by Colbie Kay
We make our way up to the front of the store and check out. The next stop for us is the clothing stores downtown. We park the Jeep on the street and start walking. The three of us enter store after store, picking out something at each location we visit.
With all the packages loaded into our vehicle, we head home. We bought shirts, skirts, shoes, and anything else we felt we needed…well, wanted. When we pull up to the house, the guys are standing on the porch and are shaking their heads when they get a small peek at the number of things we bought.
“Damn! Did you girls buy everything in town?” Maverick teases, grabbing a handful of bags.
“What’s it matter? It’s things we had to get, Sparky.” Cydney kisses his cheek.
“And how ‘bout you, Callie?” Dex inquires, reaching for some of the bags.
Callie raises up on her tip-toes, pecking his cheek as well. “Yep, things I needed, and maybe a little something for you later.” Ah hell, I forgot Callie bought the barely-there outfit.
Zac starts going through the remaining bags. “Big Boy, what are you looking for?” I laugh because I know exactly what he’s searching for.
He keeps probing. “Something sexy.” He grins.
“Guess you’ll have to wait and see.” I slap his ass and give him a kiss.
We get all the bags inside. After sorting the packages, Zac takes mine up to the room as I head into the kitchen in order to get some water from the fridge. I’m exhausted from our shopping trip. When Zac comes in, he wraps his arms around my waist and gives me a fiery kiss. “Mmm. That’s nice,” I say after we break apart.
Zac squints his eyes, staring at me. “Baby, are you feelin’ alright?”
I tilt my head back to meet Zac’s gaze. “Yeah, just a bit tired. I’m thinking of going to take a nap.”
“Okay. Go rest up, baby.” Zac presses his lips against my forehead.
With a slight smile, I make my way up to my room. Dumping all the bags on the bed, I start to unpack some of the clothes, and then I come across the sexy red lace lingerie with black trim that I bought. I get an idea. I change quickly and send Zac a text, asking him to come up to my room. I position myself on my pillow, waiting for him, and sadly, I drift off to sleep.
The end of July is here, and as we're approaching August, everyone is getting ready to return to school…except for me. I have this sense of calm about not going back to California. I stare at the rising sun and realize, I'm happy.
Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve had time to think about everything and come to some conclusions. I thought I needed Cayden, that I loved her, but I was wrong. She was familiar, someone I was used to, but I've realized that it wasn’t actually her that I desired. It’s the peace and comfort of home that I so desperately craved and missed. And I have it now.
Pausing in my shoveling of the dirty hay from the barn into the back of my truck, I wipe the beads of sweat from my forehead and face. The sun is only just now rising, but I've been working for the last three hours.
It's hot as hell during Georgia summers, even during the early morning hours. I did away with my T-shirt an hour ago, but it did nothing to cool me off.
"Hey!" Melanie's voice rings through my thoughts.
Spinning around, I lean against the shovel with one arm, and a huge grin on my face. "Hey, yourself. What're you doin' here?"
"I came to see you." She steps closer to me.
My brows furrow. "Where's Jacob?"
"I called Cayden. She's at my house watching him."
“Kind of early, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, well…I was awake and Cayden offered to come by early this morning when I talked to her last night.” She appears nervous for some reason. "She asked about you."
My grin falls. "Did she?" I haven't spoken to or seen any of them since the day Cayden made her choice. I think we both needed space. I miss her, but only as a friend.
Her gaze drifts around the barn. "Yeah, she'd like to see you before she leaves for Athens in a couple weeks."
"Okay, I'll stop by when I get some free time."
Her eyes finally land on me. "Can we talk about the kiss the other night?"
Fuck! I was hoping she wouldn't bring it up. Since watching Jacob over the last few weeks, I've spent more time with Melanie, and I made a move. She shot me down. "Let's just forget about it." I try to downplay and brush off the rejection I feel. Being rejected twice in a month isn’t fun and can bruise a man’s ego.
She sighs heavily. "I don't want to forget about it. I also don't want to be a rebound for you. I really like you, Brody, but I want to know that I'm not setting myself up for heartbreak like I did with Jimmy Ray."
