by S. C. Adams
“Of course you weren’t. I know you just wanted to impress our friends. Never apologize for being yourself.”
“Okay, Nash. I’ll …,” Nellie voice trails off, sounding sleepy. I look down at her and her eyes are closed, her long lashes shadowing her cheeks.
It doesn’t take too much longer for Nellie to fall asleep. She looks totally at peace, which I hope is how the way she’s felt since moving in with me. If not, I haven’t been doing my job right.
I’m a little bit tired myself, but not enough to fall asleep. I look at the beautiful girl resting beside me. We haven’t even come to the halfway mark of our three month arrangement, and yet I’m already questioning everything.
But it’s to be expected because I knew Nellie was different the first night we got together. I’m usually a very guarded person, but I was strangely open with her. It probably wasn’t as obvious because she didn’t know me at the time, but I was definitely acting differently with her. And these past couple weeks have just made me want to spend even more time with her.
It’s just so god damn confusing.
I’ve never been one for feelings, not like these anyway. I’ve never been one to get caught up in a woman. But I guess things change.
At least we have a little time left together. I don’t need to figure this all out tonight, although I can’t avoid it forever. I want to get all these thoughts in my brain sorted. I hate this feeling of having my mind all muddled with emotions.
I’m about to close my eyes when my phone beeps. I pick it up and see I just got a text from Colt. Unlocking my phone, I read his message.
“Hey, dude. Sorry if Amy and I got a little too frisky for Nellie. We just headed out and are on our way home. See you at Jaybird tomorrow.”
I know Nellie was a little surprised. I mean, I could see it in her wide eyes, but I don’t think she was offended. I text Colt back, telling him not to worry.
I also add a bit of a snarky comment. Colt is usually the one who always making a snide comment, but, every once in a while, I can throw it back.
When I’m done with texting, I put my phone down on the bedside table and rest my head on my pillow.
I look down at Nellie. She’s fast asleep by now, her breathing even and relaxed. This moment is so calm that I don’t want to mar it with my frenzied thoughts. I’m just going to go to sleep, and I’ll think about everything I need to think about tomorrow.
16
Nellie
About a month later.
I wake up and Nash isn’t in bed. I sit up to see him getting dressed, pulling on a gray t-shirt that clings to his sculpted abs.
The covers are still draped over my legs, my chest exposed. Yawning, I stretch out my arms, and the noise I make causes Nash to turn around and look at me.
“Good morning, sleepy head,” he growls.
I rub my eyes, the early morning sleepiness hard to fully break away from.
“Good morning,” I murmur.
“Did you sleep well?” Nash walks over to me and places a quick kiss on my forehead.
“Yeah, I’m a little sore, but nothing too bad.”
Concern crosses his expression.
“Do you want to cancel your outing with Amy? I’m sure she’ll understand.” I start shaking my head.
“No, no. I can still walk. Your huge shaft didn’t turn me into an invalid, don’t worry.”
“Oof, she’s got bite,” Nash holds his heart, feigning hurt.
“Yes, I do,” I respond cheekily, getting out of bed. I don’t have anything on because my lingerie is lying on the floor, and Nash’s eyes widen as I approach.
I place a hand on his shoulder and get up on my tiptoes so I can softly bite at his earlobe.
“I have to get to work, Nellie,” he warns even as his body goes hard.
“Are you sure we don’t have any time?” I ask seductively. Nash gives me a look that lets me know he’s in on this game I’m playing with him. I’m worried he won’t succumb to my womanly charms, but then he picks me up and throws me on the bed.
“I guess we have a little bit of time,” he growls. “Now get ready.”
Nash finally managed to leave after about an hour and a half, so he’ll definitely be late to work, not that he was too upset.
I’m lying in bed, fully and completely satisfied. I have to meet Amy in about two hours in the town center, so I should probably get myself ready, but it’s nice to lie here for a while.
