Pregnant with the Bad Boy

Chapter 9

I woke up with someone banging on my bedroom door. I sat up dizzy, still not knowing what was happening, before hearing Mandy's demanding voice.

“Jennifer, get up right now!” I barked back at her; she sounded like a teacher or a mother, yelling, what the hell was she doing here anyway?!

“What!?” I opened the door in front of her, and she looked at me, annoyed, before she pushed past me without asking permission.

She shoved me down on the swivel chair, and I looked grumpy at her cheerful face; what did she want this time?!

“Oh my god, we have to hurry!” she had already removed a brush and quickly started to go through my long hair. I still glared at her, annoyed, not really awake.

“Here.” She threw the cooling mask that was hers since I didn't own one. I looked at it suspiciously as she impatiently took it out of my hands and pulled it on me without asking permission. I quickly pulled it off again and stood up, pissed off; what was she doing?!

“Mandy?!” I stared furiously at her angelic face as oblivious and innocent blinked during the sly smile that she didn't know why I was pissed off, that cunning b***h.

“I invited Mr. Hopper over. He was waiting on the porch the last time I saw him.” She did her best not to giggle at my pale face, feeling all the blood drained; she had what!?

“Are you completely crazy!?” I shouted the words and turned my hands nervously before she forced me back down on the chair.

“Please, I knew I had to do something; do you think I'm going to let you sabotage the only time I've seen you glow up?” She was scoffing. Having a foundation, dabbing underneath my eyes to what use? I was too ashamed to tell my mom we had been spending time together, and Dylan knew. I felt worse and not knowing how to fix this.

“Look up.” Mandy grabbed my chin and bent my face upwards. I stared, examining her eyes. I smiled faintly at her, focused, frowning as she continued to put on my makeup with a steady hand. I was proud of her in the middle of all the chaos. She had grown up fast after I left, maybe too fast.

“Mandy...” I observed her focused stare as she put the last layer of lipstick on my sad face, trying to cover up how torn I was feeling about Dylan being here at my home when he told me that he wanted some commitment when I didn't even know what was happening, did I want the same thing or was I too scared for what I was feeling?

“Thanks.” I heard the word as she seemed to wake up from the trance and beamed with her whole face. She looked like one of the angels painted on the church ceiling, just like our mother.

“You’re welcome, idiot.” She smacked me with the brush she had in her hand again as I glared at her childish behavior. She was hopeless!

“ Check yourself out before we go down; you look pretty good!” She put me in front of the mirror, a more beautiful version of myself standing before me. Amanda had magically removed all the redness from the skin. She hid the bags under my eyes better than I could ever. I admired how the warm tone of the lipstick made my green eyes glow. I looked amazing!

“How did you do this?” I chuckled as she rolled her eyes and shrugged.

“It's called a tutorial, Jen; look it up....” She pushed me from the mirror, cast a quick, satisfying look at herself, and grabbed my hand.

Honestly, if she hadn't been here to drag me down, I would have never dared to put my foot downstairs even if my heart cried after him; I had no idea what to tell him or even face him, but at least I didn't look like crap doing it, thanks to my sister still pulling me along down the stairs.

Mom stared at us in surprise; she was so happy to see me close to my sister again, and so was I.

“Jennifer, you look wonderful, baby!” She put her hands over her mouth in shock. I shrugged it away; she wasn't used to seeing me make an effort since I didn't do that towards anything except school.

“Thanks.” I unknowingly looked out at the porch. My mother smiled and followed my gaze suspiciously. Mandy took her arm and dragged her along, saving me again, to my gratefulness; maybe I wouldn't kill her after all for rating me out.

I took a deep breath through my nose and out through my mouth, shaking so bad that I wanted to throw up. Dylan was here, and I was so scared of what would happen.

Dylan's legs outstretched on the old bench, staring at the setting sun. He looked handsome, his arms crossed over his broad chest and his cap half raised. He hadn't seen me yet, his gray eyes staring over the acres my family had owned for over three generations.

“Hello.” He yanked back when I appeared. He said nothing; he just gawked at me from head to toe. I again thanked Mandy for her magical powers and waited for him to stare me down again. It felt good.

