“The Thursday night when I was at study group.” Why was she asking this?
“No, he didn’t. He was here that night.” My head snapped up to look at Rose.
“What?” I shouted.
“He came over, we had some food. He was talking to me about strange things. Like his Dad. He seemed upset and left.”
“Well, that must have been where he went. To hook up with her.”
“No, he got in his car but he didn’t drive away. I watched him from the door. He seemed upset, confused even. I went out to the car and got him to come back in. He stayed the night Bonnie.”
“Oh my God, why did he tell me he was out with the guys? Why did he tell me he cheated on me? I don’t understand.”
“Me neither. Maybe you need to have a calm conversation with him, after all it’s not just the two of you anymore.” I nodded.
“I am so tired, I need to go home and rest.”
“Call me later if you need anything.”
“I’m fine. Go and have amazingly hot sex with your fiancé.” I smiled.
“Well, if you insist.” She giggled. “Love you.”
“Love you, too.” She hugged me and stepped out of my car and I drove home to have a lie down.
***
Joseph
I was furious as I stormed into Jacob and Rose’s home, the picture still firm in my grip.
“Hello?” I shouted out.
“We’re a bit busy, dude.” Jacob called back from the bedroom.
“Get out here, NOW!” I fumed. A couple of minutes later Jacob walked out of the bedroom in just his boxer shorts.
“What the fuck is your problem?” Jacob barked.
“Did you know?” I questioned.
“Know what?”
“About this?” I roared, shoving the picture into his chest.
“What’s going on?” Rose screamed running towards us. She stepped in between Jacob and me, to try and separate us. She placed her hand on my chest and pressed to get me to move, she couldn’t budge me. She glared at me and I took a step back.
“What’s this?” Jacob asked looking at the picture I shoved at him. “You knock some girl up?”
“What?” Rose spun around grabbing the photo. When she looked at it her face calmed, she knew.
“You knew?” I asked her. She nodded. I balled my fists together, I would never hit her but I was angry.
“I only found out yesterday. I went with her today. She was so scared.” Rose explained.
“Scared?” My body calmed down slightly. The thought of Bonnie being scared didn’t sit right with me. I should have been there. I should never have walked away.
“Yes, because of last time. She is terrified of having another miscarriage. She can’t be upset or stressed. Then she wanted to see you, to tell you and she walks in and sees you on a date!” Rose was getting angrier by the second. “And not to mention that for some reason you told her that you slept with someone else while you were here, all night.”
I slumped down into the sofa and placed my head in my hands. “I’m not good enough for her.”
“Well, she thinks you are… Now, suck it up, you have a little baby to think about… Who was the girl she saw you with? Are you dating someone?”
“No! I only want Bonnie. I haven’t been with anyone else.”
“You haven’t slept with a chick in over three months?” Jacob asked, even he didn’t believe me. I shook my head.
“Who’s the girl?” Rose demanded to know.
“Hold on.” I stood up and walked towards the front door and out to the car where Jamie-Lee was sitting.
“Everything ok?” She asked, looking concerned for me.
“Not really, you wanna come in?” I smiled, knowing that she wanted to meet Jacob and Rose.
“I don’t know, is this really the best time?” She nervously played with her hands in her lap.
“Come on?” I held out my hand for her and she took it. We walked towards the front door and she stopped me.
“What if they hate me?”
“They won’t hate you, they will love you, like I do.” I winked at her and she relaxed slightly. We walked into the living room where Rose and Jacob were standing.
“Oh, no you don’t. Get your, whatever the hell she is, fuck buddy, out of my home.” Rose yelled.
“Rose, I just told you that I haven’t slept with anyone since being with Bonnie.”
“Joseph, that’s not the way to introduce me.” She smacked me on the arm. I laughed and shook my head.
“Why are all the women in our lives ball busters?” Jacob chuckled and Rose glared at him. He held his hands up in front of him as if to say sorry.
