Pregnant with the Bad Boy

32

“I'm so glad your sister brought you along, you needed it.” Mom smiled broadly at me with her divine face and cut tomatoes again seeing my small smile that made her happier then she wanted to admit.

“I'm got a date...” I smiled secretively now as my mother put down the knife and looked at me worriedly with her big worried blue eyes.

“that's great Jennifer, but isn't it a bit soon?” She was worried, of course.

“He's not like Dylan. “ I was proud of myself, I could have said his name several times today without crying. I called that progress.

“Let her go Grace, better get some air under her wings, she can't stay here for the rest of her life.” I smiled gratefully at Clark, I still felt awful that had told him to shut up every time I saw him, but he had never brought it up once and didn't seem angry about it.

Mom looked at both of us in resignation and finally rolled her eyes and started chopping again as if she had given up.

“I promise mom, I won't rush... I just want to talk to him...” I fell silent now, maybe more but that was a bridge I would cross when I got to it.

“As long as you remember that you don't have to hurry, there's a time and a place for everything.” She wiped her hands and looked at me meaningfully, I was embarrassed as I know what she meant I had just thrown myself in with Dylan but looking back I would have done the same thing again no doubt.

“Yes mom.” I smiled playfully as she winked lovingly at me and looked at Clark who just watched her movements admiringly, I smiled at their interaction, they were like two teenagers who just cast longing glances at each other like me and Mandy wouldn’t understand what they were up to.

I sat there for a while and decided to take my food up to my room, my mum didn't even protest, she seemed to trust me more or she just wanted Clark for herself, maybe both as I sat in front of the computer and continued to watch various videos and then some about cats doing funny things all while I laughed and ate what I had on my plate, it felt good and I went downstairs with my plate when it was late and my mom and Clark were gone and quickly put it in the counter, I had left my phone on the bench and quickly picked it up in case Grant had written more, he hadn't. But Dylan had, I stared at his name on the screen, I had deleted all the messages and voicemail without listening to them so far, but it was tempting now, I put it back down, no. No. No.

I looked at his name again which still had a heart next to the name, I had really given him my heart and he had broken it.

I deleted the message, whatever it was, it didn't concern me, I wasn't his anymore and he wasn't mine, we were two different people now, and he had Lorraine. I felt the jealousy pulling at me even though I knew how ridiculous it was as I didn't even want to see him.

He had said he loved her, but that he loved me more, I snickered and put the phone down, what a f*****g asshole he was.

I took my phone upstairs and put it on the desk while I brushed my teeth and washed off the makeup, I would try again tomorrow, I smiled at myself in the mirror as I looked at my new hairstyle, it looked good, I just hoped I could make it look reasonable myself when it wasn't a hairdresser who had done it.

I turned off the light and walked out in the pyjamas I had bought, they were light and felt like silk against my skin as I lay down with the phone and turned off the light, I stared at Dylan's name on the screen again, why did I even still have him? I bit my lip hard and blinked a few times as I felt the tears threatening as I pressed block and put it down next to the pillow as I turned around and cried into the pillow, I knew it was over already, but I felt like I really got it now, I would never call him again or hear his voice, hear when he called me babe again... I sobbed quietly into the soft pillow, it would be okay, one day I wouldn't cry over him, but that day wasn't today.

_____________________________________________________________________________

its was Friday and my sister was pacing back and forward, making me more nervous then I alredy were.

“So, when is he coming?” Mandy watched curiously as I ran the brush over my eye with minimal movement, wanting everything to be perfect, all of me to be perfect.

“Around seven...” I didn't look at her standing there hovering over me like the curious kid she was, she would have liked to know everything about where we were going, what we were going to do and I sighed, I know she was worried about me, but it was going to be okay.

“Yeah, but you'll be home before midnight then?” She looked at me firmly as if I wasn't an adult and she was a mother.

“I´ll come home when I want to thank you very much.” I smiled teasingly at her worried face as she huffed and stood with her arms crossed behind me.

“Are you sure you're okay with this?” I put the brush down hard and looked sharply at her unnecessarily worried attitude.

“That's enough, I just want to have fun. That's all.” I looked sourly at her as she stared down and realised, she had gone too far as I smiled quickly as I picked up the brush again.

