Closer To The Edge - Chapter 104
I sat on the couch with Sophia, making arrangements to fly out the next day to surprise Jared and tell him that he was going to be a father. Staring down at my hospital discharge papers and seeing the recommendation to follow up with my OB-GYN in black and white, I still questioned the legitimacy of the pregnancy. It was stupid I know, but people have made mistakes before. âI have an idea.â Sophia snatched the papers from my hand and tossed them down on the coffee table. She always got this crazy grin on her face when she thought she had come up with the solution to someoneâs problem. âHere, take Noah, Iâll be right back.â She handed over the baby and rolled Nathanâs stroller a little closer to the couch.
âWait, where are you going?â I asked nervously. Iâve never had both babies by myself before, and began to panic when she reached for her keys. Someone had always been around to help out, whether it was family or friends. Shelby was around the most, helping out when needed and with Shannon gone, I knew Sophia could use as much help as she could get.
âRelax!â She giggled, reaching down and grabbing a bottle for each baby from the diaper bag on the floor. It absolutely sickened me how fast this woman bounced back from having two babies. Her belly was almost flat and her breasts were bigger, fuller even. Aside from that, her body showed no signs of having just given birth to twin boys a few months ago. If anything, she looked better than she ever had. Muscles bulged from her thigh as she leaned over to place the two bottles down on the end table. Truth be told, Sophia was very busy, running a household, caring for twins and everything in between. She was younger than me and extremely fit to begin with. Itâs no wonder she looked amazing, having snapped right back into her pre baby routine with daily workouts. I was at a healthy weight, but nowhere near as active as Sophia. âI was going to run home and grab the fetal Doppler. I think Shan stashed it up in our closet, but youâre welcome to use it. Iâm telling you, once you hear that babyâs heartbeat, youâll start feeling all happy and motherly.â She leaned in, kissing Noahâs head and then Nathanâs. âBe good for your aunt Mia.â She whispered to her boys. âMommy will be right back.â
The door closed and I glanced down at Noahâs adorable little face. It was insane how much they had grown in just three months. Sophia had a bracelet with their names on it around their tiny little wrists, thank God because I certainly couldnât tell them apart. They had their motherâs eyes and their fatherâs everything else. Staring at those precious little faces made me wonder who my baby would look like the most, me or Jared.
She wasnât gone long, and once we got the babies down for a nap, she asked me to lay back on the couch. Kneeling down next to me, she waited for me to raise my shirt. âIâm sorry, but I couldnât find the gel that came with this thing, so KY it is. Jesus, I can only imagine what someone may think walking in on us right now.â Sophia squeezed a small amount of gel onto my belly. We both cracked up laughing because what she said was true. God, what a sight. Me lying there with my shirt raised up and my pants rolled all the way down to just above my pubic bone, the small bottle of KY on my abdomen and my sister in law hovering over me. âThe things you do for people you love, huh?â
âI love you too.â I said, watching her grin as she stared down at my belly in concentration.
âYour tummy is slightly poking out here Mia, Iâm just saying.â I glanced downward, at what I had brushed off as some harmless bloating. âI just hope youâre far enough along for us to actually hear it.â
âI have an appointment in two weeks and Iâd die if they did make a mistake.â Dropping my head back onto the couch, I groaned. âGod, weâve been trying for so long.â
She giggled as she moved the probe around my stomach, spreading the cool gel around. âOh, stop that, itâs not a mistake Mia. Youâre about to hear it for yourself and that will eliminate any doubts.â
It seemed like she moved that thing around forever, but with a slight twist, we finally heard it. Our eyes locked and I didnât move, didnât breathe, I was simply frozen as she zeroed on what sounded very much like the galloping of a horse. I knew without a doubt that the rhythm was much too fast to be my own. My heart melted and my eyes watered. The hairs on my arms stood on end and a chill rippled down my back. Reaching over, I grabbed my phone. âWhat are you doing?â Sophia asked, with the biggest smile on her face.
âI have to call and tell him. I want him to hear it.â I was full on crying at that point.
âWait, just take this with you tomorrow and let him hear it in person! You said yourself that you want to see his face when you tell him. Mia youâve waited so long for this.â
âI know!â I wiped the tears from my eyes and sighed.
âIâm telling you, seeing Shannonâs face when I told him he was going to be a daddy was one of the most wonderful moments ever. Youâre going to want to remember that forever.â
She got up and went to get a washcloth to clean my belly and I was so blissfully happy from that point on. Later, I was so lost in thought that I barely remembered helping Sophia load up Nathan and Noah in the car.
