Tango.” Seriously?
What would they say if they knew the truth? Would they hold me, tell me everything was going to be all right? Would they demand to know all the gory details? Would they do anything about it?
No.
I can’t let that happen.
The Temptation and Treachery of Aphrodite
Y eah, well, a few shifts turned into three weeks of working, and I was more than ready for a weekend off. Three weeks of missing my girl. Three weeks of thinking about all that baby stuff, my mom’s on-again, off-again tear-fests, my little sister’s general bratiness, my dad’s accusing eyes, and I was nearly ready for a permanent hiatus.
I only wished I had more time to just be with Mel. Like we used to be. But we did the best we could.
And I guess some of the guys from work were warming up to me because they’d let Mike invite me with them to the bay for some fishing and fun today. And I was more than willing.
“Hey, babe.” I called Mel as I shoved my swim trunks into a duffel bag, along with a clean T-shirt and my iPod. “What’s goin’ on?”
She groaned. “I’m so tired. I’ve been lying around all day.”
I sat and one-handed my sneakers on. “You’re not still feeling sick, are you?”
“No.”
“And the bleeding’s gone, right?”
She yawned. “Yes. I’m just wiped. Peanut’s sucking the life outta me,” she said, adopting my nickname for the baby invader in her belly.
I smiled. “Well, how would you like to lay around on a boat?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m going with some guys from work and their girlfriends to the bay. You wanna come with me?” I pocketed my keys and my shades, picked up my duffel, and headed out.
She hesitated. “Girlfriends?”
“Yeah. Why?”
I grabbed a Coke and strode out past Izzie, who was watching something on the Disney Channel. “Tell Mom and Dad I went fishing with some friends,” I called out over my shoulder. “Mel?” I spoke into the phone when she was still silent.
“Yeah.”
“What’s the problem?” Then it dawned on me. “You’re not worried about those other girls, are you? I’m sure they’re nice. But if they’re not cool, you don’t have to hang out with them.”
“Is Jonah going?” her voice had taken on a strange quality. Distant. Almost frightened. What was her deal with Jonah lately?
“No. Why?”
She hesitated a beat too long. “Nothing. Just wondering.”
“Uh, okay,” I said, drawing out the ‘okay.’
She didn’t say anything else. I could half hear the wheels turning in her brain as she struggled with something. I ran down the front steps, rounding the pilings under the house. “What is it?” I tossed my pack in the backseat then sat and shoved the key in the ignition impatiently.
“I’m pregnant, Reed.”
“Yeah. And?” I sat motionless, waiting for her to explain what the heck that had to do with anything. She was quickly making a fun day on the water into a big freakin’ deal.
Silence.
“Mel, what does you being pregnant have to do with going to the bay?”
A breath. Two. “I can’t wear a swimsuit now ,” she finally admitted.
I started the car. Jeez. “Mel. You don’t have to wear a swimsuit. Just put on some shorts and sit with me. It’ll be fun. We need the break.” I didn’t think it needed to be said that we could use a little bit of normal and a little less babyness. Even for one afternoon.
“But I don’t even know those people.”
What happened to my fun-loving, carefree girlfriend? “So?”
“Why would you want to hang out with them, anyway?” Now she was whining. I rolled my eyes and put the car in reverse.
“Listen,” I said. “I’m going. Do you want to come or not?”
“No. I’m tired.” Her voice went from whiny to icy sharp in a flash. “Have fun.” Then she hung up on me.
WTF?
I threw my phone on the seat and drove to the docks, ignoring the impulse to call her back. I wouldn’t play her hormonal games. She could just take a nap, or whatever
What would they say if they knew the truth? Would they hold me, tell me everything was going to be all right? Would they demand to know all the gory details? Would they do anything about it?
No.
I can’t let that happen.
The Temptation and Treachery of Aphrodite
Y eah, well, a few shifts turned into three weeks of working, and I was more than ready for a weekend off. Three weeks of missing my girl. Three weeks of thinking about all that baby stuff, my mom’s on-again, off-again tear-fests, my little sister’s general bratiness, my dad’s accusing eyes, and I was nearly ready for a permanent hiatus.
I only wished I had more time to just be with Mel. Like we used to be. But we did the best we could.
And I guess some of the guys from work were warming up to me because they’d let Mike invite me with them to the bay for some fishing and fun today. And I was more than willing.
“Hey, babe.” I called Mel as I shoved my swim trunks into a duffel bag, along with a clean T-shirt and my iPod. “What’s goin’ on?”
She groaned. “I’m so tired. I’ve been lying around all day.”
I sat and one-handed my sneakers on. “You’re not still feeling sick, are you?”
“No.”
“And the bleeding’s gone, right?”
She yawned. “Yes. I’m just wiped. Peanut’s sucking the life outta me,” she said, adopting my nickname for the baby invader in her belly.
I smiled. “Well, how would you like to lay around on a boat?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m going with some guys from work and their girlfriends to the bay. You wanna come with me?” I pocketed my keys and my shades, picked up my duffel, and headed out.
She hesitated. “Girlfriends?”
“Yeah. Why?”
I grabbed a Coke and strode out past Izzie, who was watching something on the Disney Channel. “Tell Mom and Dad I went fishing with some friends,” I called out over my shoulder. “Mel?” I spoke into the phone when she was still silent.
“Yeah.”
“What’s the problem?” Then it dawned on me. “You’re not worried about those other girls, are you? I’m sure they’re nice. But if they’re not cool, you don’t have to hang out with them.”
“Is Jonah going?” her voice had taken on a strange quality. Distant. Almost frightened. What was her deal with Jonah lately?
“No. Why?”
She hesitated a beat too long. “Nothing. Just wondering.”
“Uh, okay,” I said, drawing out the ‘okay.’
She didn’t say anything else. I could half hear the wheels turning in her brain as she struggled with something. I ran down the front steps, rounding the pilings under the house. “What is it?” I tossed my pack in the backseat then sat and shoved the key in the ignition impatiently.
“I’m pregnant, Reed.”
“Yeah. And?” I sat motionless, waiting for her to explain what the heck that had to do with anything. She was quickly making a fun day on the water into a big freakin’ deal.
Silence.
“Mel, what does you being pregnant have to do with going to the bay?”
A breath. Two. “I can’t wear a swimsuit now ,” she finally admitted.
I started the car. Jeez. “Mel. You don’t have to wear a swimsuit. Just put on some shorts and sit with me. It’ll be fun. We need the break.” I didn’t think it needed to be said that we could use a little bit of normal and a little less babyness. Even for one afternoon.
“But I don’t even know those people.”
What happened to my fun-loving, carefree girlfriend? “So?”
“Why would you want to hang out with them, anyway?” Now she was whining. I rolled my eyes and put the car in reverse.
“Listen,” I said. “I’m going. Do you want to come or not?”
“No. I’m tired.” Her voice went from whiny to icy sharp in a flash. “Have fun.” Then she hung up on me.
WTF?
I threw my phone on the seat and drove to the docks, ignoring the impulse to call her back. I wouldn’t play her hormonal games. She could just take a nap, or whatever
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