I can’t help but smile tearily because no matter Travis’ reaction, this baby is a blessing and I’m going to raise our child. I hope he’ll help, and I pray that he wants to be involved, but I’m going to have this baby on my own if that’s what it takes. I swallow hard, a tear sliding down my cheek. This isn’t Plan A, or even Plan B for that matter, but it’s happening, and my baby is going to have a good life.
Downstairs, I hear the front door open. Crap. My parents are home.
In a rush, I throw all the tests back into the convenience store bag and toss the bag in my room before slowly creeping downstairs. My parents are sitting at the dining room table with their laptops on when I walk in.
“Hi honey,” Maryanne sings, barely looking up. “There’s still time for you to help us show the Scotland Lane place if you want. We have some very interested buyers!”
This time, I don’t even beat around the bush.
“I’m not going to be a real estate agent,” I say, my voice even and strong. “It’s not what I want, and I’m sorry that hurts you because I know that this is where you find your passion. But for now, I’m going to continue working at the Coffee Perk and live my life. I hope you’ll accept that.”
My parents blink at me before nodding.
“Okay Pep, but let us know if you change your mind,” says Ben mildly. “We’re here for you, and Scotland Lane isn’t going to sell itself!”
I swallow hard.
“Thanks.”
Clearly, they haven’t accepted my speech at all but at the moment, I don’t care because I have bigger things to handle. Then a bit awkwardly, I make my way to the front door. “Just going out for a bit!” I call. “Let me know if you need anything!” But I’m gone before Maryanne and Ben can speak, and as I drive to Travis’s apartment, I run through what I’m going to say to him. The pregnancy is sure to come as a shock, but he deserves to know about our child. Besides, I need to clear things up. I’ve never seen any evidence of a wife at his small, spartan apartment, but maybe it’s because she doesn’t live there. Maybe I’ve been missing the forest for the trees, and I swallow hard. I hope to god that I’m wrong, but something tells me Travis has secrets that could destroy us.10TravisI hum along to a little shower radio while soaping up. It’s early afternoon on a Friday, so I’m not usually home, but the office is being prepped for tonight’s party so we let everyone go at three p.m. There will be news vans, reporters, cameramen, and plenty of press at the party, so it’s important that I look my best.
Plus, I’m going to tell Pepper everything soon, and I want to be presentable for this long-awaited conversation. I’m going to reveal what’s been on my mind, and to let the curvy girl decide whether she wants to stay. But of course she will, right? After all, who really turns down a filthy rich, handsome CEO? Surely Pepper will be over the moon to find out who I really am.
My heart thumps in my chest. Still, I’m nervous because this is big news and because we haven’t seen each other for a few weeks now. I have a good reason, which is the Derek merger, but she doesn’t know that. She could be really angry right now, and ready to let me hear it.
But I accept that, and after today, I hope we never have to go this long without seeing each other again. If anything, I want to wake up to her curvy form in my arms, her pussy wet and willing, her big breasts pressed against my chest. I want to savor the sensation of Pepper over and over again while murmuring “I love you’s” into her ear. That’s how much I want the curvy girl.
Whistling, I turn the water off just in time to hear the front door open. My hand pauses. Was that my imagination? Is there a burglar? But what criminal just walks in through the front door? Besides, I swear I locked that thing when I got home and it’s unlike me to be careless.
Slowly, I step out of the shower. My apartment is silent now, and I wrap a towel around my waist before inching out into the hallway. To my shock, Pepper’s standing in the tiny foyer, her eyes as big as saucers.
“Holy shit, you scared me,” I say. Then, I grin. “It’s good to see you, sweetheart. This is a nice surprise.”
The look on her face makes me frown because something isn’t right. Now I remember I gave her the key to my place, but she’s never used it. Nonetheless, something’s wrong because she’s trembling a bit and her curls seem more tousled than usual. There are red spots on her cheeks as she looks around my place frantically.