“Rose, Jacob, this is Jamie-Lee…”
“Joe, this really isn’t fair. Bonnie is my best friend, I can’t be socialising with your…” She waved her hand at Jamie-Lee not knowing what to call her. “With who you are dating. She is having your baby.”
“A baby?” Jamie-Lee gushed. I nodded and her smile increased.
“Bonnie and Joseph’s baby. Not yours.” She was getting irritated, if she’d just let me speak without interrupting, this would have all been sorted out by now.
“Rose, Jamie-Lee is…” She cut me off again.
“No, I can’t do this. Bonnie will kill me. I’m sorry, Joseph.” She began walking away when I said;
“She is our sister.”
Chapter 26
Joseph
I had been calling and texting Bonnie constantly for the past two weeks, I had even turned up at her house but no-one ever answered the door. I knew she was ok as Rose was keeping me up to date with everything. I tried giving her space and time but I was done waiting. She was mine and I was ready to do anything I needed to make her see that.
12.45pm:- Please answer your phone x
13.30pm:- You will have talk to me soon x
14.30pm:- Do you still choose me? x
Still no replies, there was only one thing I could do to see her. I dialled Rose’s number.
“Hello.” She answered.
“Hey, sis. I need a favour.”
“Sure, what’s up?”
“I need you to get Bonnie to your house, so I can see her.”
“Joseph, I don’t want to get involved.”
“Too late, you were involved when you went to see my baby before me.”
“Hold on a minute, I was being there for my best friend.” She snapped.
“Please, Rose, I need to see her.”
“Fine. Be here in an hour.” She hung up before I could say anything. Now all I needed was a plan to win Bonnie over.
Bonnie
Joseph had been constantly calling or texting me for the past two weeks. You thought he would have got the hint that I didn’t want to see him by now.
Ping. I heard my phone beep and I rolled my eyes as I knew it was going to be from Joseph. I grabbed my phone and was surprised to see a text from Rose.
Hey, come over for some food? I miss you and bump x
Yeah, sure. We miss you too. It’s hardly a bump! x
Oh, come on, you are normally stick thin. We can tell you’re pregnant. Lol x
See you soon x
Rose was really excited about becoming an aunt and she admitted that Jacob knew, too, after Joseph told him. I got dressed out of my usual jogging bottoms and baggy t-shirt. I hadn’t told Mum and Dad about the baby yet, they were currently away visiting Grandpa, he wasn’t coping well with the loss of my Grandma. I put on some low rise jeans and a tight t-shirt that would show off my small baby bump, Rose would love that.
Twenty minutes later I walked through Rose and Jacob’s front door.
“Hello?” I called out. I heard voices but couldn’t see anyone. I hung my coat up and made my way towards the living room.
“Bonnie!” Rose called out, happily running towards me and engulfing me in a huge hug. “I missed you.” She stepped back and looked at me. “Look, I told you. A bump.”
&nb
sp; “Hi, Bonnie.” Jacob said as he kissed me on the cheek and stood behind me. That was strange, I thought. I shrugged my shoulders and looked at Rose.
“What are we eating? I’m starving.”
“Yeah, about that.” Rose said nervously.
“Hi, sweetness.” My stomach dropped when I heard his voice. I looked up and Joseph was walking towards me. He wasn’t looking at me, his eyes were glued to my baby bump. I protectively placed my hand on my tummy.
“What is he doing here?” I asked no-one in particular. Silence. “Rose?” I hadn’t taken my eyes off him yet.
“I’m sorry, he begged me. He just wants to talk to you.” We all stood in awkward silence when the front door opened and a female called out;
“Hello?”
“Shit.” Joseph swore under his breath, but it was loud enough for me to hear. She walked in the front door and I recognised her as the girl from the Coffee Bean that had been with Joseph.
“Hi.” Jacob said as he kissed her on the cheek. She walked up to Rose and gave her a hug.