“Hi....” His voice was softer now, and I knew he thought I was gorgeous when he still looked at me in the dying light behind us, making me stare at his lighted features. The sun made him look like an angel more than anything else, with a slight smile that he hadn't been able to hide.

“I believed you said no thanks...” I walked past him as close as I could. He stared intensely at my butt before I leaned against one of the pillars and tilted back slightly, not caring that Dylan got a sly smile like he already had caught the part about me showing myself off, not caring how shameless I was acting just outside my mother's home.

"I know what I said...." He was smirking now, stretching out more, giving me a full view of his muscular chest and arms that made me almost whimper from how my core was cleansed; why was he so hot anyway?? It wasn't fair! I was flustered, seeing him smirk, knowing what he was doing to me!

"Great answer..." I tried to sound like I didn't care, getting him another scoff when he stood up. Seeing him stare at me with grey, mysterious eyes, I lost my slight superiority. He came closer, holding onto one of the wooden beams, which made his biceps even bigger. Oh my god! My head was titled, showing him how lost I was to his stare.

“What can I say? I like your sister....” He laughed softly. Did he know that I was going to get jealous because it was working, my nails digging into the old wooden railing, wanting him to stop saying stuff that made me hurt, asshole!

“Well, mom is thrilled that you are here… I smiled sarcastically at him, maybe more to myself, when he chuckled and took off his cap, showing his angelic golden hair. This wild mess ended with the beautiful small curls refusing to bend no matter how much he tried to comb them out. He was irresistible.

“Then it's just your dad?" He looked up from under the cap, cold again, as if he had frozen his grey eyes to the ice. He didn't allow me to avoid why he was here, to get some answers I didn't have about us.

I looked away, ashamed. He made me feel stupid a lot… but he didn't know what pressure I felt and what was expected of me; that was why the two days with him had been like a dream, no matter how stupid that sounded to him.

“I'm not afraid of him… I just….” I gave in after a resigned sigh, my shoulders sinking, defeated. Why was this so hard? I know that I liked him?

“I'm trying, Dylan; it's not as easy as you think...and it's not just that....” I fell silent, and his gaze became gentler, and he might have started to understand what he demanded of me. I wanted so badly to shout to the world that he was mine, but at the same time, I didn't want anyone else to ruin what we shared.

"I said that I liked you, Jennifer, and I know if you feel the same way; it's not f*****g rocket science; it's just you and me, giving this a chance or not, simple as that." He looked hurt under the scowling face, showing the hard, piercing gaze of stone in his eyes. Was it really that easy? Just giving us a chance, not even knowing what it was? That scared me more than anything.

I still hadn't moved when he scoffed, as if he didn't want to see my unsure face anymore. Dylan headed for the stairs when my heart rushed, and my panic grew stronger with every step he took. Was he leaving me again?!

"Dylan, please don't go!" I begged him when he sighed, stopped, and felt my hand on his arm. It was like I could make him avoid my touch, like I had some magic power over him when I didn't.

"Look, I don't know what the f**k is going on here either, trust me. I hate feeling like this. Would you think I be here if I didn't care for you? What is so hard for you to understand, Jen... Please..." he was turning again towards me, showing me his hurt eyes; he looked so raw and vulnerable, nothing like the complex man that yelled at me; this was real. I was drawn to him, no matter how scared I was.

"Okay... okay... let's just... see what happens..." I bit my lip, and his eyes followed down to my mouth. His smile showed me he was hungry again. I felt the hard pull from my core when he leaned down, kissing my forehead, leaving a soft sparkle on my skin that made my whole body feel like it would explode from that one slight touch.

"That wasn't so hard to say, was it? He made a snicker when I was still dazed over the small but loving act. He did really like me, didn't he?

Nothing was fixed or decided between us, but he was here, and that was enough.

To his surprise, I sighed and put my arm around his waist before following me, snaking his arm around mine, making me want to forget that Mom and Mandy were waiting inside.

“Dinner is served.” Mandy smiled happily at us. I dragged him through the door, walking on air. It already felt better to be close to him, his arm holding me up like he was made for me and nobody else.

I felt braver with his warm hand in mine, and we strolled after my sister toward the dining room where my mother would wait; I smiled calmly at him, suddenly nervous, and seemed to realize the seriousness of what had happened and why he was here, to have dinner with my mother.

