by Natasha Boyd
“They’re totally doing it, right?” Jazz asked me. Clearly her mind had also strayed to the sweetly odd couple.
“Honestly, I have no idea. They really could just be good friends who live together for companionship.”
“Please. Watch them flirt.” Jazz sliced us a large piece of cake each and handed me a plate and fork. “Also, it’s like Mrs. Weaton has a new lease on life.”
I took a bite of the six-layer amaretto butter cake and moaned. “True,” I garbled and then moaned. “This is even better than I remember from the other day.” I didn’t even normally like the taste of almond. At least, I’d thought I didn’t. Weird pregnancy taste buds. “I think I’ll have the same cake at my wedding,” I decided.
“So now that he’s asked, finally, do you know when you might like to make it official?”
I sighed and laughed. “Give me a break, I’ve only just got the ring. Plus, I have the, you know, other thing to talk to him about.”
“I know. But the longer you wait, the less chance of not having a paparazzi spectacle of a wedding.”
Jazz was right to remind me, but I felt annoyed by the thought. “I’d just like to enjoy being engaged for one night.”
She laid a hand on my arm, clearly having heard the irritation I tried to hide. “I know, honey. Enjoy it now, we’ll plan later.”
“It’s true though. I need to think fast. Especially, with Jack’s movie coming out soon. His publicist is always asking if she can set us up to be photographed before the release. She tends to favor guerilla-style marketing. I have a feeling she would be all over making this a circus to help the movie. Leaking it on purpose, so to speak.”
“Does Jack have the same concerns?”
“He shares them, obviously, but this one might be too big for either of us to contain.”
“Do you hear that?” Jazz asked.
“A helicopter?” We turned and squinted down the beach. Sure enough the white Coast Guard helicopter was flying low along the shoreline.
“He didn’t,” Jazz said.
“Who didn’t what?”
The helicopter slowed to a hover. The cold wind picked up marginally but luckily it was still too far away to kick up sand on our gathering.
“What’s going on?” Joey asked. “You got a permit for the beach fire, right?”
“Of course,” answered Jazz. Then she motioned to the helicopter. “Just watch this dumbass.”
The helicopter door opened and a rope came down. “Is he serious right now?” asked Jasper squinting down the beach, although Jasper’s voice was laced with what sounded like envy.
A dark figure clambered out onto the rope and began to climb down. As he neared the bottom, the helicopter took a brief veer closer to the sand and the person jumped off the rope into a crouch on the sand.
Vern and Jasper hooted and hollered.
Did everyone know what was going on apart from me? I glanced around quickly. Jack shrugged. Nicole stared with wide-eyed wonder, like she was watching the second coming.
The man stood up and brushed himself off. He was in a dark suit and tie. “Is that ... Cooper?” I asked, shaking my head, though my brain had already put it together.
“Such a bloody show off,” growled Jack, but his tone told me he was laughing. The last time we’d seen Cooper in California and we’d gone out to dinner, Cooper had told Jack he was tired of Jack always upstaging him with the ladies.
“That’s one way to do it,” I said.
The Coast Guard helicopter banked and headed back the way it had come. Vern and Jasper had reached Cooper and were now trying to wrestle him onto the sand, having all reverted to being children. They were no match for Cooper. Both Vern and Jasper ended up on their backs. Cooper straightened his jacket and kept walking, his face split in a massive grin.
I waved.
My friend Lizzie groaned loudly as Cooper came striding over the sand toward us. “Gah, he’s so fine,” she murmured. “Who knew he’d grow up to be so hot?”
Even Charlotte fanned her face theatrically while Jeff rolled his eyes. “His entrance was pretty spectacular, I’ll give him that.”
“David better look out,” Jazz whispered to me with a wink and nodded in the direction of her guest and client. Nicole immediately shook her head so I missed whatever Jazz had seen. But I didn’t miss David’s glower or the strong hand he’d gripped Nicole with on her upper arm.
