Breaking Me Slowly

Five

I’m sitting on Sydney’s bed, watching her walk back and forth between the closet and her suitcase at the foot of the bed. She’s getting her things ready to move into the back house with Jensen before the Delgado’s and other guests arrive.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I ask, breaking the silence.

Her eyes flicker to mine for a brief second. “Tell you what? That I was a secret from the beginning, and I had to remain that way?” It sounds more like a statement than a question.

I nod because that’s exactly what I wanted to know.

She sighs, throwing her hands up. “I don’t know. How do you even bring that up?”

I draw a blank. If the roles were switched, I probably would have done the same thing as Sydney.

“I didn’t want to say anything because I didn’t want you to give me that look–” she points to my face “–you’re giving me right now.” She sounds very serious and offended.

I wipe off whatever look I have. “I didn’t mean -” I start, but a glance from Sydney shuts me up. “What can I say?” I ask instead.

She chuckles. “I’m sorry. I’m overreacting. It’s these freaking hormones.” Another sigh.

Then I remembered the other day when she had her doctor’s appointment. “How did your appointment go?”

A flash of apprehension appears on her face. “It was fine.” It didn’t seem that way. “It’s going as it should.”

I smile. “That’s great! Did she give a due date?”

She shoves a couple of folded shirts into the suitcase. “I didn’t ask.”

Weird, I thought. “Did she say anything else?” I push, hoping that I didn’t sound as panicked as I felt.

Sydney looks me in the eye, gives a smile and says, “Nope.”

I felt there was more, but she didn’t want to say. And I didn’t want to push her into telling me something she didn’t feel ready to talk about. Sydney is a rational person and I trusted her completely. Whatever she decided, I supported and trusted.

A knock at the door makes us both jump. We glanced at the already open door to see Veronica leaning into the room, an apologetic look on her face.

“I didn’t mean to scare ya,” she says.

Sydney waves her in. “Just surprised is all.”

Vern steps inside and takes a quick glance around the room. “This room is amazing,” she whistles. She gets a frantic look in her eyes as she glances at Sydney. “But hey, you’re getting a whole house for just you and Jensen.”

“It is a nice room but I’m more excited for the house.” Sydney’s voice cracks at the end, something that only ever happens when she’s lying. The whole being-a-secret thing was bothering her more than she let on. 

Vern smiles. “Well, I came in here to invite you both to lunch with me.”

Sydney is hesitant.

“I have to go to this lunch meeting with Grayson and his parents,” I say.

Vern’s smile widens. “Did no one tell you? It was cancelled.”

I gape at her. “When?”

She points to the door behind her, the smile still on her face. “Right now.”

At that exact moment, Grayson and his parents walk by the room. They pass before Grayson backs up and comes into the room without knocking.

“Lunch is cancelled,” he says, stopping in front of me. I lean over to the side to look at Vern, narrowing my eyes once they land on her.

“Told you,” she says, keeping the smile on her face. Grayson turns around just realizing she was in the room. “I’ve invited the girls to lunch, you’ll tell Jensen that Sydney is also coming.” It’s a statement, not a question.

Grayson doesn’t have time to argue. Veronica grabs me and Sydney, pulling us towards the door.

“Thanks, Gray!” she shouts from down the hall, still pulling us along.

Once were seated, given our menus and drinks is when I turn to Veronica and say. “You know, it’s not fair that you and your entire family has supersonic hearing.”

Sydney looks up from the menu. “I do have to agree. It’s also a little weird.”

Vern shrugs, staring at her menu. “Sorry, lovelies. I can’t help it. Looks like you’ll just have to love me as I am.”

I chuckle, while Sydney bites her bottom lip to hold back a laugh.

“Of course, we love you,” I say. “No doubt about that. I’m just saying it’s not fair that I can’t do it.”  

“Maybe someday you will.”

Sydney sends me a questioning look as if to ask what is she talking about? I simply shrug and look back at the menu.

“So, Syd–” Vern looks up frantically at Sydney “–can I call you that?”

Sydney smiles. “Of course.”

Vern relaxes. “How’s the pregnancy going along?”

Sydney almost chokes on her water. When she recovers, she chuckles and says, “Went down the wrong pipe.” She wipes the corner of her mouth with her napkin. “It’s going great! Thanks for asking.”

“When my older sister was pregnant–”

“You have a sister?” I ask, interrupting Vern.

“You didn’t know that?”

I shake my head.

She smiles sheepishly. “I have an older sister, Nina. She’s coming to the wedding! You’ll be able to meet her.” Vern turns her attention back to Sydney. “When my sister was pregnant, she used to get these weird cravings for peanut butter and pickles.” She notices the disgusted looks on our faces. “Not always at the same time.”

That was a little better, I guess.

“Are you asking if I get any weird cravings?” Sydney guesses.

Vern smiles. “Pretty much, yeah.”

“I actually didn’t get any weird cravings.”

“You’re lucky. I could only imagine the hard time Jensen would’ve given you if you had weird cravings.”

Sydney laughs. “If he tired, I would just yell at him.”

“I think we’re going to get along very well.” Vern takes a drink. “Is Samantha Schultz your doctor?”

Sydney nodded. “You know her?”

“She’s been around a long time. Doctor Schultz helped deliver me and my sister. You’re in great hands with her.”

I know the consolation wasn’t meant for me, but it made me feel better. Sydney smiles politely, but I can see something is bothering her. She doesn’t have much time to think about it, because Vern is firing more questions at her.

Lunch goes smoothly and quickly. Sydney finishes the last of her water before excusing herself to the bathroom. Vern holds a smile on her face until Sydney disappears out of sight.

“This was fun–”  

“How close are the two of you?” Vern cuts me off.

I’m confused. “She’s my best friend. Why?”

Vern’s look turns into one of sympathy. “What do you know about the pregnancy.”

“That everything is going well and as it should be.” Vern’s eyes quickly glance in the direction Sydney had gone. “Why are you asking me this?”

“I just…” she trails off. “I think she’s hiding something.”

“Like what?”

Veronica shrugs. “I don’t know.”

When we get back to the house, I begin my search for Grayson. I find him in his room, on his bed reading a book. I don’t even have to knock.

“You’re back,” he says, putting the book down. “How did it go?”

I throw myself face first onto his bed. “Fine.” I slightly turn my head to one side. “Did you miss me?”

“Always.”

I smile.

Grayson sighs. “Lunch was just fine.”

I shrug. “All we did was talk. Nothing exciting, really.”

“It’s Vern, something exciting always happens.”

“She was pretty tame today. I think she was trying not to scare off Sydney.”

He snickers. “That’s not going to last long.”

I grin. “Tomorrow Vern will be back to her normal self.”

“Agreed.” He grabs my hand, bringing it to his lips. “I didn’t ask so I hope you don’t mind that I cleared both of our schedules tomorrow night.”

I raise a brow, intrigued. “Tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow,” he confirms. “I have a special night planned for us.”

My grin turns into a huge, toothy smile. I haven’t felt this elated since I was a kid and it was Christmas time.

“Just you and me?” I want to make sure.

“You and me.”

I throw my arms around him, tackling him down onto the bed. “I’m so excited!” I squeal.

I feel Grayson’s body shake underneath me as he laughs. “Good.”

I pull away slightly to get a better look at his face. “You’re not going to tell me what you haven planned, are you?”

He grins, his blue eyes shining as he says, “Nope.”