Although it’s never been revealed, Jimmy Ray is Jacob's father. He was the star quarterback for our high school team, and Melanie was the quiet bookworm that fell right in his web. Their relationship was kept a secret, and when she got pregnant, he denied everything. He was out of Senoia and onto college without ever a second thought. Melanie only recently told me the truth about them.
"You can't be a rebound when I never had her in the first place, Mel. And I would never do what he did to you."
She drops her eyes and nods. "I know. It just scares me."
"Hey," I whisper and let go of the shovel. Stepping closer, I rest one hand on her hip and use the other to lift her chin, our gazes locking. "I really like you too." My lips press against hers.
Melanie’s arms snake around my waist, and I pull her closer into my body, seeking entrance into her mouth. Once her lips part, I push my tongue inside, tasting her minty flavor. Her hands roam up my back and then across to my chest. The bulge in my jeans is growing harder by the second, and Melanie isn’t stopping. Taking the lead, I back her away from the dirty hay until we reach the new clean straw inside one of the stalls. Our bodies begin to lower until I’m hovering over her.
She pushes against my chest. “It’s been a long time, Brody.”
I grin down at her. “Let me show you what you’ve been missing.” I slam my lips to hers.
We are getting closer to school starting, and I’m still not feeling well. Not only am I still having headaches and feeling fatigued, but now I have to pee all the time. Zac’s been acting like a mother hen, watching me like a hawk. I keep telling him I’m fine, but I have an idea of what’s wrong. I have to test the theory though.
I manage to slip out of the house this morning without anyone seeing me. Standing in the same spot I was a couple of weeks ago, I grab a box of pregnancy tests instead of tampons this time though.
A smile plays at my lips as I tap the box against my hand and think about the future. I would love to have Zac’s baby. I mean, I’m nervous as hell, maybe even scared out of my mind, but my biggest fear is how Zac will take the news.
Making sure I have something else in hand from the store to cover my tracks, I pick up some cinnamon rolls for breakfast. After I pay for my items, I slip the box of tests into my purse and then bag the rolls. When I get to the Jeep to head home, I start laughing, certain I appear crazy. “Cinnamon rolls and pregnancy test…what a combo.”
As soon as I arrive home, I go into the kitchen and preheat the oven. Once ready, I slide the two pans of rolls in and set the timer.
I have a few minutes. Grabbing my purse, I rush into the bathroom and place it on the counter. I peer into the mirror and see a new me. There’s something different. Maybe it’s because I’m happy, maybe I’m simply exhausted, or maybe my nerves are getting the better of me.
I sigh and pull out the test. “Well, there’s no time like the present.” I pee on the small stick, the one that will help decide my future. Setting it on the counter, I can only wait…but I keep trying to peek.
I’m rubbing my anxious hands together, trying to be patient. Gah! Staring at it won’t make the result come faster. I step back and lean against the wall, breathing deeply.
Finally, I look at my watch and see that it’s been three minutes. I snatch the test off the counter and bring i
t closer to my face. There’s my answer: two pink lines, a positive result. I cover my mouth with my other hand in an attempt to hold my gasp in. Tears are welling in my eyes, and I’m not sure which emotion I should be feeling: excitement or scared shitless. Things just got a lot more interesting.
Placing the test back in the packaging, I hide it in my purse and leave the bathroom to finish taking care of breakfast. I’m numb. I’ve put myself on autopilot until I can talk with Zac, terrified of how he’ll react. I’m happy, but will he feel the same?
There are a couple of minutes left before the rolls are ready, but the kitchen is already filling with the wonderful aroma. Watching the timer tick down, I reach for a pot holder with one hand and rub my belly with the other. A beep brings me out of my stupor.
As I set the pans on the stove top, two large arms wrap around my waist. A set of familiar lips find the crook of my neck.
“Good morning, Big Boy.” I grin, spinning around in Zac’s arms.
“Morning. Smells great in here.”
“Hope you enjoy them.” I raise up on my tiptoes to give him a quick kiss.
Zac smirks. “I’m sure they’ll be fantastic.”