But then Cooper was there, and I took a few steps toward him. “You missed my engagement just so you could arrive like James Bond?” I asked in a stern voice.
“Awwww, man. Tell me it isn’t true.” Cooper looked crestfallen for about two seconds then winked. “I did look like James Bond though, right?”
I burst out laughing and shook my head. “You sure did.”
He and Jack clasped hands and bumped shoulders.
“Dude,” said Jack. “You finally upstaged me. It’s a good thing I asked Keri Ann to marry me before you got here.”
I elbowed Jack, and he smiled down at me, dropping a kiss on my nose.
“How’d you pull that off?” I asked, nodding up to the sky.
“Trained with a buddy who dropped out but ended up joining the Coast Guard. He owed me a favor. Seriously though,” said Cooper. “I’m sorry I missed it, but congratulations. It took you two long enough.”
“Far too long,” Jack agreed and squeezed me close to his side.
I snuggled in as Cooper went around greeting everyone.
For the first time in a few days, with some food in my belly, and feeling so content, I didn’t feel nauseous. I looked around at the gathering and wondered how life could get any more perfect. If only Nana and my parents could see me now.
A ballad came on. Cooper grabbed my friend Lizzie’s hand and pulled her out onto the sand to dance. I immediately looked around to see if Jasper saw. Jasper had come down from Charleston for tonight. He was a lawyer now. He’d gone into family law, and he was damn good. His specialty was domestic abuse, and he’d even started a woman’s shelter Jack and I had donated to, although we had no idea where it was. I supposed that was the point of a shelter, that it be secret.
Jasper was glowering in the direction of Cooper as he twirled Lizzie around. It made me smile and shake my head. I looked over at Jazz and she rolled her eyes. She’d seen Jasper’s look too. Lizzie wasn’t dating anyone as far as I knew. As a single mom, and working and studying, she barely had time. But Jasper had been into her for years. I wondered what held him back. There’d been a time when Jack and I had first met, that I’d thought Jasper and Lizzie might finally make a go of it, but nothing had happened that I knew of.
“Dance with me,” Jack whispered in my ear, and I turned in his arms.
We swayed to the music. Jack was so relaxed. It was almost unnerving after how distant and tense he’d been.
The firelight danced in Jack’s green eyes. “I love seeing you so happy,” he said. “Every time I look at you, you’re smiling or laughing at something or someone.”
“I have lots to be happy about tonight, but what makes me the happiest is seeing you so at peace. You haven’t been like this for a while.”
He smiled. “I have you to thank for that. I’m sorry I put us through the last few days. I’m sorry I let all my worries since filming just build up and explode like that so suddenly.”
“You already apologized, Jack.”
“I know, but honestly, I didn’t know you’d noticed all the way back to me coming home from filming. It was only in the last little while it grew so big. I can’t believe how worried I made you over what now seems like a ridiculous thing.”
“It wasn’t ridiculous. And as you said—you got spooked.” I shrugged as I quoted his words to him.
“No, please.” Nicole’s loud whisper broke through the general sound of revelry to my right. “I don’t want to go.”
Jack and I were at the edge of the gathering. I looked over to see Nicole and David, arguing.
�
�They’re not your friends.” David’s voice was a growl. “And you’re acting like a—”
“What, David?”
“You know what.”
“Say it,” she demanded. When he didn’t she went on. “You’ve been horrible since Cooper arrived. If anyone’s acting badly, it’s you. You’re acting jealous, again.”
David scoffed. “Please. Of that jarhead?”
“He’s a SEAL.” Her tone sounded so affronted, I almost smiled.
“Whatever.” Their conversation faded as he successfully led her away from the party.
I realized both Jack and I had stopped dancing and were standing still, watching as they faded into the darkness. A cellphone flashlight came on as they negotiated their way back toward the beach access.
“Well, I know you’re feeling better about everything,” I said to Jack. “But if you want to know the signs of escalating jealousy and possessiveness, I feel pretty sure we just witnessed it.”
