“Hey, Evie Grace! Are you ready to go shopping? Aunt Co has a lot of toys to buy and just a little time to do it. Your birthday party is tomorrow and we have a lot to do today.”
Evie jumped off the floor, ran to Larkin and kissed his cheek, “Bye bye daddy. Me get wotsa toys!”
Larkin laughed at Evie before kissing Jenna and rubbing her stomach. Jenna smiled at Larkin and whispered something in his ear before getting off his lap and lifting a very excited Evie into her arms.
“Ok babygirl, let’s go. Mommy is already exhausted.”
After our day of shopping, I agreed to have dinner with Jenna’s family. They made me feel at home, feel like I was family.
Feeling tiny hands rubbing my cheek, I opened my eyes and was met with the cutest little face.
“My pawty today! Wet’s go!” Evie squealed, clapping her hands.
Grabbing her, I pulled her into the bed and gave her a big hug. “I can’t believe you’re almost two! Before I know it you will be all grown up. Then what will I do? You’re going to be my best girl, until forever, right?” I asked as I kissed her cheek.
Evie rolled her eyes and sighed, “I be best girl tiwa I has boyfwiend.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. I love this kid.
“Ok, but no boys until you’re married.”
Evie smiled, “Tay. Tan we go now?”
“I can’t tell the birthday princess no, can I?”
Evie shook her head hard. “No!”
“Ok then, let’s go.”
Taking a quick shower, I grabbed my towel and wrapped it around me. I forgot my clothes in the room I had been staying in. Cracking the door open I peeked out. Nobody. Fully opening the door I took a step out and just as I looked down to check my towel I smacked into the wall. The wall caused me to lose my balance. Starting to fall backwards, I flailed my arms in the air. Attempting to grab anything to catch myself. Sucking in my breath when I felt arms wrapping around my waist, setting me upright and that deep voice in my ear.
“Woah, there gorgeous. Trying to pull off the Matrix?”
I felt myself shiver and not from the cool air. But from that cool, smooth voice. Struggling to find my words I wrapped my arms around my falling towel. This wasn’t embarrassing or anything. Forcing a smile I turned to find Gage, leaning against the wall. A knowing smirk on his gorgeous face.
Asstwat.
“Actually, that damn wall came out of nowhere and tried to kill me.” I flung my hand towards the wall and forced a laugh.
Smooth, Cobie. Really smooth.
“Good thing I was here. I just saved your life from the killer wall. Guess you owe me now.”
Instantly I dropped my eyes to the dark hardwood floor. No guy had ever made me nervous like this.
Running my foot along the lines of two wood floor boards I mumbled, “Yeah, I guess. Now that I’m safe, I need to get ready. See you at the party.”
Shouldering past Gage, I felt my cheeks heating.
“Cobie, wait. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it. Just trying to make you smile. I love your smile.” Gage reached up and ran the pad of his thumb over my bottom lip. “Gorgeous.”
One night. One night. One night. It was just a one night thing. No more.
I had to keep reminding myself he was a one night thing. Nothing more, nothing less. We had our one night. Now it was time to tuck it into my insanely sexy memories and move on.
I knew he was in love with Jenna. Hell, even Stevie Wonder could see that. No matter how attracted to him I was, I couldn’t be second best. I couldn’t be the other girl. And, from what I had heard from my brother and Jenna and seen on T.V. and in magazines, Gage was a man whore. He used woman. He only wanted sex and the occasional arm candy at an event. I couldn’t be arm candy. I wouldn’t be arm candy. I don’t think he had used me that night but I had used him. That was bad enough. He had tried to stop me. Stop us. But I pushed him. I wanted it. I wanted him. Just one time.
Looking at him now, I could see the emptiness in his eyes. His ice blue eyes were dull, void of emotion. The only time I saw his eyes light up was when he saw Jenna. I wasn’t and never would be Jenna. Gage and I had sexual chemistry but, emotionally we were both unavailable. I couldn’t be who he wanted and he couldn’t be the guy I wanted.
Why did I always go for the players? The men who only want one thing from women, the ones who always hurt me?
“Gage, stop please. I can’t do this. I don’t want games. The other night was…it was satisfying- but we both know this is going nowhere.” Forcing myself to turn away I opened my bedroom door.
Gage’s strained voice stopped me, “I’ll see you at the party, right?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.” I smiled over my shoulder before closing the door.
Dropping my towel on the bed I grabbed the bikini I was planning on wearing under my simple cotton, strapless dress.
Once I was dressed and had my hair pulled back into a messy bun, I slipped on my flip flops and made my way to the beach. I promised Jenna I would help her set everything up for the party.
“About time you got your cute little ass down here,” Jenna joked.
“Damn woman! When did you get down here? I told you I would help. I didn’t know I would need to be down here at the ass crack of dawn.”
Jenna pursed her lips. “I have only been down here an hour or so. I made your brother help carry everything down. Used him for his muscles.”
“He’s good for that,” I laughed.
The next few hours were spent covering tables, anchoring balloons in the sand, setting the giant flower arrangement centerpieces, and carefully placing the princess castle cake on the table.
Seeing how happy Evie was with all her new presents almost made me wish I had a baby. Almost.
I had a lot of goals to reach before I even thought about having a kid, hell before I even thought about getting married. If that even happened. Maybe I was destined to be one of those freak cat ladies with fifty seven cats and no friends. Maybe that was my future?
5
Cobie
9 WEEKS LATER
Holding that little stick in my hand I sat on the edge of my bed. Deep breaths, just keep taking deep breaths.
In. Out. In. Out. In. Out.
“How could this have happened?” I mumbled to myself.
Grabbing my phone I unlocked it and text Jenna. She may be twenty two hundred miles away but she would know what to do.
Me: You awake? I messed up.
Jenna: Yep. What’s up?
Me: I’m pregnant
I kept it simple and to the point. Now I had to wait for her response and hopefully it wouldn’t be from my brother. My phone was ringing. Shit. Looking at the screen I saw Jenna’s face.
Phew.
Taking a deep breath I answered, “Jenna! What am I going to do?”
“Cobie. How the hell did you get yourself into this predicament?” Jenna asked.
Flopping back on my bed I sighed. “I’m pretty sure we both know how I got myself into this mess. Now I need to figure out what I’m going to do.”
Jenna was silent but I could hear her breathing. She took a deep breath and said, “Cobie, don’t do what I did to your brother. Tell the father. Is it Larkin’s old friend? The one you were telling me about at Evie’s party. What was his name, Braylon?”
Huffing I said more to myself than Jenna, “I’m not sure.”
“You’re not sure? How are you not sure?” Jenna asked. I could hear the irritation in her voice.
“I mean, it was just the one time with Bray.”
Jenna snorted, “You do know it only takes one time, right?”