Between The Sheets Part 9

"So what's your plan for the day? Cuddle the doggies? Talk s.h.i.t with my sis?"

He knows me well. As soon as I dig myself out of this abyss of throw pillows I call a bed, I'm heading over to my mom's. And if she doesn't talk my ear off the entire day, I plan on seeing my best friend. It's been years since we've been away from each other this long. And I definitely miss her. Even more than Mer and Der. But I wouldn't tell her that.

"That's the plan," I tell him.

"You know if you want to come up again, you can bring the little fur b.a.l.l.s with you. No need to find a babysitter."

The idea makes me want to pack my bags now. "Let's see how things go. With your commitments at the center, you might not have much time. We'll talk about it in a few weeks." As much as I'd like to turn right back around and drive up there in time for dinner, I know I can't. I have to exhibit some self-control. And h.e.l.l, I'd like him to come to me. I can't just spend eighteen hours in my car to make the trip to and from the Bay every time my heart warms to his voice. I'm not that pathetic.

"Okay," he says. "But just so you know ... I want you here. With me. All to myself. Now that I've had my fill of you, I can't get enough."

"Oh, Ty. I've had my fill of you too. Been more full of you than I could ever imagine, as a matter of fact. And believe me, we could be a hundred years old and I still will not have had enough."

There's a low groan in his tone when he replies, "Oh lord, woman. You're killing me. I gotta go jump in the shower. Or maybe a tub of ice."

There's laughter on both ends as we end the call.

He wants me there. With him, huh?

Well, that's definitely something to think about.

"Mom," I shout when I enter my parents' home. Instantly, I feel like a little kid again. Being here always makes me feel like I want to put on my PJs and watch As The World Turns with my mom and grandma. The d.a.m.n show is gone now, but Grey's works.

"I'm in the kitchen," I hear her call out.

She turns as I come around the corner. She wears a bright smile on her face as she wipes her hands on her ap.r.o.n. "Hi, baby girl." Her hands fly up, welcoming me. "How was your trip? How is Tyler?"

"Oh, Mama." And the tears fall. What the f.u.c.k? Where did these come from? I bury my face into her shoulder and sob. "He's wonderful."

"Then why are you crying?" She pats my head and runs her hand down my hair.

"I don't know. I have no idea where this is coming from." I back away, wiping the tears from my now damp face with my fingertips.

Her concerned eyes search mine for answers, but I don't have any. My breath hitches with a sob every time I inhale. I feel like a little girl in my mom's kitchen after I've just skinned my knee. And then I start crying more as a memory resurfaces of a time just like that. I wanted to learn how to ride a skateboard so bad. I was determined and Ty was against it. He said with my lack of coordination I'd just break my face. In fact, he touched my cheek and said I'd break my "beautiful face." Instead, I tore up my knee and he carried me inside my house and held my hand while my mom poured peroxide over the wound. I never tried riding a skateboard again. But that memory clings to my heart right now.

My mom's eyes brighten again and she brushes the sign of the cross over her chest and forehead. "What is it?" I ask her.

"Oh, mija." Her own eyes start to puddle. "You're pregnant. I'm going to be a grandma." Thankfully, she envelops me in a huge bear hug or I'm sure I'd be a pile of limp bones on the hardwood floors. "Come. Sit."

When I'm safely rested in my dad's La-Z Boy recliner, my mind starts to spin. "Mom, I can't be pregnant. There are no signs. At all. I'm fine. Just a little emotional is all. I guess I miss Ty more than I thought."

My mother sits on the coffee table across from me, her elbows resting on her knees and an I Love Lucy I Love Lucy ap.r.o.n hanging between her legs. "Honey, I know it. You are." ap.r.o.n hanging between her legs. "Honey, I know it. You are."

"How do you know? What are you gonna do? One of my abuelita's old wives tales or something?" If she starts getting red yarn, salt, or chili peppers, I'm gonna bolt.

"No, I'm not going to do anything to you. Just relax." She reaches out and places her soft callused hand on my bare knee. "Now, tell me. Have you been tired lately?"

"Well, yeah." But if she knew what I've been doing for two weeks, she'd understand. I'm not about to tell my mama that I've been having marathon s.e.x with my best friend's brother.

"Do your chichis hurt? Are they tender?"

My hands shoot to my b.o.o.bs. Huh. They are. "Yeah." Again. That could be due to the previously mentioned marathon s.e.x. Tyler has a way with his hands. And his teeth. G.o.d, I have to squeeze my thighs together just thinking about his talent.

"Now, when was the last time you had your period?"

s.h.i.t. Why does she look all happy? Like she's thrilled her only daughter is knocked up out of wedlock. I'm surprised she's not praying or something.

