“Well, good news, you did not catch an infection or parasite from your stint on the show.” He says. “Your secret is safe with me. But I have to ask this, how long have you been home from the show?”
“A month.” I tell him.
What could this have to do with what is going on with me?
“Alright, were you sexually active with anyone before or during the show?” He asks.
I frown. Sexually active? What the hell does he need to know that for? Did I get a sexually transmitted disease?
“During the show.” I tell him.
“How long ago was that first time?” He asks.
“Five or six weeks, I can’t really remember. Why?” I ask.
“Because well you are roughly five weeks pregnant.” He tells me.
I just gape at him. How am I pregnant? I can’t be pregnant? I was on my period just before the show. I know we used a condom at the villa. I am positive of that. I am always so careful.
But as I try to wrack my brain to see if the condom could have broken, it hits me. I remember only using a condom the first time. That causes me to freeze. The morning after, we didn’t use a condom. We didn’t use one after he was announced final two.
How could I have been so stupid? I should have paid better attention. I should have known better. He should have known better. Caught up in the moment or not, we both know better. I don’t understand how we could have forgotten.
My stomach starts to roll again, and I have to close my eyes and take deep breaths. I am so sick of getting sick that I really hope I don’t get sick anymore.
“I would like to do an ultrasound just to be sure. But your levels are on track for about five weeks closer to six weeks.” He tells me. “I will go get the machine and be right back.”
I am in shock. I look to Caleb who looks pale and his mouth is hanging open. He is in shock. I can’t believe I am pregnant. I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that we didn’t use condoms. I really can’t believe it.
Before the show, I was on birth control, because well, I wanted regular periods. But before coming to the set, we had to get checked by our doctors and medically cleared to be on the show. It was that appointment that I spoke to my doctor about what to do with my birth control. After some major talking, I decided that because I wasn’t sexually active, I could go off the pill for two months and start back up after getting home. Which, thankfully, didn’t happen.
“You need to call Ryder.” Caleb says.
“I will… I… I’m pregnant.” I whisper.
It feels so surreal because I never thought that I would be pregnant. I never thought that I would get pregnant on the show. I never thought of it as something that could happen. I can’t believe I didn’t make sure we used condoms. I can’t believe that he didn’t think about it either. Not that I blame him, I am just as much as fault as he is. But how am I going to tell him?
Telling him over the phone just feels so impersonal. Texting him, just as bad. I will have to see him in person for that. But I don’t know what he will do or say. I don’t know how he will react or anything.
The doctor comes back in and pulls me from my thoughts. He instructs me to lift my gown, but keep my legs covered, so that Caleb doesn’t see anything he doesn’t want to. He puts this warm gel on my stomach and starts trying to do the ultrasound. Unfortunately, he doesn’t see anything so he has to do a transvaginal, for which Caleb gladly steps outside, after promising me that he will not be the one telling Ryder anything.
Caleb and Ryder have become close, which is a good thing in my eyes. But, in the last month that we have been home, Ryder has only been able to get away to come see me once. The same for me. Just once, I was able to get away, and my time is going to be more limited in a few days when summer school gets started.
“Look, there is your baby.” The doctor says.
I look at the screen and instantly tears fill my eyes. There on the screen is a little bean of a baby. My baby. Ryders baby. I can’t stop the tears from falling. My baby is on the screen. Soon the tears come a lot harder when the doctor finds the heartbeat and plays it for me. I smile at that. My baby has a heartbeat.
“Heartrate is about one hundred forty. Perfect.” He says. “According to your measurements, you are right around six weeks.”
He clicks more buttons on the machine and I see photos printing out. He goes to the computer and starts typing before grabbing the photos and writing something down.
“So, going by your measurements, and your levels, your due date seems to be February twenty-fourth. Of course, you will have to see an actual OBGYN for confirmation on that due date, but that’s just the guess for now.”
THIRTY
Ryder
I am nervous. Why? Well because today is the day of the premier episode of Survival Instincts. Not only that, but Ari and Caleb are coming here, to my house, to see it. They are bringing their parents, meaning of course, I have to bring mine over too. Rachel is coming as well, of courses. But I am nervous. I have never met their father before. I have met their mother, just once, when I was in town visiting Ari and her mom came by to drop something off. But it’s been a while.
Almost a month to be exact. But still I am nervous. Because well, Ari has been different lately. Caleb tells me its normal for her. He tells me that she is learning the whole relationship thing with me. That her last relationship was not what someone would call normal and she didn’t get a chance to learn how a relationship is supposed to work. But the thing is, I don’t think that’s it.
Three weeks ago, she was in the hospital because she was dehydrated and passed out at work. Passed out at work. I had called while she was at the hospital and was left in a panic for a few hours waiting to hear what was wrong with her. I couldn’t get away from work to go check on her, I wish I could have. I desperately was calling my crew and seeing if anyone could take over doing bids for me that day, I am a stickler for not rescheduling unless its life or death. But they were all busy with other projects. So, I was stuck at work. Though, if Caleb would have texted me to tell me that she needed me, I would have made an exception to that rule.