“I know you're worried about me Mads, but I promise, I'm fine.” I wasn't fine, not all the time but more than I had been a week ago, and the week before that.

“Okay....” She looked up and smiled at me now as I took her hand which she had placed gently on my shoulder behind me in the big mirror.

“you're so beautiful, he won't stand a chance against you.” She smiled wider as I did the last with the brush on the eye and looked at myself, I actually looked beautiful with my short haircut that made me look far more modern than I felt and I was wearing a dark green velvet dress that followed every curve of my body and had a low cut across my breasts, she was right, he wouldn't stand a chance.

“I just have to say that you're far from the girl who couldn't put on eyeshadow if your life depended on it just a while ago.” She looked at my minimally exaggerated face which made me look mysterious with my green eyes glistening under the complicating execution of different layers of various forms of eye shadow.

“Thanks sis.” I got up, I was getting nervous now, especially since Mandy had been on me for the last hour.

I looked at myself one last time in the full-length mirror my mother had bought me, I hadn't wanted to pick up my old one at Dylan's and she hadn't said a word about it.

I looked good as I stepped into the brown heeled pumps, I spun around, I hoped I looked okay enough to fit in where he was going to take me, I hadn't wanted to ask more as I didn't want to be annoying.

She had run down before me and I walked slowly with the black bag in my hand, it was new too, I had thrown away everything I had with him.

“You look wonderful! my mother stood at the bottom and her eyes sparkled as I smiled and walked carefully down the stairs, I wasn't quite used to high heels, but I was getting used to them.

“Thanks, Mom.” I hugged her quickly, I really hoped I wouldn't do anything stupid, or say anything stupid, but if I felt like myself, I would do both.

It was a quarter to seven, I was too early, but I had been too nervous to wait until the last second and I had already woken up early this morning.

“Have fun tonight and call me if there's anything or call Dad if that feels better.” She discreetly whipped away a tear and I rolled my eyes, what could Dad be doing being in Oklahoma?

“I will, I promise.” She hugged me and went back to the common room where Mandy and Clark were sitting, I stood there nervously, looking every second at the clock and the next at myself, I was already sweating, what if he didn't come? Maybe it was revenge for me taking advantage of him at the bar? My heart sank and I was just about to start getting back up when a grey luxury car slid into the yard, I looked at it sceptically, was it really him? I studied the car, it was newer, maybe brand new.

My eyes widened in shock as he stepped out of the car, he looked good, he looked damn good it hit me hard as I stood studying the man casually walking towards our doors.

He was wearing a brown sports jacket with a white shirt underneath that was open at the neck a couple of buttons and a pair of black jeans that sat magically over him, he was a little shorter than Dylan, but he was still tall, more fit then muscular but still elegant.

straight nose, big brown eyes, a hard jawline and straight brown hair combed in a prefect modern hairstyle.

I realised I was staring at him with my mouth open as he walked up the last few steps to the door and rang the bell.

The sound of the bell woke me up from the coma I'd gotten from staring at him, and I took a few deep breaths, I was going to be fine, I was just going to have fun, just talk and smile. That was all.

I had a small smile as I opened the door slowly and looked shyly at the man in front of me who seemed to be dazed for a second of seeing me, I blushed as he looked at me admiringly and I felt a little twinge of joy that he seemed to think I was good looking.

“Hi.” I looked shyly into his brown eyes, which twinkled as he smiled wider at the sight of me.

“hello”. He studied me more before I laughed at his obvious rapture of me.

“May I just say that you look insanely beautiful.” His dark voice was admiring, and I said thank you, almost whispering it as I took the bag and he held out his arm, I looked at it and shivered slightly as I took it and looked one last time around the house where everyone was sitting quietly and trying to eavesdrop on every word we said.

He led me all the way to the car door, and I looked at it dumbfounded, it really was a luxury car, how on earth had he got hold of it? I looked at him strangely as he just smiled secretively and opened the door and helped me in and I sat stunned in the passenger seat as I fastened my seatbelt. I had never seen a car this expensive up close; I knew my dad had money and we were doing well but not the life the way this car promised.