“Seriously?” I called out, looking at Rose. “You’re supposed to be my best friend, I can’t believe this.” I turned around to walk away and Jacob blocked my path. “Get out of my way.” I snapped. He shook his head.
“You need to talk to him.” Jacob insisted. I turned around to face Joseph.
“Fine, talk.” I crossed my arms over my chest and stood still.
“Hi Bonnie, I’m…”
“I don’t care who you are… Joseph if you want to talk, then talk.” I was not standing here in silence for another minute. She went to speak to me again when Joseph said;
“J-Lee, don’t.” She looked at him and backed away from me. “Give us a minute, guys.”
“No, what you have to say to me can be said in front of them.”
Joseph ran his hands through his hair. “I miss you.”
I scoffed. “You do realise your girlfriend is standing right there, probably not the best thing for her to hear.”
“She isn’t my girlfriend, she’s my sister!” He responded.
“Sister?” I looked around at the other three people in the room and they all nodded their heads. “I don’t understand.”
“Let me explain, please?” He pleaded, taking a step closer to me. I nodded and he pulled me into a hug. I pushed him away.
“I will let you tell me what the hell has been going on, but that’s it. You can be involved in the baby’s life, but not mine.” I tried to stay strong, I had to think about what was best for me and my baby. I fought the urge to climb up his body and claim his mouth. I wanted him so badly but couldn’t have someone who lied to me in my life.
“Ok, not here. Let’s go to my place.”
“What about Matt?” I didn’t want to see him. I needed to tell him about the baby, it was only right for it to come from me. “Does he know?” I asked, placing my hand back onto my tummy.
“He has been away for a couple of weeks. He doesn’t know anything.” Joseph explained.
“OK, I want to be the one that tells him.” Joseph and Jacob nodded.
“Will you come back with me?” Joseph held out his hand. I nodded but I didn’t take his hand. I looked at Rose, she nodded before I even said anything. She knew I was sorry for over-reacting.
“I’m sorry for how I acted.” I said to their sister.
“Don’t worry, hormones. I understand.”
“You do?” I asked. She nodded as she pulled her loose fitting top tighter around her body to show me a baby bump. “How far along are you?”
“Twenty two weeks. The father doesn’t want anything to do with either of us.”
“I’m sorry.” I felt bad that Joseph was fighting to be in our lives and her guy wanted nothing to do with her.
“Come on, sweetness.” Joseph placed his hand on my back and kissed his sister goodbye on her cheek.
***
Joseph
“I’m so happy that you’re here. Coffee?”
“I can’t drink coffee anymore.” I looked at her and she waved her hand in front of her tummy.
“Shit. I’m gonna be no good at this.” What kind of Dad would I make?
“Hey, you can’t know everything. I’ve read a lot of books on this stuff. Now, tell me what’s been going on.” I led her to the sofa and we both sat down facing each other. I held onto her hand and told her all of my fears of not being the person she needs, of my fears of hurting her and how I was worried that I was too much like my Dad and that I would walk out on her.
“Babe, you have already shown me that you wouldn’t walk out on me, on us.” She placed my hand on her tiny bump. “You have been persistent in getting me to talk to you, if you didn’t care you would have moved on.” I nodded at what she had said. Would I be able to overcome my fears?
“Tell me about your sister.”
“Her name is Jamie-Lee, she is twenty four. Mum and Dad gave her up for adoption. She has tried looking for them but couldn’t find them. She hired a private investigator and he found me and Jacob. She contacted me about three months ago and we met up.”
“What about her family?”
“They helped her find us. She wants to stick around for a bit.”
“Who’s the Dad to her baby?”
“Don’t know, she won’t say. All she says is that he kicked her out and doesn’t want anything to do with either of them.”
“Oh my God. I know how she feels.” My head snapped over to look at her. “Not you. Damien.” I sighed in relief, I thought she meant me.
“I want to be a family, you, me and our baby.”