I took a hot bath and then packed for my surprise trip. The phone rang and I beamed with happiness when I saw Jaredâs name. It was so hard to keep it from him. I struggled, desperate to keep a conversation going without blurting the news that I was pregnant, or that Iâd be seeing him sooner than he thought.
He was in a great mood and we talked for much longer that I thought we would. After the call, I went straight to bed.
I spent much of the next day with Connie and it was even harder not to fill her in on my news. I just knew that heâd want to be the one to tell his mother, so I kept my mouth shut. After doing a little shopping, we had lunch together and ended the day with a mani pedi. I was lucky to have such a good relationship with my mother in law. Grinning, I instantly thought of Olivia and how much I missed hearing her stories about her relationship with Mrs Brenda.
I dropped Connie at home and headed straight to the airport. Boarding the flight, I was sure Iâd be arriving during the show and I was looking forward to seeing Jaredâs surprised face.
Unfortunately, the show was over and they had already left the venue. Emma took off with a friend, leaving directly following the show and wouldnât be back until the day after tomorrow. She did, however, make arrangements for me to pick up a key at the front desk.
Entering the lobby, I stopped at the front desk and then proceeded up to Jaredâs suite. Taking the elevator up to the tenth floor, I couldnât stop grinning as I imagined his happy face when I told him the wonderful news. Placing one hand over my belly, I set the suitcase down and raised my hand to slide the key card, but froze upon hearing an unfamiliar female voice giggling loudly.
All of the air left my lungs and I stood there pondering what to do next. Who would be in his room at this time of night? Surely it was nothing good and I wanted to throw up. Sliding the card, I opened the door and slowly pushed it open. I crept inside, rounding the corner and coming face to face with a pretty blonde. She gasped, but before she could utter a single word, but Jaredâs voice broke the silence from the next room. âI showered as quickly as I could, so letâs get this done so you canâŚâ He was in the process of rolling his sleeves when he noticed me standing there, horrified. âMia.â
âWait, this is Mia?â The gorgeous blonde with flowing curls and piercing green eyes questioned.
They both looked stunned to see me and as Jared took a few steps forward, I backed up. âWhat the hell is going on here?â I demanded to know.
Jared glanced at his guest and then back at me. âMia this is my friend, Imogen. Sheâs just here to take some pictures.â The woman picked up her camera from the couch and held it up.
âAnd you just had to have her here in your hotel room. How could you do this to me?â My eyes began to pool with tears and I spun around to exit. I just wanted to get away from them. I had no idea where I was going or what Iâd do, but I was over this bullshit.
âWoah, wait a minute.â She held her hand up. âThis certainly isnât the way you think it is. I have a girlfriend.â
âCome on Mia, you know me. You canât honestly believe Iâd do that to you. Imogen is an old friend that I invited to come and take some photos for me.â Jared followed me into the hallway, nearly tripping over my bag as he closed the door. âSeriously, she isnât even into men!â Gripping my arms, he forced me to turn around and face him. âLook me in the eye when Iâm talking to you.â I stared up into those beautiful blue orbs and knew that he was telling the truth. âI canât believe you think Iâd do this.â He spoke in a low, but direct tone. âI love you and Iâd never, ever do anything to hurt you. Jesus Mia, I donât want anybody else! Donât you understand that you are it for me?â
I suddenly felt foolish for even thinking he was cheating. He was always so good to me and never did anything to deserve me to assume otherwise. âJared..â
âIt fucking hurts so much to know that you donât trust me.â His voice sounded so pained and I blurted out my next words.
âIâm sorry. I love you and I shouldnât have assumed anything.â I wiped away the tears and silently scolded myself for reacting so fast. This almost ruined my surprise.
His arms wrapped around me and his tone softened. âApology accepted. Now, may I have a kiss?â
As always, the second our lips made contact, the passion ignited. The tension in his body loosened and he shoved me into the wall. Jaredâs fingers wrapped around my neck as his lean body pressed into mine. The kiss deepened and my fingers moved to the waistband of his pants. Realizing where we were, Jared pulled back and we stood there, out of breath and hovering on the brink of public sex.
âWell, hello to you too.â With his forehead pressed against mine, he spoke. âLook. Imogen doesnât have long to do this photoshoot, so let me properly introduce you and letâs get this show on the road.â
God, I didnât want to face her after my stupid mistake, but what choice did I have? We re-entered the suite and Jared introduced us. She had a great personality and I could see why Jared liked her. She didnât even bat an eye at my stupid assumption. He changed twice during the shoot and the instant she was out the door, he spun me to face the bed. I wasnât expecting the forceful, almost violent shove to the mattress. Glancing back, I watched him fold his belt in half. Biting his bottom lip, I knew what that look meant. Oh well, if he was going to fulfill my ultimate desires, I guess my exciting news would just have to wait.