My thoughts flash through any memory I have of tampons and panty liners. I seriously can't remember the last time I needed them. I haven't had to buy some since I discovered you can buy a vibrator at the local drugstore. Imagine that. I'll take this box of pads, the vibrator, some lube, and throw in this c.o.c.kring for my special loved one. Crazy. I couldn't believe it. I took several pictures of the feminine product aisle and sent them to Shel. She texted back and said she knew where to shop for my birthday.

"Oh s.h.i.t, Mom." Suddenly, I feel like it's a thousand degrees. I can feel the moisture in my pits and the backs of my thighs.

"When?" she asks.

"Just before my birthday." Holy f.u.c.k.

"Your birthday? That was in March. How could you not know you were pregnant this whole time? It's been months."

I lean forward, placing my head in my hands. "I don't have my period every month. And when I do, it's really light. I've been a runner since high school. That's like birth control in itself."

"Not a hundred percent, obviously." She sits up, crosses her arms over her chest and gives me a knowing smirk.

"It's not like we didn't use anything else." And we did. Ty has a knack for slapping on a condom in a split second without killing the mood, kinda like a relay runner grabbing the baton in stride. Although, I can't say I haven't wished for some bareback skin-to-skin contact, but I know better. "Hey, this isn't a sure thing. It only comes every three to four months. It's normal for someone who runs as much as I do," I tell her trying to convince myself. Tyler's words about Shel getting pregnant keep playing in my mind. He can't give back this baby. s.h.i.t. What am I going to tell him? He doesn't want kids.

My mom touches her thumb to her pinky first, then to her other fingers. "It's almost four months now. I say you take a test."

"Oh, G.o.d. I'm gonna be sick."

"Ay, don't be so dramatic. Get up. Let's go. I'll drive you."

About twenty minutes later, I'm walking the aisles of the local drug store. The same aisle with the ribbed vibrators and fluorescent c.o.c.krings. Shel should have bought me those for my birthday. Can't get pregnant from a toy. I pull my sungla.s.ses over my eyes, and pull the elastic band from my head, freeing my hair to cover my face.

"What are you doing? You look like a criminal," my mom says. "Who are you hiding from?"

"Anyone. Everyone. My students could be here. Or Shel. Or her mom. Ty's mom." My stomach goes sour, like I can feel my insides curdling with every second that pa.s.ses until I know for sure if I'm preggers.

I stop in front of all the tests. There have to be over twenty different kinds. Why are there so many? And why are they so dang expensive? You shouldn't have to pay more than five bucks for something you're just going to take a leak on. My mom grabs three boxes and starts walking away from me. "Meet me in the car," she orders.

She doesn't have to tell me twice.

After p.i.s.sing on all three sticks, which takes the speed and agility of an Olympic athlete might I add, and lining up two of them on the bathroom sink, I sit on the toilet seat and wait. Because I'm not an Olympic athlete, I dropped one in the toilet and have yet to fish it out. I'll do that later since I have something a lot more important on my mind. The first one is pink on the end. If I hadn't read the directions, I would've thought I was pregnant and having a girl. Instead, it just means my pee made it on the stick. The second one looks wet but it didn't change color so I'm hoping it's doing its job.

Eons pa.s.s before a bright blue plus sign shows up in a tiny window. Great. This test isn't gender biased. But it does tell me I'm pregnant. Holy f.u.c.k. Seconds later, the words "pregnant" in bold letters shout at me from the window of the other test. Holy f.u.c.k, again!

I'm on my feet before I can think, swinging open the bathroom door. My mother is standing just outside.

"I'm pregnant."

A smile stretches across her face and her eyes get misty. "Congratulations."

The warm sun on my skin is like a security blanket, making me feel relaxed and comfortable which is exactly what I need right now. Sitting on my mom's pool deck petting my pooches is just what I need to escape the chaos that has become my life in the last two hours since I first arrived at my parents' place.

"How are you feeling, mija?" My mom stands over me with a gla.s.s of iced tea. "It's decaf. I brought you a granola bar too. Maybe it will settle your stomach."

I take the cool gla.s.s and bring it to my lips. The icy liquid chills my body, even in this summer heat. "Thank you."

She sits across from me again. Mer pops her little head up and then rests back against my thigh. Der doesn't budge. He hasn't moved an inch since he settled on his back beside me with his arms and legs spread eagle waiting for his belly to be rubbed. Mer snuggles closer now that I've taken a hand away from her to take a drink.

"What's wrong? I thought you'd be a little more excited about this. You're having a baby. Tyler's baby. How can you not be thrilled? I am."