Most of my lingerie has been moved to Nash’s room, so I can shower and easily get dressed, but all of my coats and jackets are still in the room he originally gave me. I don’t think I’ve been in there since moving all my intimates into his closet.
Wow. That’s a while ago. I hadn’t even really given it a second thought. I get out of bed and go to what is technically ‘my’ bedroom and open up my suitcase. Brenda must have moved it because it was standing up against the wall when I walked in, as opposed to being stowed in a closet.
But other than that one little detail, nothing else has really changed. It’s like this room has been frozen in time since I left.
“Weird,” I comment.
I take out a skirt and blouse, holding them up to get a good look. They both look so foreign to me. I’ve been so scantily clad lately that my conservative clothes feel like a lifetime ago.
I grab them anyways, taking my old clothes to the bathroom in Nash’s room. As I turn on the shower, I wonder to myself why I keep calling it Nash’s room. I mean I’ve spent every night of my time here sleeping in his bed, and almost all of my things are in here.
Why can’t I say our room?
I guess because I just can’t.
I step into the shower once it’s hot enough, letting the spray hit me directly in the face. The heat helps to loosen up my muscles, giving me a little bit of relief from last night’s and this morning’s activities. I had so much fun, but sometimes the positions Nash puts me are absolutely foreign to my body, and it takes a little bit of time to readjust.
I soap up every inch of my body. This will be my first time going out since getting here. It’s not like Nash has kept me locked up or anything. It’s just the first time I’ve wanted to do something off the estate premises.
After all, he wasn’t lying when he said his home has almost anything I could possibly want.
I finish up my shower and dry myself off. After lotioning up, I pick up the clothes I brought with me into the bathroom. I hold them up against my body, looking into the mirror. They look like they’re for another woman, and seem oddly out of place.
“Well, this is what you have,” I say to myself. I shrug.
I don’t really have much else to wear that isn’t too different from this outfit. Except for my little black dress I wore that first night, and I don’t think I’m going to wear that for my outing with Amy.
“It’s not too bad,” I reassure myself. I pull the clothes on before taking another look in the mirror.
Honestly, I look like my old self. I don’t hate it, but it’s like looking at an old photo from decades ago. I sigh as I smooth my skirt and blouse. I have to get going soon if I want to meet Amy on time.
I’m able to do a quick face of makeup, and then I’m out the door. The car is already waiting for me when I get outside. I get driven to the closest mall and find Amy there, already waiting for me. She looks the same as she usually does in a cute top and jeans. Her eyes fly open as she gives me a bear hug.
“Nellie! You’re wearing your old clothes.”
“Yeah, I didn’t really have much of anything else that wasn’t this or, you know, things I can’t wear in polite society.”
“I totally understand, girl. Do you want to pick up something while we’re here? We’ve got the whole mall at our fingertips.”
“Yeah, let’s go shopping.” I’d like to purchase a few things to surprise Nash with. I know he would more than appreciate it.
“I know a great place. Follow me!” Amy leads me into the mall
. We walk past a few store fronts until we reach an exclusive boutique. She starts to pull me in, but I hold myself back.
“I don’t know.”
“Come on, Nellie. This place is great!”
“Are you sure they have my size?” A lot of times, places like this, even if they go up to my size, won’t always carry it in stores. Extended sizes are sometimes only available on-line. I’d rather just walk away than risk the embarrassment of being too big for their shop.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I should I told you before, but these guys cater to everyone. I’ve actually been wanting to take you here for years, but I thought you never liked stuff like this. If you don’t want to go in, we don’t have to,” my friend apologizes.
“No, no. I trust you. Sorry if I freaked out a little bit.”
“Don’t worry about it, girlfriend. Always let me know if you’re feeling uncomfortable about something.” Amy brings me into a hug and rubs my back. Having her as a friend makes me feel so much better.
“We can go inside now,” I say against Amy, who is still hugging me.