“Calm down. You've met her before....” my thumb stroking over his big hand as he nervously pulled his other hand through the combed hair, whose curls had already broken out from his styling.

“That was before I was f*****g her daughter.” His words made me giggle, and I was rewarded with a faint smile that made my heart pound; I was relieved that he was no longer angry. We were doing this, giving this a chance, no matter how crazy it felt.

“As long as you don't say it to her face, I think you will be just fine, tough guy...” With his warm hand that so easily held mine, I still didn't understand that he was here with me, tickling my stomach at the thought that he was here and, for me of all people, still blew my mind.

“Dylan, welcome to our home!” My mother noted our hands but said nothing about it. She smiled secretly at our arrival, and he smiled charmingly at her welcoming tone.

“Mrs. Thompson, you get more beautiful every time I see you.” Dylan's smile made Mom giggle like a schoolgirl at the compliment. He let go of my hand and winked at me secretly before we sat down without taking our eyes off each other, sitting across the table from me.

“So, Mr. Hopper. I heard you saved the life of my crazy sister...” Mandy was leaning on her elbows to my mother's disapproval as I glared at her. He laughed happily at her insult to me, and I angrily watched her surprised face when Mom lost her smile; I was going to kill Mandy!

“Saved Jennifer’s life?” What do you mean by that, Amanda?! My mother's gaze became demanding for answers. I defensively held my hand and glared at Mandy again, who smiled carefreely at her water glass. that b***h!

“She exaggerates, Mom, it wasn't anything like that! I got a scratch over my eyebrow and a small fracture in my left arm!” I pointed to the ugly crust still over my eyebrow, half hidden by Mandy's makeup.

“Actually, I think you would have died if I hadn't found you; lucky enough, I was angry to follow you...” Dylan betrayed me, of course, and he wanted to tell the truth, just as he had told me when I began panicking over my parents at his place.

“Explain.” Mom didn't look happy anymore, and I felt deprived of my happiness. I stared viciously at Mandy, who burrowed her big blue eyes into me. I skated with a sigh further down the chair, crossing my arms and pouting at my mom's more unliking.

“I crashed into Dylan's truck, hitting his taillights.” I stopped for a few seconds before continuing.

“On purpose.” I lowered my head and didn't even have to see my mother's face to know that she was ashamed of me. Something she took pride in was that you had a good tone and polite manner. She looked like she had failed on both those things, making the lump in my throat worse, so she was disappointed with me. How unusual.

“I don't know what to say, Jennifer…” She bumped the porcelain plate in front of her into the vase of flowers she had picked from her gardens, echoing hard inside of me from the feeling of having disappointed her.

“Mrs. Thompson, that's my fault. I'm just as guilty of what happened.” I looked up, startled, hearing Dylan's voice; all the laughter was gone, and he looked gravely into my mother's surprised eyes.

“I'm glad she did..... crashed my truck, I mean... ” I smiled like an i***t and looked at him with eager eyes, just like any other woman in this town. I could not help it, even if Mom gave us a suspicious stare.

“It feels like I am missing something ...” Mom gave me side eye when I must have lost my color again. Dylan calmly chuckled at my nervousness before answering.

“Just that I like your daughter... despite her temper.” He smiled charmingly again, in the way he knew women loved, and it also worked on Mom when she woke up from her suspicion and clasped her hands.

Did mom just accept Dylan Hooper here in her home, that he liked me?! I didn't know if I was dreaming or not. Mom never wanted us to date, not Mandy or me; that was one of the few things she and Dad agreed on!

“Amanda, you may do prayers.” I sighed and clasped my hands dramatically as I stared. Still, Mom's eyes met hers; Dylan, on the other hand, Dylan bowed his head and held his hands peacefully. He looked like an angel more than anything.

“Bless the food, oh thy great lord!” I peeked at her as she seemed to be preaching. She was sitting next to me, with Dylan and Mom across the table, looking severely with their heads bowed, hands clasped, and eyes closed—unlike my sister, who smirked when she knew Mom couldn't see her.