“I don’t know… You hurt me, Joseph. You walked away from me, you lied to me.”
“Only because I thought I was doing what was best for you. Please, give me a chance. I have found life difficult without you these last few months.” I couldn’t tell what she was thinking, she had tears in her eyes and I wanted to hold her close to me.
“Ok.” She whispered. “We can try.” I pulled her into my lap and kissed her, I had been dying to do that ever since I saw her standing in Jacob and Rose’s living room. She moaned and fisted my hair in her hands.
“I won’t hurt you again, I promise. I love you, Bonnie.”
“You do?” I nodded. Her smile stretched. “I love you, too.”
“Move in with me.” I mumbled in between kisses. She pulled away and look into my eyes.
“I really would love to, but what about Matt? Also, isn’t it a bit fast?”
“What about him?”
“I think I hurt him… I haven’t told him about the baby yet. He may not want me here.”
“We’ll see what he says. Ok?” She nodded.
“I’m gonna grab a drink. Do you want one?” She asked, standing up. I stood up too.
“I can get it, what do you want?”
“Joseph, I am quite capable of making a drink. Now, sit down.” She pushed me back down onto the sofa and I pulled her in between my legs. I pushed her t-shirt up and placed a kiss on her small tummy.
“I’ll have a beer, please.” She nodded and walked into the kitchen. A couple of minutes later I heard a scream and I ran into the kitchen. “What’s wrong?” She didn’t look like she was in pain, she looked scared.
“A huge spider ran that way. Get it, Joseph, get it.” She pushed me in the direction of the spider.
“Christ sake, babe! I thought there was something wrong with you.”
“There is a fucking massive spider!” I laughed as I walked to where she said the spider ran, it wasn’t big at all. It was curled up, cowering in the corner. I cupped my hands around it and picked it up. I walked back towards her. “Oh my God, what are you doing?” She screamed.
“I need you to open the window so I can put it outside.” I chuckled. She nodded, opened the window and ran to the other side of the room as if once I let the spider go it would come right back for her.
“There, all gone.” I said as I closed the window and wash
ed my hands. Her body relaxed immediately and then tensed again when we heard the front door open.
“Hello. Anyone home?” Called Matt.
“In here.” I called back. Bonnie ran around the kitchen until she was standing behind the breakfast bar. “What are you doing?”
“I don’t want him to see my bump first, I need to tell him first.” I never understood women’s logic.
“Hey, how’s it…” Matt stopped talking when he looked up and saw Bonnie standing in the kitchen next to me.
“Hey, man, good to have you back. Beer?” I asked, opening the fridge and taking out a couple of bottles.
“Sure.”
“Hi, Matt. How are you?” Bonnie asked.
“Great, so what’s this? You two a couple now?” He stood with his arms folded over his chest.
“I wanted to talk to you and tell you…” Bonnie started but he cut her off.
“Well, I know now.”
“There’s something else I need to tell you, I want you to hear it from me… I’m pregnant.”
“What? Is it mine?” He asked.
“No, asshole, it’s mine.” I looked at Bonnie. “Right?” I never thought to question it before.
“Yes, of course it’s yours.”
“How do you know for sure?” Matt asked. I looked at Bonnie and could see she was getting annoyed.
“Because, you and I never had unprotected sex. I was on anti-biotics and the doctor told me that would have cancelled out my pill when Joseph and I were together.”
“You went in bareback?” He looked at me. “You never let me do that.” He said, looking at Bonnie.
“That’s enough, you don’t get to talk to Bonnie like that, you hear me?”
“Whatever, man, so she moving in here?”
“Yeah, she is.” I was planning on talking about it with him, but after the way he was talking I couldn’t give a shit how he felt about it.
“Then I’ll be out of here by the end of the week.”
“No, Matt, you don’t have to leave.” Bonnie said to his back as he left the room. I looked at Bonnie and saw that she had tears running down her face.
Giving A Chance (Chance Series Book 2) Page 14