But between meeting her parents formally, her meeting my parents formally, and knowing she has been different, I am super nervous. Nervous because what if my mom and dad don’t like her? What if her dad doesn’t like me?
I shake myself out of my thoughts and get to work on setting up for this party. Between Rachel and I, we put this thing together last minute. Her friend is catering the food for us. Rachel is bringing the drinks, and Ari and Caleb are bringing something for dessert. I make sure to have the house clean for when they start arriving.
Of course, first here is my parents and Rachel, with drinks and the catered food. I help her set it up, and then between the two of us, we pull out more chairs and things, because I don’t have enough for everyone.
The doorbell finally rings, and I instantly feel my nerves come back. I open the door and there, looking like she is glowing, is Ari, with her brother, and her parents.
Her mom, Carla, has long brown hair, the same shade as Ari’s. Her brown eyes are super dark and look so much like Caleb’s. Their dad, I know his name is Paul, has short black hair and hazel eyes. Caleb has a few of his features but he looks more like his mom.
I invite them in and tell them to help themselves to the food. Which they do, after I introduce everyone.
I pull Ari into the hall behind the living room and kiss her. I can’t help it. I have missed her so much. I can’t wait to spend the whole night with our families and see how they get along.
“I missed you.” I tell her.
She smiles at me. “I missed you too. I have a surprise for you.”
I arch a brow, “What is it?”
“You have to wait until later.” She says as she winks at me.
She walks around me and out into the crowd that is our families in my small living room. I stand there, leaning against the door smiling, this is amazing.
>
****
It’s time for the show to begin, we are all sitting scattered around my living room. Ari is in front of me, sitting with her back against my chest. We have chosen to sit on the floor on a pillow, because then we could sit like this. Caleb is sitting on the couch next to Rachel. As I look around the room at our families, I am so happy. Excited that we are all together, and getting ready to watch the first episode, together. It’s something I have been thinking about since coming home from the show. It’s something I have been hoping goes well, and when Rachel suggested that the four of us get together to watch the show, I jumped on that idea. As I have a house, and the rest of them have apartments, I figured my house would be best for a crowd like this.
I am pulled from my thoughts as I see Caleb hand Ari a box. I frown. She sets it on the floor beside us as the show comes on.
I have to say, watching yourself on TV is very weird. I mean, it’s weird because I am sitting here wondering, do I look like that all the time? Do I really sound like that? It gets even weirder when the teams are announced, and our parents see for the first time that the four of us were paired together. Of course, my parents loved the idea of Ari and I being paired together. They loved knowing that we met on day one of the show. They can tell people that now. But they won’t, it’s something that has to wait until the finale to happen.
As the show goes on, and the first challenges are played, we get congratulated on our wins. We get cheers when we win, and Ari and I get slaps on the back, when it’s clear that our camp was set up first. But when the elimination comes around, our parents are shocked to see it was all left up to fate who got eliminated. Of course, they were appalled. I told them that it was no big deal, that this season was so different from the past three seasons, that the producers had to do something to set this season apart. This settled them down, and oddly enough, they agreed with me.
The episode ends with a sneak peek at the next episode. Everyone starts talking at once. Asking us questions. Telling us, we played amazing. It was totally great to see us on the screen. Ari keeps blushing because of her abilities with puzzles we won first place for the first challenge.
I frown as she leans forward to pick up the box, that has been bugging me since the beginning of the episode. She smiles at me.
“Everyone, I have a surprise for Ryder, something that I want you all to see.” She says as she hands me the box.
I take it and kiss her gently on the lips. “You didn’t have to get me anything.”
She just laughs, “Just open it.”
She is practically jumping out of her skin at this point. I smile and lift the lid. I remove the tissue paper, inside is a folded shirt. I set the box down on the coffee table in front of me and lift it out. I unfold it and stop. I frown at the shirt. There is a black and white photo, on it, but it’s what is above the photo that makes my heart race.
Above the picture in white letters is “Promoting to Daddy.”
I am in shock. My vision blurs a bit with tears wanting to fall from my eyes. I look away from the shirt to Ari. She nods and I look back at the shirt. That’s when it hits me, that photo is an ultrasound picture. I look closer and see Ari’s name. It’s our baby. My baby.
“Let us see.” I hear my mom say.
I turn the shirt around and hear gasps and screams.
“No. No way!” I hear my mom cry.
“Really?” Carla asks. “How long have you known?”
“Three weeks. I found out the day I passed out at work.” Ari says.
“You didn’t tell me.” I say, as I wipe tears from my eyes.
She wraps her arms around my waist, “I couldn’t bring myself to tell you. I wanted to tell you in person. Over the phone, text, FaceTime, it all felt so wrong to tell you that way. Then the idea came to me. I wanted to tell you on the night that our first episode aired. I wanted to celebrate and make it special. Then you had to go and decide that our parents should be involved, and I just knew this was the perfect time to announce.”
I kiss her lips and hold her tight against me. “I can’t believe I am going to be a daddy.”
