?” I asked. “You’re irresistab—oh, right there.”
Bryan’s tongue danced along my breasts, kissing every spot he knew made me shiver. We had sunken to the floor, taking up residence on the carpet of our shared bedroom. His languid hands, built up with calluses, roamed around the growing curves of my body. But I didn’t want to be on my back this time.
This time, I wanted to be in control.
I lifted myself up and pulled Bryan to the floor. I rolled us over and straddled his pelvis, my wetness dripping onto his growing thickness. My lips peppered his neck with kisses as my pregnant stomach pressed into his abdomen. I felt beautiful in his arms. I felt wanted in the way his eyes raked over my body. He was grunting and groaning as his cock pulsed against my folds, begging for entrance into my body.
Even as swollen as I was, I felt like the most beautiful woman in the world.
Planting my hands on his chiseled chest, I rolled my hips and captured his dick. It slid effortlessly into my body, pulling a moan from my throat. He filled me so perfectly. He hit every single spot that made me jolt. My knees sank into the carpet as my legs spread for him. His hands descended onto my hips, and he gripped me tightly. Our eyes connected as we both began to pant, and I could feel him throbbing against my walls.
“Please move,” Bryan said. “Just do something.”
I loved the sound of his begging.
Slowly, I dug my hips into his. Bryan’s eyes rolled into the back of his head as my body swallowed him down. My stomach settled onto his, and my breasts brushed along his chest. My stretch marks were glowing in the limelight of the moon streaming through the curtains. Everything about me was on display as I rocked against his hips, every single imperfection that had ever arisen since my body started molding and changing. Yet I felt perfect in the arms of the man I loved.
Faster and faster I rolled, desperate to chase my own release. My clit was poking out from underneath its fleshy hood, seeking any friction it could gain. Bryan’s hand moved from my hip and grazed over my stomach, sinking between my legs as it found my sensitive bud.
My head fell back, and I gasped as his hips came up to pound into mine.
Fluids were slicked everywhere as our juices spread along our skin. Bryan’s fingers circled my swollen clit, driving me to the edge of pleasure with his girth filling me to the brim. I lost myself in the feel of his body as my brow began to sweat. Lewd and luscious sounds dripped from my lips as my head grew dizzy. Stars burst in my vision as his fingers moved faster, drawing on the heat building beneath the tips of my toes.
“Bryan. Holy shit, please.
”
“You have no idea how wonderful you look right now. Fuck. Hailey. Just like that. Don’t stop. So close.”
I rutted against him as my walls pulled him deeper. His thumb pressed into my body, sending me catapulting over the edge. My hands slammed down onto his chest as I shook on top of him, my legs contracting, and my jaw unhinged in silent pleasure. I panted and moaned as high-pitched sounds made their way up my throat. I could feel my arousal pooling between his legs and coating his body with my scent.
His hands dug into me, holding me close. He released within me as my name dripped from his lips.
I collapsed onto him, and he instinctively rolled me over. Our bodies lay there, shaking and trembling as we recovered from our lust-filled passion. My leg was slung over his hip as he stayed buried inside of me, his cock harder than ever as we both caught our breath.
I opened my eyes and found Bryan staring at me, a grin on his cheeks and a healthy glow behind his eyes.
“I could have never asked for a better life partner,” he said.
“Even with everything I’ve done wrong?” I asked.
“It takes time to work out the kinks in a relationship. We still have them. But we’re working through them, and that’s what matters.”
He knew. He knew I was hiding something from him, but I couldn’t let that taint our moment. I couldn’t let that taint the perfect night we had experienced with one another.
“I love you, Bryan McBride.”
“And I love you, Hailey McBride.”
“We really have a lot going for us, don’t we?” I asked.
“Sure we do,” he said as he rolled me onto my back.
I groaned as he seated himself between my legs.
“We have this beautiful house.”
He thrust into me and pulled a gasp from my lips.
“We have a beautiful child on the way.”
He filled me again, and it rendered me speechless.
“We have your successful art career, and my work at the foundation.”
He picked up his pace as he leaned his lips down to mine.
“We even have each other,” he said against my skin. “And to me? That’s the most important one of all.”