Great. I've disappointed my mom. As if Tyler isn't going to be disappointed enough. And how about my dad? He's going to kill Ty when he finds out he doesn't want kids. This is a big f.u.c.king mess.

"Mom, it's complicated. Ty lives in San Francisco and I don't. He wants to stay there. I want to stay here. And if that isn't enough to make things crazy. He doesn't even want kids. How can I be jumping for joy when I have a baby growing inside me who won't have a father?"

"Snap out of it," she shouts. "You don't know that."

My eyes focus on hers. "Yes, I do. Shel told us she and Matt are going to start trying, and Ty specifically said he doesn't want kids right now. He'll be happy to be an uncle because he can give the kid back." I thought it was funny at the time, but now it breaks my heart.

"Oh, that's all he said. Every man I know has said that until they have their own kids, then they become proud fathers. Just like Tyler will."

Tears sting my eyes. Every ounce of me wants to believe her, but I'm not so sure. Who knows how he'll react. He's been on his own for so long. He's more than proved he doesn't need me, or his family.

"Hey. It's going to be okay. Don't cry. This baby is a blessing. They all are. You'll see." She reaches in her pocket and hands over my phone. "Now, call your doctor. It's still early enough the office will be open. And then I suggest you make plans for another road trip. You need to tell him. I'm guessing you're about twelve to fourteen weeks along which means you won't be able to hide it much longer."

Chapter 11

"How's my big brother holding up without my best friend?" I toss my feet up on the giant square ottoman in my living room and fall back into my soft cushy sofa.

There's a low groan coming from the other end of the phone. "Truthfully, I'm barely functioning. It's ridiculous how such a little person can make such a dramatic impact on your life."

I can't help smiling. My brother's in love. "You're just barely figuring that out now?"

Another groan comes through the line. "I've known that since the day you brought her home with you in elementary school. Only now she has a different kind of effect on me."

"I bet."

"Shut up."

"What? I didn't say anything." I chuckle.

"Mmm hmm."

"So what are you going to do about it?" Someone has to give him a nudge. Mel sure as h.e.l.l isn't going to. And he's a man for crying out loud. Not all men are like my Matty. In fact, I think he's one of a kind. My brother's the type of guy that needs to be led to the water and then told to drink or else he'd just sit there and stare at it.

"I don't know yet." A silence fills the s.p.a.ce between us and I don't dare say anything. Maybe he'll figure it out on his own. Maybe. I'm crossing my fingers. "I've been toying with the idea of coming home." Sweet baby Jesus, thank you.

"Really," is all I say, very matter-of-factly. I want this to be all his idea. I'm Switzerland here, trying my hardest not to demand he get his a.s.s home and make an honest woman out of my friend. Actually, he doesn't have to marry her. Not unless they want to. I just want him to be here for her. And I want them to be happy. Not miles away from each other and miserable every minute they're apart. I spoke to Mel earlier and she sounded like s.h.i.t. She'll be here any minute and I'm sure she's going to look the same.

"Yeah. It doesn't make sense for Mel to move up here. Her family's down there, and so are you. I just can't imagine leaving my students or my school."

"I get it. I know I'd feel the same way about leaving my kiddos." My hand reaches for my belly without even thinking about it. "So you're thinking this thing with you and Mel might be a little permanent?" I hope that's not too much to ask.

"More than a little. I already let her go once. I'm not gonna do it again."

My fist shoots through the air with a silent cry of "yes"!

"Sounds like a good plan," I tell him, trying my d.a.m.nedest to not scream and yell into the phone and run circles around my house. "Mel's probably thrilled."

"Hey," he shouts into the phone. "Uh," he lowers his voice. "Don't say anything. I haven't mentioned the move to her. I don't want to get her hopes up just yet. I have to find a job and a place to live. I'm not going anywhere near Nick's f.u.c.king house, that's for sure. Anyway, I'll tell her when I have it all figured out. She loves surprises. The smile on her face will be worth keeping her in the dark for a few. At least, I hope so. Who knows? I may be a bit over ambitious. She could laugh in my face and tell me she doesn't want a real commitment. Come to think of it. That's a definite possibility. She just got divorced."

There's a knock at my door before it swings open bringing in a late afternoon breeze.

"Shel," Mel calls out. "I'm here."

"In here," I shout back.

"Who's that?" Ty asks.

"It's Mel."

"Don't say anything."

"I won't." Unfortunately, I don't get a chance to tell him he's a total whack job if he thinks Mel's not entirely in this too. He can't possibly be seriously thinking she'd be anything less than ecstatic to have him home and living with her.