After I ice the rolls, I scoop out a couple, placing them on plates and setting them on the table in front of Zac. “Here ya go.”
Zac glances down and then back up to me. “Service with a smile. I like it.”
“Don’t get used to it.” I chuckle.
Zac pushes his chair out from the table, grabs my hand, and pulls me onto his lap. “Never think you have to serve me. I want us to cherish each other.”
I sure hope that’s true because our lives are about to change. Placing my hand on his cheek, I lean in for another kiss. When I pull away, I whisper, “Good.”
It’s late. I wish I could sleep, but I’m wide awake. However, I do love Zac’s arm wrapped around me. “Hey, Zac, you awake?”
“Hmm? I am now. What’s up, baby?” He responds groggily.
I roll over to face him. “I can’t sleep.”
“Yeah, I can help you with that.” Zac gives me a feather-light kiss.
I close my eyes, but then I start to gag and cough. Oh no! I scramble out of bed as fast as I can, almost face planting in the process, barely making it to the toilet in time. I’m vomiting while trying to keep my hair out of the way.
I hear Zac come in behind me. “Cayden?” He mumbles, leaning down and gathering my hair to hold for me.
“Zac,” More vomit comes up, “I’m sorry.” Tears roll down my face. Once I stop puking, I hear water running in the sink.
“Baby, here. This will help.” Zac hands me a warm washcloth to clean myself up. “Cayden, baby, please you need to go to the doctor. You’ve been sick for a while now.” Zac’s voice tells me how truly worried he is.
I push myself away from the toilet and rest my back against the tub, wiping my face with the washcloth. “Zac, I don’t need to go to the doctor. Okay, wait. Let me rephrase that. I should go, but it’s not because I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” I take a sip from the small glass of water that he filled in the sink and handed to me, swishing it around in my mouth before spitting it out in the bathtub.
Zac leans against the counter, his hands tightly grasping the counter behind him. “Then please let me in on the secret as to why you’re in here spewing like ‘The Exorcist.’”
“’The Exorcist?’ Really?” I snicker, afraid to laugh too hard because I don’t want to get sick again…he doesn’t think it’s funny though if his glare is anything to go by.
“Yes, tell me.” He’s completely serious in his statement.
Well, here goes nothing. “I’m pregnant.” Zac is silent, not a peep, not even a smartass remark. “Zac, say something.” He bends down, picks me up, and carries me to the bed. His silence is killing me. “Damn it, Zac. Please fuckin’ say somethin’.” I slap my hands against the bed.
“Good to know my swimmers have great aim.” His lips turn up into a full smile.
“So, you’re okay with the pregnancy news?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “Absolutely. I mean there was always a possibility that you could get pregnant. We haven’t used protection, and we’ve never talked about you being on any type of prevention. So yeah, I’m okay with it. Hell, I could even say I’m excited about it.”
“Are you serious? What’re we gonna do?” I place my head in my hands.
Zac reaches for my hands and removes them from my face, lifting my chin. Grabbing the back of my head, he brings me closer, kissing me before he pulls away. “We’re gonna be a family.” He cups both of my cheeks, wiping away my tears with his thumbs. I close my eyes letting more drops fall. “Cayd.” Kiss. “Baby.” Kiss. “Look at me.” His tender tone is soft. I open my eyes, staring into his soft hazel ones. “When I said I love you, I meant each and every word. When I said you were mine, I meant that too.” I drop my head, and Zac lifts my chin again, raising my eyes back to his. “My future is with you. The baby is a bonus. I’ve always wanted to have kids, and I’m thankful that you’ll be the mother of my children.” My heart rate steadies with each calming word. “We’ll figure it out, but first things first, we need to schedule a doctor appointment.”
I release a sigh of relief. “Agreed. Oh, and to tell my sisters and the guys.”
“Fuck! Your sisters are gonna kill me.” Zac runs his hands down his face.
“Um. I don’t think you need to worry about them. It’s Momma I’d be concerned about.” I smirk, winking.
Zac crawls up onto the bed and between my legs, spreading them apart to get comfortable, settling on his stomach. “Lay back,” He commands.
