Page 33 of JoJo

Chapter 9

The whole world seemed a little fuzzy around the edges. I was hearing voices and my stomach felt like it was going to war with every other part of my body.

“That’s awful. You guys really can’t catch a break, huh? She was looking forward to meeting your parents too, since hers are both gone.” I recognized that voice. Knowing who was here, I dragged my body the rest of the way from my sleepy state and into the world of the wide-awake. “Hey there, sleepyhead!” Keys called out as I finally managed to crack an eye open.

“Hey!” I croaked the single word out and then reached for my now warm, and slightly flat ginger ale. Once I took a sip, I glanced over at my best friend. “I’m sorry, I can’t believe I slept all day.”

“You didn’t. I finished way earlier than expected and figured I’d bring some lunch by.”

“Awesome. Did you bring the tests too?”

Keys smiled widely as she nodded her head and looked off to the side toward my dining room where Steel happened to be standing. “Hey baby. Feeling up to some food? Keys brought you soup from that little place up the road.”

My stomach started making itself known again at the mention of the soup from the little drive up joint. “Yes, please! I’m starving.” Keys was still grinning like an idiot when I turned my attention back to her while Steel took off for the kitchen. “What?”

“I thought the whole test thing was a secret?”

Sighing, I looked at my friend and admitted the sad truth. “He suspected long before it ever dawned on me, apparently.” Keys laughed at my admission.

“I know,” she confessed. “He told me, and hey, don’t beat yourself up about it. You’ve had a lot of things going on that have thrown your world out of balance. So, do you want to go try those tests now?”

“Eat first,” Steel commanded as he came back in the room carrying a tray full of soup, crackers, and cold drinks. My best friend and husband bantered back and forth about some hacking job or other she’d been working on today. Apparently, some woman scorned had wanted to find out exactly who her husband was secretly sexting from the computer with a messenger style application. She was shocked to find out he had another family on the west coast, and apparently their marriage was not even legal, because the other wife had been around longer.

“That’s horrible,” I managed to choke out as I pushed everything away, feeling much better now that I had something on my stomach. It also had to hit a little too close to home for Keys. Her father had been a philandering dickwad of the highest order.

“No, what’s horrible is what both wives wanted me to do to get him in trouble with the law. I refused that part of the job. I do hope he gets what’s coming to him though.”

My bladder kicked in then, demanding immediate attention. “I’m gonna go…” I pointed upstairs.

“Bag full of tests already awaits you there.”

“Bag full?”

Keys shrugged. “I figured you’d want to be sure. You’re supposed to get best results in the morning when you first wake up, so maybe take two now, and save the others for tomorrow, if you need to re-test. If there are any left, I can just take them to the clubhouse. You never know when one of our RC members might need to do a quick check.” RC members were our riding club members. They paid their dues, and enjoyed usage of the clubhouse, but they did not work for us or earn dividends from any of the club’s businesses. Only the original members who paid in seed money at the start, and those who were voted up to the Motorcycle Club member level later were able to share in the profits.

“Okay,” I laughed out, and headed upstairs, surprised when no one followed directly behind me. Not that I thought they wanted to watch me pee, but I figured they would be too excited to stay downstairs for the wait. I ended up taking two different brands of tests out, set them on the counter, read the instructions, and then went about the task of sticking each test in my urine. I capped them off and set them back on the counter with the result windows face up. For some reason I couldn’t take my eyes off the damn tests. I was seeing the sticks, but zoned out at the same time. A knock on the bathroom door finally startled me out of my nerve-induced trance.

“Hey babe, you okay?” Instead of answering, I reached over and opened the door. Steel glanced from me to the counter and back again. “Results up?” He asked as he took in my oddly startled appearance. I just shrugged.

“I don’t know. I haven’t looked yet. Not really.” I’d been staring at the end caps of each test, not the results window. Steel pulled me into arms and kissed the top of my head for the bazillionth time today.

“Do you want to look together?” How freaking sweet could this man be? I nodded my head and he turned us back to face the two tests. We both leaned in a bit, and I finally allowed myself to see as he hugged me tighter to him, having already seen the results. One test had a clearly defined pink plus sign while the other had the single word, ‘pregnant’ displayed in the window.

“Holy hell!” The words were a whisper on my lips. “I guess no one can accuse of us of not jumping into this marriage thing with both feet.”

Steel chuckled. “You okay, babe?” I looked up into his gorgeous silvery eyes then, and beyond to the smile that was crinkling up a few faint lines at the corners. He was happy about this. Just seeing that made everything suddenly okay.

“Yeah, are you though?” Okay, maybe not just seeing it. I really did need auditory confirmation.

“Babe, I told you, I love you. When Jenn told me she was pregnant…” he blew out a breath, and I suddenly felt sick just hearing those words, even though I knew it wasn’t his. “I was sweating bullets and felt trapped, because it was the worst possible scenario. It’s different with you. Even if you decide you hate me one, five, or ten years from now, I know you’ll be a damn good mom. I’m not worried in the least. Honestly, I’m excited.” He placed his hands over my belly again, like he had earlier in the day. “I can’t wait to see this grow, and feel the baby we made moving in there.” His voice was low and held nothing but sweet reverence as he spoke. Maybe everything I’d been through that felt so crappy over the past few years had brought me here, to him, to this moment of complete acceptance. I wasn’t normally a fatalist, but it would make all the bad things worth it if they were pushing me here.

“Never, in a million years, did I think my dad’s stupid stipulation was a good thing. Not until this moment.” I didn’t even realize tears were rolling down my cheeks until Steel began to wipe them away.

“Come on babe, your best friend is anxiously awaiting our news.” We left the tests sitting where they were and headed in Keys’ direction.

“Well?” She asked excitedly before be even got down the last couple of stairs. I just nodded my head and then smiled the biggest damn smile I’d ever had grace my face. “Oh my God! I can’t believe it! I’m going to be an auntie!” Keys threw her arms around me tightly and squeezed. “Now, I’ll have to convince Quick to knock me up so our kids can be best friends too, or maybe they’ll get married one day.” She clapped her hands together excitedly about her own plans while Steel doubled over with laughter.

“He’s going to have it out for me when I see him again,” Steel admitted. As soon as Keys stopped hugging me and stepped back, his arms were back in place around me, pulling me up close to his warm, muscular body.

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