It was almost midnight, and I was still waiting on him. I had made myself comfortable and was trying to find something to watch but I couldn’t concentrate.
From the whole news of Sasha being here and her being pregnant to then maybe being pregnant myself I couldn’t stop thinking what if.
Pushing the covers off I slipped one of his hoodies over my head. I was hungry and I no longer felt queasy. Leaving the room, I made my way towards the bar area. The coolness of the tiles against my bare feet was welcoming.
“Hey girl”. Lexi smiled.
The clubhouse was empty, only a few girls left hanging around. Sasha wasn’t one of them. Where were they keeping her?
“Hey”. I smiled taking a seat at the bar.
“They won’t be long. You wanna go get a burger?”. It was like she could read my mind. My stomach growled causing her to laugh. “I’ll take that as a yes”.
“Yeah”. I laughed. “I could murder a cheeseburger with loads of pickles and fries”.
“Chick-fil-A”. She grinned holding up her car keys. Jared still had mine. “Come on you can fill me in on what happened after we left last night”.
“I just need to grab some shoes. I’ll be out in a sec”. Heading back towards the room I slipped my socks back on and pulled my boots on. “Lex do you know how-…” he had returned.
“It’s late babe”. Kissing the top of my head I inhaled the strong smell of smoke from his clothes. God only knows what they two had been up to.
“I’m going for food with Lexi. Do you want anything?”. Jared was stood at the front door of the club. Wait were they going back out?
“Going where?”. He asked.
“Chick-fil-A” I grinned. “I’m craving some pickles and I’m starving”.
“Glad you’re feeling better”. He grinned. “Go get some food babe”. Kissing the side of my head my eyes closed.
…
“So, what happened last night?”. She asked as she pulled out of the clubhouse.
“He took me home”. I didn’t want to talk about last night. “He’s just not in a good place right now and I really don’t want to talk about it”.
“You good though. He was pretty pissed last night and poor Ally”. She sighed.
“I’m always good and yeah Ally didn’t deserve to be treated like that and I’m sure Blaze will apologise”. I hoped he would. I didn’t want the atmosphere to be awkward when they were in each other’s company.
“Can’t see it”. She chuckled. “But I’m sure she didn’t take it to heart. She’s a strong one”. As we pulled into the drive-thru I took out my phone.
“Decided what you want?”. She asked.
“Spicy chicken sandwich with waffle fries”. I grinned. “Oh, and a barbecue dip and some pickles”. The cheeseburger was long forgotten about.
Opening my messages I started typing as one came through.
‘What a shift 🙁 I’ll catch up with you tomorrow when your home. I hope Blaze is okay! Text me if you need me! Love you A’
I felt terrible at how Blaze treated her. She didn’t deserve it. He lost it and she got the brunt of it for sticking up for me.
‘I love you too Ally. We’ll get a catch up tomorrow. Stay safe’
Collecting our food Lexi pulled into an empty parking space. “You sure you’re okay. You don’t seem yourself”. She said passing me my food.
“I’m okay I promise”.
…
“Is Blaze going to be, okay?”. She asked.
We had finished our food and were on our way back to the clubhouse.
“I hope so”. Blaze was his own worst enemy. He may not be okay just now, but I knew deep down he would be. He had us, we were his family, and we weren’t going anywhere.
“What about you?”.
“Lexi”. I sighed.
“I know somethings going on with you Ava. Sue me for caring”.
“I think I’m pregnant”.
“No way”. I caught her grin out the corner of my eye. “Another mini-Blaze running around. That’s exciting news Ava”.
“I said think Lexi not that I actually am”.
“I can take you to the store before we go home. You could get a test?”.
“No”. I wasn’t ready to find out yet. I was terrified because we weren’t ready for another baby. Blaze was just getting to know Everleigh. I wasn’t sure how he would take it.
“Ava”. She sighed pulling into the clubhouse. “Is it not better to find out for sure?”. She was right but I couldn’t face knowing right now.
“He’s got too much going on-…”.
“You’re just making excuses”. Turning off the engine she unbuckled her seatbelt. “Take a test what’s the worst that could happen?”.
“I will”. I whispered un-clipping my seatbelt. I would take a test when I was ready. A baby wouldn’t be the worst thing to happen to us, but I wasn’t ready.
“You coming?”. She yelled.
“Yeah”.
..
They say morning sickness was a thing, but I was still convinced I had a bug. I couldn’t be pregnant, I just couldn’t.
After taking a long shower and getting myself ready I put the sickness to the back of my mind. Blaze didn’t need to know I still wasn’t feeling good.
I was heading back home today. Everleigh started pre-school tomorrow and I wasn’t ready for that. The fact Blaze wasn’t going to be there didn’t sit well with me. This was a milestone in our daughter’s life, and he was missing it.
“Ava, can I come in?”. Lexi knocked on the bedroom door. “I’ve brought coffee”. Opening the door, I smiled taking the coffee from her. “Time you leaving?”. She asked.
“Round about noon”. Taking a sip of my coffee I was glad it didn’t unsettle my stomach. When I was pregnant with Everleigh, I couldn’t stomach the smell of coffee.
That was a good sign.
“Blaze head out early?”. She asked.
“He said he’ll try and be back before I leave”. I shrugged. “Do you know if Jared is here?”. He still had my keys.
“He’s with Sasha”. Rolling her eyes, she followed me out front to the bar area. She definitely didn’t like what Sasha had done to Jared.
“Lexi you need to stop being so hard on her”. It wasn’t fair. “She made a mistake, but we’ve all been there”.
“I know”. She sighed. “I’ll be nicer I promise. I just hate what she’s done to him”.
“Yeah, it’s not great but how do you think she’s feeling?”. I spoke. “She’s stuck out here with no one to talk to”.
“Serves her right”. Stepping behind the bar she put on a fresh pot of coffee. “She made this mess Ava; nobody forced her to keep it”.
“Lexi”. I warned.
“Okay”. She sighed holding up her hands. “I won’t say anything else. You want more coffee?”.
“No thanks”. I was still nursing the one from before. As the door to the clubhouse opened, I caught sight of Jared.
Lexi placed a cup of coffee beside me as Jared took a seat. He didn’t seem himself, but I wasn’t going to pry. He would tell me when he was ready. I learnt my lesson after the last time.
“You, okay?”. I asked as he lit a cigarette.
“All good darlin’. You all right if we leave earlier than 12?”. Taking a long drag of his smoke I could tell he didn’t want to be here.
“I’m good to go whenever”. Checking my phone, I sunk my teeth into my bottom lip. I didn’t want to leave before he got back.
“He’s out front”.
Placing my hand on his shoulder I gave it a little squeeze before making my way outside. Leaning against the door frame I grinned when I caught his attention. He was sat with Duke and Cooper.
“Leaving soon baby?”. He asked as he walked towards me pulling me against him.
“You, okay?”. I asked.
“Always”. He whispered burying his head in my neck. “I’ll be home day after tomorrow”.
He really was missing her first day.
“Okay”. Sighing I let my arms slide down his arms. “I better get going”.
“Day after tomorrow sweets”. His nose brushed against mine, my eyes closed. He seemed better than before, his head clearer.
“I know”. I whispered. Opening my eyes, I pulled back from his hold. “I have to go”. Placing my lips against his I squeezed his hands.
“I love you Ava”.
“I love you too Blaze”.