Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 60864 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 304(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60864 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 304(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
That bag was now sitting in the spare bathroom. I hadn’t taken it yet, and every time I started to walk in there, I stopped myself. I needed to know the truth. I had to before I said anything to Derek. But I was nervous about how it was all going to unfold.
I never missed my period. Even when I was under the most stress of my life. Even without the little stick to confirm it, I was sure I was pregnant. But like I told Ally, I didn’t know Derek well enough yet to know what was going to happen when I told him.
But I wanted to know him that well. That was the hardest part about the situation. If things just felt casual between us, or I wasn’t grappling with any real feelings toward him, it seemed everything would be clearer. Maybe not easier, but less confusing and frightening. We had been living this half-life as a couple, but I wanted it to be real. I wanted to know everything about him and let him get to know me. I wanted us to be a family.
For the first time in a year, I wanted to stop running, to try to build a real life. No matter whether my parents found me or not.
That night, I cuddled up against Derek and let him hold me close. I swore to myself I would take the test in the morning, then find a time for us to talk. We would figure it out. One way or another.
25
DEREK
Family dinner had gone spectacularly well, in my opinion, even though I could see Jodi was nervous the entire time. She mostly spent her time sitting next to me or Ally, chatting happily whenever someone addressed her, but otherwise being a bit of a wallflower. I could see her almost wanting to reach out and speak at times but holding herself back. It wasn’t that anyone was treating her badly or ignoring her, she just seemed hesitant. Even still, my brothers and the girls attached all seemed to think she was sweet and nice, if quiet. Ally even pulled me aside at one point to tell me she seemed to fit.
It was weighing on me pretty heavily as I fell asleep Sunday night, and as Monday morning dawned, I knew I needed to say something.
Not that I was in any hurry. Waking up with Jodi curled up in my arms was an experience that was quickly becoming familiar but was no less wonderful. I felt exhilarated every time I woke up with her beside me, curling into my shoulder and sighing as she dreamed. I would lie there for some time on a regular basis and just listen to her breathing.
I was pretty sure that wasn’t normal behavior for someone who was just seeing someone. As Cam said as he passed me following Jodi into the kitchen at dinner, I had it bad. Real bad.
Which was why, as Monday dawned, I knew I needed to say something to her about it. Beating around the bush probably wasn’t going to get me to actually come out with it and taking her to family dinner wasn’t the hint I hoped it would be. I was going to have to sit her down and tell her the straight truth. I was falling in love with her. I was falling in love with her, and there was absolutely nothing I wanted more than to take our recent relationship and make it official and keep it going. For good.
“Morning,” she said as she finally stirred on my chest, smiling up at me through a haze of half sleep.
“Morning,” I said. “I was thinking about making us some bacon and eggs before work. Like a real breakfast thing. How does that sound?”
“Amazing,” she said. “I’ll just go and get ready for work while you cook, if that’s okay.”
“Sure. Keep the magic of my egg-wizardry a secret.”
She laughed.
“Go on,” she said, lightly pushing my chest.
“Alright, alright,” I joked, sliding out of the sheets.
As usual, we were both stark naked. I only owned pajamas anymore, it seemed, for something to wear between waking up and getting ready for work. I went to the dresser and pulled out a pair of sweatpants and a shirt and tossed them on. As I did, Jodi came up beside me, opened the drawer I had just shut, and grabbed a pair of boxer shorts and an A-shirt. That was another regular occurrence. I watched her through the mirror as she turned and walked back to the bathroom, carrying the clothes. I had to pull my eyes away from staring at her ass as she walked and made my way to the kitchen.
Gandalf was up and eating as I put on the coffee pot and started the bacon. By the time breakfast was mostly done and the coffee was ready, Jodi still hadn’t come out of the bathroom, and Gandalf had fallen back to sleep. I often envied his ability to seem comfortable anywhere, including the kitchen floor. One would think with his hips at his age, he would be picky about cushions and beds, but often I found him curled up or lying on his side in places I knew would make my own back hurt.