I don’t know what he’s doing. “What?”
Zac puts his finger to his mouth. “Shh.” Okay, that’s different. I lay back, propping my head on a pillow. Lifting my tank top enough to expose my stomach, he gently begins to rub his hands over it and leans forward. “Hey, slugger. I’m your daddy.” Oh, gracious. “I’m blessed to have your momma in my life. Now I’m doubly blessed to have you coming into our lives. I’m gonna make sure everything works out.” Tears start to pool in my eyes as he continues to talk to our baby. “You’ll be loved and spoiled…okay, maybe not too spoiled. I can’t wait to meet you, little slugger. I love you.” Stopping, he kisses my stomach three times.
“Oh, Zac.” I wipe more tears away. “That was beautiful.” He climbs over me and to my side. Facing him, I whimper, “I love you, Zac Benson.”
“I love you too, Cayden Fisher.” Zac wraps his arms around me, and I drift off to sleep.
Zac and I wake the next morning, and our first order of business is to find a doctor in Athens to get our first appointment set up. We luck out and locate a doctor close to the school.
Summer is coming to an end, and we have several things to take care of before school starts. Our next step is to get a plan together for the changes that are going to happen. We also decide the best course of action to share the news, will be to convince my sisters that we need a girls’ night in while the guys go out.
Zac exits the bathroom looking sexy, dressed in his well-worn jeans and a T-shirt. We walk downstairs and see everyone sitting in the living room. “Hey, guys. All y’all look ready for tonight,” I address our family with a grin.
“Dex, Mav, you guys ready to go out on the town while the ladies veg out?” Zac asks. They both stand from the couch with smirks on their faces.
“Yeah.” Mav gives Cyd a kiss, and Dex gives Callie and Raine kisses before they head to the door.
Zac pulls me close. “I love you,” He whispers before pressing his lips to mine. Finally, he lets me go and heads for the door to have fun and share our news with the guys.
“Okay, what’s goin’ on?” Cydney demands.
I turn on my heels and sit across from my sisters. With a deep breath, I rip the band-aid off. “Cyd, you like being an aunt, right? Callie, you want to be an aunt. Don’t you? Guess what? Zac and I are pregnant!” Boom! D
rop the bomb!
“You’re what?” My sisters shout simultaneously.
“You and Zac?” Callie questions.
“You’ve only been together a little while,” Cydney gapes. “Wait a minute. Things happened before the official get together, didn’t it?”
“Sure the hell did, and it was mind-blowing every time before, and still is now. So…yes, Zac and I are pregnant! You’re gonna be aunties!” I toss my hands in the air and give them a wide smile. Cyd and Callie’s mouths are hanging wide open. “What?”
“Pregnant! Aunties!” Callie exclaims. “What ‘bout school and becoming a vet?” Her voice raises in volume with each word.
“Yeah,” Cydney adds. It’s unusual that she isn’t saying more.
“I’m gonna finish school. I plan to do more of the in-classroom stuff this semester. Then I’ll switch over to online schooling until I need to return to the classroom for my clinical work. It might take me a little longer, but I’m gonna finish,” I explain.
Cydney sits back, crossing her arms. “And Zac?”
“He’s going to finish this semester and wait to see what happens with the draft. He’s on board with everything. In fact, we came up with the plan together.” I know this baby is a surprise, but Zac and I believe it will all work out.
“So, when are you gonna tell Momma?” Callie raises her brow.
“We’re okay on the momma front. We’ve actually found a doc in Athens and scheduled an appointment for after we get back. I kind of figured once we have that out of the way, we’ll tell Momma.” I cross my fingers, hoping that will go over well.
“Damn, sounds like you’ve got it all figured out,” Cydney states.
“Yes, we do.” I glance over to Callie, and her eyes are glistening with wetness. “What’s wrong, Callie?”
“I just…” She stands up, walks over to me, and sits down, Cydney following. “I’m actually happy for you, but to tell you the truth, I always thought Cyd would be the first one pregnant.”
I let out a small chuckle.
“Shut your pie hole, Cal.” Cydney swings her arm behind me to push Callie.