“I can’t believe we didn’t think about condoms on that reward.” She whispers in my ear.
I laugh out loud. I can’t believe it. Ari is carrying my child. I am going to be a father. I can’t even explain how I feel right now. The emotions inside me are all fighting to get out. I feel tears run down my cheeks. I don’t care. I am so happy that I am going to be a father.
THIRTY-ONE
Ari
Two Months Later
The last eight weeks have been so crazy. I mean, between summer school, preparing for the start of the school year and maternity leave, watching Survival Instincts, and the pregnancy, it’s been crazy. Not to mention that Ryder insisted that one of us move in with the other. He said that he wanted to be with me as much as possible through this pregnancy. Which of course, I agreed to. But the decision to move was a hard one. I needed to figure out how long the commute from his house to the school would be, just about an hour. Which is fine. I needed to find a doctor, and movers. It was all just so crazy.
But what is even crazier, is that today is the finale, and we are all in LA for the live finale. Of course, I am excited about being here, as part of the jury, Ryders girlfriend, and Caleb’s sister. But it’s just weird. I had to take time off from work again for this trip. Something I hate doing because I feel like I am taking advantage of the system. But as soon as I explained what this trip was for, the principal agreed to let me go. It’s not like I had the choice of staying home. It was in my contract that I would be present at the finale unless I was sick and couldn’t come.
Ryder and I are in our hotel room getting ready. He is wearing black dress pants, and a baby blue button front shirt. His hair is combed, and he looks just as good I as remember him from that audition. Though he does look this good every day, but now, I am getting flashbacks to the audition, where I stupidly told him I don’t know anything about the show.
Who knew that we would be paired up on the show, fall in love and be living together, while expecting a child? The child that I know the gender to, and hope to tell Ryder tonight.
I went in for an early ultrasound because I just wanted to know. I asked my doctor if it was possible to find out at sixteen weeks, and she said it was. I told her that I wanted to keep it a secret from Ryder and that I didn’t want him to find out just yet. So, I got the ultrasound and I hope to tell him tonight.
I pin the last of my hair back into the half up half down style that I love to do. I smooth my hands down the front of my form fitting deep red floor length dress. The one that Ryder insisted that I wear to the finale. I slide my feet into the heels that we bought to go with it, and I grab my clutch off the table.
“Ready?” Ryder asks me.
“As I’ll ever be.” I smile up at him.
“Let’s go then. Our car is waiting for us.” He informs me.
The show is going the extra mile and sending cars to the players and jury members. It’s a way for them to protect us from the crazy fans and paparazzi that is sure to be surround the event center.
I gladly follow Ryder out of our hotel room and through the hotel to the car waiting just outside the door. Thankfully, hotel security knew we were coming and kept the paparazzi back.
The drive to the event center is a quiet one. Not because Ryder and I don’t talk, but because its peaceful. I like feeling like this, it’s calming. I don’t feel nervous or scared. I don’t feel like I am going to pass out. Though if I did, Ryder would have made me stay at the hotel.
He doesn’t like me feeling things like stress, nerves, or anything because he says it’s bad for the baby and makes me stay home. Not that I mind staying home, but more often than not, he is overreacting, and I leave as soon as he is gone anyways. Though he doesn’t know that I do that. At least, he hasn’t let on that he knows.
My thoughts are interrupted when we pull up to the event center. There
is already a large crowd surrounding the entrance. Neither of us move to get out of the car. A security officer comes up and opens our door.
“I have three officers here ready to escort you in. Don’t engage, and don’t speak. Just go on in and someone will show you to the green room.” He instructs before motioning us out of the car.
We do as he instructed. Follow the security guards. We don’t speak, and we don’t engage the crowd. It feels weird ignoring people who are calling my name, asking questions. But I do it anyways. Lacey, the production assistant that we dealt with on the show, is inside waiting for us. She smiles at us before she leads us through the building toward the green room. But as soon as we arrive, she turns and gives us a big smile.
“You will wait here with the other players when they arrive. When you are needed, someone will come by and get you. When it’s time for the votes to be read, all twelve of you will be called to the stage.” She explains. “If you need anything, pick up that phone there,” She points to a phone in the corner. “and someone will be right with you.”
She gives us each a big smile before giving us a once over. I assume to make sure our outfits fit the dress code that they emailed to us last month. Formal, not flashy. No glitter or stones of any kind. Nothing that showed too much cleavage. Formal and modest is what they wanted.
Her eyes grow huge when they land on my small belly. “You’re pregnant?”
I smile, “Yes. Just seventeen weeks.”
“Oh, how amazing.” Lacey exclaims. “Chris will need to be informed. If you feel sick or can’t go on stage for any reason, don’t hesitate to let us know. We will accommodate you.”
“Thank you.” I tell her.
“Do you know what you are having?” She asks.
I give her a wink and carefully nod my head so that Ryder doesn’t see. Thankfully, he is busy watching as Caleb and Zach arrive.
Playing For Keeps (Romancing The Games Book 1) Page 19