“Of course, of course.” She lets me go and smoothes my clothes down. “I’ve told the shop all about you, and everyone inside has been dying to meet you.” Of course she did. Amy can make friends wherever she goes.
We go inside the store, and a sales associate approaches us, greeting Amy with enthusiasm.
“Amy! It’s been so long!”
“Alice!” They hug one another, and then Amy points the saleslady towards me. “I finally brought my friend. Alice this is Nellie. Nellie, Alice.”
Alice and I exchange pleasantries, and we shake hands.
“I have to show you some of the new pieces we have in. I’m sure you’ll absolutely adore them. They’re divine,” Alice gushes. The two of us follow Alice to the back of the store, where there’s a very fancy, extra private fitting room. It has snacks and drinks and lingerie hanging on the walls. It’s gorgeous.
Alice pulls out all kinds of sexy fripperies. I gasp. There are a multitude of silks and laces, each one tinier than the last.
She lays them out on a table for us, describing how to put them on and how they work.
“So, what do you guys think?” Alice asks. Amy and I look at one another, but before we can answer, Alice’s phone beeps. She checks and makes a sad face.
“Sorry, guys. I have to take care of some things up front which might take me a while, but feel free to try things on, look at them, touch them, whatever you need. If you finish before I get back, just bring whatever you want to buy up front.” We thank her, and she departs.
Once Alice is gone, I am able to calm down a little bit. She was nice enough but having someone new here while I was browsing intimate clothing had me a little bit stressed.
“What do you think?” my friend asks. Amy holds up one of the pieces Alice showed us. It’s a see-through black bra that comes with a matching G-string.
“Um, it’s cute.”
“I think so too. I like it, but I don’t know if I should get it.”
“Why not? You’d look great in it.”
“Well,” Amy trails off. It seems like there’s something she wants to tell me, and if that’s the case, I am dying to know. There isn’t anything outwardly different I can recognize about her. I mean, she does seem to have a certain glow about her, but my friend’s always been beautiful.
Oh wait. Glow.
“Are you …?” I start. Amy nods, answering my question before I can even finish it. “Oh my goodness!”
“Yes! I’m pregnant!” she says gleefully.
Seriously, oh my goodness. I can’t believe Amy is pregnant. I never really thought that we were ready, to be honest. We’re in our twenties, and busy trying to start our lives. Then, I had my whole family to worry about too.
Is Amy okay with this sudden change?
“Are you good? I mean, didn’t you just meet Colt?” It’s been maybe two months since we first met them at the party. All the relationship experts and books would tell you it is much too early to start family planning with a man you only just met.
“Of course I’m good,” Amy nods. “I’m better than good. I’m ecstatic! I know Colt and I just met, but we get along so well.”
“So, you’re sure this is what you want?”
“Yeah!” Amy replies with a blissful expression. “Colt and I have spoken about it, and we decided we both wanted to try for a baby. I know it might seem weird, but our entire lifestyle is weird to outsiders. The two of us know what we want, and we decided to go for it.”
Amy makes some good points. After all, I’ve been falling head over heels for Nash. But we don’t communicate the same way Colt and Amy do.
“Wow, you got pregnant pretty quickly,” I remark.
“Duh,” Amy playfully swats my arm. “Clearly, Colt is insanely virile. After only two months, we’ve already reached our goal.” She cups her belly proudly. She’s not showing, but it’s beyond clear to me that Amy is over the moon.
It starts me thinking, and because I’m having these thoughts, a realization crosses over my mind. I feel the blood drain from my face.
“Holy cow,” I gasp.
“What is it?”
“Um, Nash and I use protection, but not all the time. Sometimes, we get so in the moment that we forget the condom.”
Amy nods.
“Do you think I’m okay? I mean, I don’t know. What do I do, Amy?”
“Oh, he probably wants to get you pregnant,” Amy says casually. “You don’t have anything to worry about.”
Her words are no solace as the blood drains from my face. I feel like I might just faint.