“Is she going to be okay?” Jack continued to stare after them.
I gently squeezed his arm. “I’ll go get my purse and text Nicole and make sure.”
Jack nodded. “Please do,” he said. And I hated the helpless look in his eyes.
Sixteen
We’d stayed on the beach until almost midnight. Jack’s mom and stepdad had left with Jazz, Joey, and Cooper so they could spend the night at the Butler House tonight. As soon as Monica and Devon had offered to help Jasper get the tables back to his truck, Jack had grabbed the few chairs that belonged to Devon and made our excuses. Like me, I imagined he wanted us to be alone. Jack, a folding chair under each arm, jogged awkwardly over the dunes and toward the house.
I laughed at his haste, the night wind whipping the sound away.
The bright moonlight cast a glow over our surroundings. “Come on,” he urged. He hurried under Devon’s house and returned with no chairs. I grinned and trotted up the deck stairs to the back door, just getting into the house before he reached me. He followed and snatched me up around the waist.
I squealed in surprise and turned in his arms.
“Keri Ann.” He drew his breath deeply after our short sprint.
I slipped a hand up between us, laying it on his chest. “Jack.”
“I can hardly believe you said yes,” he whispered and tilted his head forward, resting his forehead against mine.
“Are you crazy? Of course I said yes. I love you.” I rose on tip toes and pressed my lips to his.
He deepened the kiss, one hand running up to cup my cheek, and I welcomed the feel of his warm mouth. Hands moved to my waist, parting my cardigan. “I’ve been dying to see the rest of your dress all evening,” Jack murmured.
I stepped back, allowing him to slip my cardigan off my shoulders and was gratified when I heard his sharp intake of air.
“That should be freaking illegal.” The chill in the air, and shivers from Jack’s kisses, left no doubt in my mind what he was looking at through the soft satin. “You are so beautiful.” He dropped his mouth to my bare shoulder, his palm slipping up my waist to cup my breast through the silky material.
I moaned, and we pressed more firmly together, our bodies touching from chest to toe. “Let’s go upstairs.” I captured his mouth again. “You taste so ...” The taste of beer and cake on his tongue was delicious. No, not delicious.
My stomach rebelled. “Oh shit,” I yelped and shoved him away. I dashed into the downstairs bathroom just in time to throw up everything I’d eaten into the toilet bowl. I wretched violently again, and again, sinking to my knees, belatedly noticing Jack was holding my hair back with one hand and soothing another up and down my spine.
My eyes watered. I spat and spat the acrid taste out of my mouth. “Shit. I’m sorry.”
“Let me just get you a glass for some water, hang tight.” I heard him get up and go to the kitchen.
There was no way he’d believe I was nauseous again after the last time. I could hardly say I had a bug. I grabbed some toilet paper and dabbed my eyes and wiped my mouth, collapsing against the wall of the bathroom in exhaustion.
Jack returned with a glass of water and squatted down next to me, his eyes dark with concern. “Okay?” he asked.
I took a small sip and nodded. “Help me up?”
Climbing awkwardly to my feet, I took a larger swig of water and swished it around my mouth before spitting it out into the sink. “Yuck, I need to brush my teeth.” I looked up and saw how pale I was in the light of the bright, modern bathroom.
“Come on, let’s go get you some minty freshness and into some warm PJ’s.”
I winced at the idea of mint flavor, feeling slightly nauseous again. But yes, I’d take minty freshness over what was going on in my mouth. “Yes, please.” I nodded, leaning into Jack’s strong frame as he led me up the stairs and to the bathroom to brush my teeth.
As Jack tenderly stripped me out of my clothes and dressed me in some flannel PJ bottoms and one of his shirts, I felt overwhelmingly sad. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, my eyes filling. “I ruined our proposal night.”
“Shhh, stop. No you didn’t.”
“I did,” I insisted, my voice cracking. “You were so sweet, had everything planned, and now all you’re going to remember is me chucking up into a toilet bowl.”