He had sat on the driver's side and just looked amused at my admiration and said in a calm voice as if it was the easiest thing in the world.

“I'm rich.” I looked at him incredulously for a few seconds before I started laughing out loud and he calmly watched me stop as he seemed serious.

“Are you freaking kidding me?” I started to look at him, the watch looked expensive, his clothes were expensive, everything about him was probably expensive, how on earth had I missed that?!

“Not at all.” He smiled and drove out onto the motorway, I felt ashamed, God it felt awful to sit there and he was so calm about everything, how could he be so f*****g calm?

“Alright then…” I calmed down and he chuckled as we glided along in the dark, I was grateful that it hid my embarrassment a little, I wanted to ask why he worked in the store if he was so rich, but I didn't dare, those were questions I didn't want to ask yet.

“So, where are we going?” I looked expectantly at his profile, he was broad across the jaw and had a high nose crowned by his brown eyes that sparkled magically in the night.

“You'll see...” he was still driving on the highway, and I realized we weren't going to stop Perryville, good. I didn't want to run into Dylan or Lorraine anyway.

“So, you're mysterious?” I smiled at his surprised face as if he had been caught before he laughed that dark enigmatic laugh again.

“Yep, there you go, I'm a mystery man.” I giggled at his silliness, it felt good to sit here with him even if he didn't say much, honestly, I didn't need any more right now.

We rode in silence as he finally cleared his throat and seemed to pluck up the courage to talk to me, my hands nervously wringing in my lap at his cool voice.

“I guess you and the boyfriend didn't work out?” He turned into a major street as I slumped, of course, he had known about me and Dylan, I had forgotten about it, in fact I hadn't had to think about Dylan once since I saw him.

“no... we broke up a while ago.” I closed my eyes, I didn't want to tell him everything that was between those words, I was ashamed to have been so engrossed in Dylan that I could have done anything for him.

“Lucky me then.” he winked and I laughed as he steered in for the last time and stopped, I didn't know where we were but I honestly didn't care as he got out and walked around to the other side and opened the door for me before helping me out, I took his hand without hesitation as it vibrated throughout me as our eyes met for a few seconds before I shyly averted his intense gaze.

We had stepped out in front of a large restaurant and people were queuing in a long line to get in, I looked surprised as he took my hand and led me past the queue and walked straight through the lobby, no one stopped him either, a fancy looking man had seen us and came walking quickly towards us with a big smile, I backed away a little at his smile overjoyed to see us as he bowed slightly and said in an accent I couldn't quite work out where it was from.

“Monsieur Stone.” I realised I didn't understand what he was saying as he bowed again, I looked at the man strangely which only made Grant smile faintly at his what I assumed was flattery.

“a pleasure as always to be here Francois.” He held my hand and I looked down at our intertwined hands, I smiled at his firm grip on me, it felt safe.

“And your delightful company mademoiselle? The man broke off hard in an unexpected accent and looked at me tensely as I didn't realise it was me, he was talking to and Grant calmly replied in my place.

“This beautiful creature is named Jennifer.” he looked at me as he said my name and I felt my stomach churn at the sound of his voice, which made me slightly shaky to hear.

“Mademoiselle Jennifer! a beautiful name for a beautiful woman!” He was about to take my hand when I shyly pulled it away, I don't know what he wanted to do with it but I wasn't going to let him touch me, I had a hard time tolerating anyone touching me at all, well except Grant who hid his laughter and Francois bowed again and led us forward in the restaurant, I clung tightly to Grant who habitually manoeuvred himself like a king as he walked past the tables, I saw people staring at us and I sighed, this wasn't what I wanted really, I was tired of being with a man who got attention all the time.

We reached the last table when I watched in confusion as they continued to walk forward once again where the of the restaurant disappeared and I walked in silence behind the two men chatting away, in a different language I finally noticed as we arrived and I magically blinked out onto the terrace which was lit by small lamps giving a soft glow over the evening and it smelled sweetly of roses beautifully arranged in various places, it looked like a fairy tale.

I carefully walked up beside him and he smiled reassuringly at my confusion, I felt completely out of place as we walked up to the lonely table and Grant let go of my hand and I looked disappointed as he pulled out the chair and I sat down.