“Please, steer my sister right since she is a stubborn donkey who needs all the guidance she can get, and oh, I really want that sports car when I graduate next year, Lord. Amen!” I was going to kill her, that smirking monkey, looking so damn pleased over what she just said!

“Amen.” Dylan smiled lovingly at me as I rolled my eyes for what time in the order today and discreetly placed my leg on his, making his eyes widen from feeling my leg snake around his, my foot stroking his calf, his grin more to my pleasure. It felt so good, us just having this secret touching, and it was nobody else, just us, him and me.

"So, not to be too forward, but I haven't seen Mr. Thompson around for some time... Is he still out of town?" Dylan clenched his jaw because he wanted to see my dad. He probably knew that Ed Thompson wouldn't be happy hearing that he was dating one of his daughters and wanted to get it over with; I wasn't feeling the same way.

“Dad isn't coming today either?” Mandy looked up disappointed at Mom's gaze, which immediately made all the happiness go out in her blue eyes.

“No, he called earlier and will stay in Oklahoma for a few more days…” Mom lifted the fork to her mouth, not wanting to answer more questions about Dad. I looked accusingly at Mandy. She might have understood Dylan and me, but her teenage brain had no idea it was a long marriage that had run its course.

"... so, Mrs. Thompson, you are one of the pastor's friends, aren't you?" I almost died hearing Dylan's voice. It was charming, but I didn't like how he told Mom something when she glared back, giving him a fake smile at my hopelessness.

“Please, call me Grace.” Mom scrutinized him, making me almost choke when I ate more food. I glanced at Dylan, who looked amused, back at Mom's shocked face before scoffing like she didn't want to discuss that. Dylan was done with his plate, watching me eat with a small smile.

"Jennifer, that's not enough. Eat more, baby..." Mom was giving me a stare when I sighed, taking another fork. She didn't need to tell me; I was eating!

Mandy laughed at my suffering to Dylan's concerned eyes, as if Mom's words had made him realize something I didn't want to discuss.

I glared back at him for raising his eyebrows; that wasn't true! I ate an entire plate of food, and she still wasn't happy!

“Please, Mom, stop….” I looked at her, offended when she smiled more at me and took my empty plate. Nothing was good enough for her. Glancing at Dylan directly, my vulnerability immediately softened his gaze on me.

“Grace, please, let me help you with the dishes...” He got up before anyone had time to protest and squeezed me firmly and warmly on the shoulder before entering the kitchen, where my mother was waiting for him; to my nervous eyes, she was going to kill him!

“You do not understand how lucky you are! He likes you! I can see it; Mom can see it even if she doesn't want to! Oh my god, the whole world can see it!” her voice got louder every second, making me want to cover my ears.

"Yeah... and the rest of Perryville's female population likes him too..." I sighed and felt sick, wanting to make him understand how hard this was for me. He didn't want me the first time and could just as quickly reject me this time.

Mandy picked up the phone and fiddled with it while she looked at me romantically like she couldn't believe my luck. Trust me, I didn't get it.

“Maybe so, but he just likes you... Dylan has been working in the stable for a year, and I have seen hundreds of women hit on him. Hundreds, Jen! Not ten or twenty, hundreds! from snobby bitches to my friends, and he likes you back...." She snorted when she fell silent, still not believing it.

She giggled, still playing around on her phone, to my annoyance; she didn't get it, so what if she was dating Toby Aldrin? Mandy wasn't like me. She was popular, and boys liked her, even if she wasn't allowed to date!

“He kissed someone else after me.” I clenched my jaws, my teeth squeaked, and to my surprise, she just giggled more, giving me a sideglance from her precious phone, getting me angrier; why was she such a b***h?

“So, you're jealous?” She snorted again, to my annoyance. She didn't get my point when I slammed the water glass on the table I had in my hand.

“of course, I’m jealous I ….” I stopped at the last word. What the hell was I saying!? Love him!? I looked around in a panic to see who could hear me. I stood up, and Mandy shook her head at my silliness.

“You what?” Many gave me a stare that made me sigh, wanting him to shut up about Dylan; she didn't know anything! Nobody did! The least of all, me!

“Nothing!” I sat down grumpily and pouted; the voices from the kitchen began approaching us, and I narrowed my eyes at my little sister. She might be a gossip, but she would only dare to say a word about this to Dylan.