“But we haven’t even spoken about pregnancy or children! I mean, how do I know if that’s even what he wants?” Amy starts to giggle a little bit. “What?”
“Oh, Nellie. Men like Colt and Nash are always incredibly virile. He wants you to have his child, trust me,” she assures me. “The only question is if that’s what you want. Why not? I mean, you guys seem so into one another. All lovey dovey.”
“I, um, I don’t know. It’s something that hasn’t even crossed my mind.”
“Well, think about it,” she urges. “You’re already living with him. The logical next step is to start a family,” she shrugs. I’m about to ask Amy a whole host of questions that may or may not be a little intrusive, but Alice walks back just then.
I don’t want to get into this with a stranger present, so I clam up about the issue, and we get back to talking about the lingerie that Alice laid out for us earlier. We pick out a few things and pay for our purchases before leaving the mall.
“Do you want to grab something to eat?” Amy asks me.
“Uh,” I look down at the bags I’m carrying. I do want to go and eat with my friend, but I don’t want to lug these bags around with me. “Do you want to meet at a restaurant? I want to drop these off with the driver.”
“Yeah, let’s go to Petrucci’s. We haven’t been there in so long, and I miss their fettuccini alfredo.”
“Okay, I’ll see you there.” Amy and I part, and I go back to the parking lot. The driver helps me place the bags in the trunk, and I tell him to drop me off a Petrucci’s next.
On the ride over, I think about all the things Amy and I talked about. Maybe I shouldn’t be so freaked out. I don’t even know if I’m pregnant. And Nash and I don’t use protection sometimes, so I really don’t know.
I should just talk to Nash about this, right?
We get to Petrucci’s before I can get too much deeper into thought.
“Thank you, Zac.”
“No problem, Miss Newman. I’ll be waiting here for when you are ready to go home.”
“Thanks again.” I leave him and go into the restaurant. Amy is already waiting for me inside at a table.
“Nellie!” she waves at me. I wave back and go over to join her.
I sit down, picking up the menu to peruse it. Petrucci’s was a favorite spot for me and Amy, so I
don’t really need to menu, but it’s a good distraction.
I feel Amy’s hand on mine, causing me to put down my menu.
“Do you want to talk about anything? About what we talked about before?” she asks kindly.
I shake my head.
“I’m good. I just want some get some yummy pasta and talk to my best friend about her upcoming pregnancy,”
“Yeah, okay.” Amy smiles. Our waiter stops by just then, and we order. Amy gets her fettuccini alfredo, and I get some pasta and sausage with red sauce. We also get a few appetizers to share. Not because Nash or Colt would mind us spending the money, but because it’s what we always do, and it’s the nostalgia of the act.
“So, tell me about this baby, Amy. Does Colt know?”
“Yeah,” Amy nods. “I told him a couple of nights ago after confirming it. He was so happy. He carried me right up to the bedroom and showed me just how happy he was.”
“Oh, Amy,” I laugh. I know exactly what she means.
“We’ve already been thinking of names and stuff. Colt had a whole laundry list that I was not expecting. I’ll send it to you later. I’ll take your input on everything because I fully trust you.”
“Really?”
“Duh! You’re my best friend, girl! I can’t wait to have you with me on this journey. Buying baby clothes, cribs, the little jars of food. The classes. I know they’re meant for the couples, but I’m sure you can drop in on a few of them. I’ll show you all of the scans and pictures, and you’ll be Auntie Nellie. Maybe my baby can hang out with your nieces. It’s going to be great!”
I knew Amy was happy about this whole thing, but I didn’t realize just how much she’d been wanting this.
“Well, I can’t wait to meet this baby, when he or she comes. And I’ll be the best aunt you could ask for.”
Our waiter comes back with our food, holding the plates in his hands.
“I’ve got the fettuccini alfredo,” Amy states. “Which means this pasta with red sauce is yours.” The waiter places our food down, giving us a big smile.