Jack chortled and led me to the bedroom.
“Quit laughing,” I cried. “It’s not funny.”
“It is.”
“Ugh.” I flung a pillow at him. “We were supposed to be having sexy times. I was going to rock your world. And now I’m just gross and vomitey.” I dissolved into a new round of tears.
“Would you listen to yourself?” Jack asked, climbing onto the bed and gathering me up into his arms. “I’ve asked you to spend the rest of your life with me. We’ve both been sick before. I’m sure we’ll both get sick again at some point. This is what I’m signing up for. For us to go through all of it together. In sickness and in health, remember?”
“But tonight, tonight was supposed to be so special.”
He kissed the top of my hair. “It was. It is.”
“I know.” I sniffed. “You’re right. I just ... I wanted it to be perfect. I wanted sexy times.”
“So we’ll have sexy times another day when you’re feeling better. Although honestly, I feel like an absolute letch for saying this. I’d have sex with you no matter what. I’ve come to the conclusion, after dedicated examination and careful deliberation, that you are never, ever, un-sexy to me.”
I looked up at him.
“I’m serious. I’ve got it so bad, baby. So, so bad.”
I sniffed again. “Really?”
“Really.” He grinned and kissed my forehead. “Now let’s talk about the fact that I think you might be pregnant.”
For a moment after Jack announced he thought I might be pregnant, I felt the prick of guilt that he’d guessed before I told him. But looking up into Jack’s face as he hovered over me, his eyes burning with love, relief washed through me. “I don’t know,” I said, then I wet my lips and nodded. “But, yeah, I think so.”
He blew out a breath and laughed. “Holy shit. Really?” His eyes immediately tracked down my body as he pushed back from me and stared at my belly. Tentatively, he laid a hand on me, the warmth of him seeping through my pajamas and under my skin. “Did we make someone?” His voice was quiet.
The monumental question took my breath away. All of a sudden the concept was no longer objective. I no longer felt disconnected from my own body as I’d felt the last few days. The truth of burgeoning life inside me filled my whole being.
“I’ve bought a test, but I haven’t used it yet.”
He seemed to drag his gaze away from my belly with effort. “When? I mean when did you know?”
“I didn’t really, until I suddenly did. Are you mad I didn’t say anything?”
He swallowed. “I don’t know. But—and please don’t take this the wrong way—I’m almost glad you didn’t.”
“I mean, the thought crossed my mind,” he went on. “But then I’d remember you taking your pill, so it was convenient to shove the idea aside. I’m so sorry I made you handle it alone.”
“Jack.” I laid my hand on his cheek. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I chose not to burden you with it because I knew you were dealing with a lot already.”
He took my hand from his cheek, and linking his fingers through mine, laid our joined hands below my belly button. “This is not a burden. This is incredible. But are we sure? I want to be excited, but what if you’re not pregnant?”
“Should I do the test right now?”
“Yes. A thousand times yes.” He pulled back and jumped off the bed. “Where is it? So, like, do you need privacy? Is it instantaneous? Shall I come in there with you? Is it weird that I want to watch you pee?”
I giggled as I climbed off the bed and rummaged through my purse. “Yes. It’s weird. Now, calm down.”
Jack bounced up and down on his toes. “Nope. Not gonna calm down.”
“Help me read the instructions.” I held them out then snatched them back with a smirk. “On second thought, you’re no good with instructions.”
“This is the longest three minutes of my life,” Jack scowled.
We sat on the end of the bed holding hands. The test was on the vanity in the bathroom so we wouldn’t be staring at it the whole time.
“What if the result fades before we can see it? You should have bought a digital one.”
“It’ll be fine.” I squeezed his hand. “Wait, can it fade?”
“Does it say anything in the instructions?”
I looked down at them again, still held tight in my left hand. “It doesn’t say. Try Google?”
“Already on it.” Jack typed the question into his phone browser with his right thumb, his left hand still gripping mine.