“Are you arguing? It sounded like two angry cats in here.” Mom's tone was lighter when she came back out, and Dylan was in tone, giving Mandy and me a frown like we were supposed to behave. Good luck.

“No, mom.” Mandy blinked innocently, and I slouched more, almost having a heart attack, praying that Dylan didn't hear our conversation coming back from the kitchen.

“Let's move to the living room by the fire.” Mom had the host role imprinted on her for many years, and she enjoyed it. She was very lonely at home, especially with me away, Dad at work, and Mandy; only God knew what she was doing.

Dylan smiled like he was okay with my mom attacking him when I didn't believe that, not when Mom was a force to be reckoned with; she was the one who ruled this house, not me.

We sat in the comfortable interior of the living room, two velvet sofas that stood mirrored to the fireplace, giving my mom a full view of Dylan and me since Mandt had snatched up the seat next to mom, making me want to kill her again, she did that on purpose!

“So, Dylan...” Mom started after she brought in coffee for us that Dylan was happy to take; I just stared at Mom, who was watching me right back, waiting for me to say something or at least show her what my intention was with the hot guy next to me seeming unbothered by moms piercing eyes on mine.

".. I only heard good things about you from Amanda..." My sister looked up from her phone, smirking when she gave Dylan a wink to my jealous flaring up, wanting Mom to tell her off. Wasn't she too young to flirt with Dylan!?

I glared at her, my arms crossed, and got nothing back when the phone rang. I left with a tiny nod to Mom, who smiled back at my confusion. What?! If that was me, she would have asked me three times where I was going!

"... so, you seem like a hardworking man, just like my Ed...." Mom gave Dylan a smile that he returned, still sipping coffee when I sighed, oh please God! I didn't want her to start acting like I wanted or needed her permission; Dylan was right! I would make a stand if she was doing this to us!

"...but then again, you got expelled from college three years ago, right?" Mom leaned back when Dylan lost the smile. Dylan looked at Mom and crossed her arms, wanting him to answer her question, making my heart drop. She didn't like him, maybe as a helpful neighbor or a fellow believer, but not as someone who would date me.

"Yes... I did get expelled..." Dylan was clenching his jaw. He didn't want to have this conversation when I pleaded with Mom with all my might to back off with my eyes. Couldn't she see that he was hurting!?

"...my mom died, and I didn't handle it well..." I hated Mom, looking like she did feel sorry for him, but she didn't care. She crossed her arms more and gave me a look of disapproval of my irritation; she could go to hell!

"Mom, stop!" I was getting up from leaning back on the couch, leaning forward, and staring at her stern face. She wanted to protect me, but I didn't need that—not from him!

"We are dating, and you can do nothing about that." I was serious when Mom dropped her anger, giving me a disappointed look, and Dylan stared at me in awe. I was still not used to acting like this and was fired up, but I wasn't going to roll over. Mom and Dad would not keep me from dating Dylan Hopper, or I would leave and never return.

"Jennifer, please, look at him! you don't know what I know!" Mom was up, giving Dylan another glare, who for once didn't say anything back when I followed her, both of us standing, her eyes pleading me to listen to her, but I didn't want to; she had to f*****g accept my choice!

"You don't know s**t!" I was spitting back when she looked hurt, but she didn't, so what if he had f****d half this town, I felt something that I never had before, and it was real; I know it was!

"I know he cares for and helps me, Mom, please!" I wasn't crying for once in my life, begging her to understand that she was going to kill me if she didn't accept this; I wanted to be with him!

"You got a lot to prove... Dylan Hopper..." Mom was sighing, looking exhausted and worried over my choice; Dylan got up, nodding like he understood her, taking his arm around me to my smile, hoping she could see that he made me happy.

"And I will...Grace." Dylan made another smile, a real one, when he hugged me closer, making me smile too. Mom was staring at us, her eyes looking unhappy, but I didn't care; she was going to accept this, or I would be gone.

"I pray for your mother, Dylan. I do hope you aim to make her proud..." Mom was backing off, leaving us, when Dylan's smile dropped. The seriousness of this was killing me. Why did she have to bring up his mom?!