“Yes, you know, sex followed by nine months of pregnancy, ultimately culminating in the birth of a baby.”
“Yes, thank you, Einstein. I know what the word means. You just caught me off guard.”
“Are you mad?”
“Mad? No. Surprised? Hell, yes.”
“That makes two of us,” Angel blurted out and started crying.
“Hey,” I said and reached for her, “it’s not a train smash. I love you and you love me. Right? It’s okay, Babe. We’ll work it out.”
“I have no idea how this even happened! I was so careful. I’m on the pill for shit’s sake.”
“Yes, I know. But remember, I’m Russian. Your American pill has nothing on these Olympic swimmers of mine.”
Angel stopped crying and started laughing hysterically–before she carried on crying.
“Sorry,” she sniffed midway through her breakdown, “I think the hormones are taking over. I hope this isn’t an indication of the kind of pregnancy I’m having. I hate crying. I end up looking like a toad with a skin disease.”
I laughed and hugged her tighter.
“Are you kidding? You’re the cutest little toad ever.”
“Oh, fuck off,” she said and punched me on the arm.
I knew she was only playing. If she’d been serious, I suspected I’d have a mean-ass bruise. Hell, I was so happy I was off the hook about the drugs, that Angel could have told me we were expecting triplets and I would have been giddier than a village idiot.
“Look at me, you silly goose,” I said and held her face in my hands. “I love you. So, we weren’t planning on starting a family. Life happens, my love.”
“I can’t begin to tell you how much I love you right now.”
“Actions speak louder than words, you know,” I smirked and kissed her neck.
“Really? Now? This is how I ended up in this state in the first place, you horny foreigner.”
“Let’s see just how pregnant I can get you, shall we?”
Angel stopped crying and kissed me.
“You’re on,” she whispered in between kisses.
Knowing that the woman in my arms was carrying my child changed everything. Including the way, I made love to her. I stroked her breasts gently and nibbled carefully on her nipples. It was as if there was aFragiletag on her that only I could see.
We lay together on the sofa for a long while after we’d made love. My rage over my business situation intensified. This should have been the happiest time of my life, and yet I was torn.
I had to get out of the deal with Grigoriy. I had to! But fuck knew how.
21
ANGEL
Max’s reaction to the news of our pregnancy allayed the fears I had. We weren’t living in the dark ages, for fuck’s sake. Millions of unmarried couples had babies together. It wasn’t as if I was a social pariah.
The next hurdle, after Max, were my parents. I didn’t want to disappoint my parents. Again, why was I worried about such a natural thing as a baby? Ugh. Society and its judgmental bullshit really fucked women over.
I called Mom on Sunday morning and invited her and Dad over for breakfast. I think Max was a little nervous. It was so adorable how he kept wiping the kitchen counter as if the presence of a mere speck of dirt would send my folks over the edge about the baby.
“Stop fussing. My parents love you. You’ll be fine.”