Gia to hold.”
I clapped nearly dropping my phone. “Well I hoped to have some girl-time before the baby comes. Besides, I’ve sent you plenty of pictures of the hot LA guys recently. The incentive is high my friend.” We hung up and I shed another layer of angst and hope and joy filled my heart.
June
A cool Santa Ana breeze swept across my groggy body. Sleep still clung to my limbs, and the sun sat lower in the sky. It was a typical hot, muggy June day in Los Angeles, but none of that mattered at this point. Sticky weather, frustrating traffic, and dense-fog, all of life’s little distractions melted away in an instant with the exciting news. I was now on weekly visits to the OB, and we found out last night the newest chapter in our lives would most likely come early. A few months ago, I chose to find out the sex of the baby. Abel chose not to. He explained, “There are too few surprises in life. Why would I want to ruin one of the biggest ones?” It made sense, and it was his choice. Which, I respected. So I decorated the nursery in neutral colors…for now.
“Well…well…well. I can see that broody alpha was right sending me to check up on you.” Chance tsked. He carried a wooden tray filled with fruits, two Cobb salads, and oatmeal raisin cookies and set it on the table.
I sat up, shading my eyes with my hand. “Well, thank fuck he did. Look at all this goodness you’ve brought me.” I lied, but smiled anyway. “I need help.”
“I can see that…” He kidded. It was getting harder and harder these days to do the simplest of things like getting up from a sitting position. Forget about tying my own sneakers. I lived in flip-flops recently.
He beamed happily, and bit the swell of his lip as he helped me up. I walked over and took a seat under the shade of the umbrella. He poured a fresh glass of iced tea for us both and drove his fingers through his sun-kissed hair—the ends long enough to skirt along the collar of his shirt. He wore bright blue board shorts that hung deep below his hips, showing the cuts along either side of his abdomen. My eyes cruised up and down his body, taking inventory. How he was still single was a mystery. Boohoo for all the girls on my team and heehaw for all the boys on his. Chance was one word—devastating. I wouldn’t say he was the “boy next door” because there weren’t boys like that next door.
He sat and handed me a napkin. “Please stop raping me with your eyes. You’re pregnant with someone else’s baby, and it’s uncomfortable.” He rolled his eyes dramatically and I laughed. I mean, I really laughed, because it was true. He was pretty to look at, and the pregnancy has done some fucked-up shit to my hormones. Chance’s wit was only part of the charm and very much appreciated these days.
Abel and he were on the road to healing. It hasn’t been an easy road, but at the end of the day…Abel chose his friend over the unfortunate situation that was dealt long ago. Fear fed the monster that had gained momentum, and Chance didn’t have the courage to yield against it. We all learned some lessons that day—forgiveness sat high on the list. However, without fear, there cannot be courage.
I quickly stuffed my mouth with salad and realized I was missing something. Something that I needed more than my next breath. “Hmm…”
“Are you looking for this, little pregnant demoness?” Chance handed me a dish covered by a white linen napkin, which I happily accepted.
I uncovered it hastily, nearly dropping it to the floor. Another symptom of pregnancy…butter fingers. I’m a clumsy bitch.
“My god, I have never seen someone ‘shark’ for chocolate and pickles like you.” He shook his head in revulsion. “Totally disgusting.”
It was half-sour dill pickle spears with a side of tiny peanut butter cups. I bit into a pickle and tossed a few candies in my mouth. “You need to try it. It’s the best combo I ever created.” Another truth…in recent months I’ve concocted more unpleasant noshes than Chance cares to recall.
“You’re disgusting, you know that? I’m sick to my stomach watching you.” His face paled and I smiled, enjoying the show.
“Then why did you sneak it to me?” I asked, even though I knew the answer. However, I