Chapter Twenty-Nine
Eight Months Later
LOOKING DOWN TO MY hand again, I smiled, but my body also shivered with nerves. I held in a plastic lunch bag the pee stick I’d used one month ago, which confirmed I was pregnant and had been for a month.
I hadn’t told Grayson yet because… well, I was scared. I knew he wanted children. I just wasn’t sure if he’d want them so soon, so I thought I would wait until I was over the fearful part before I told him. Thank God, I didn’t get morning sickness or anything so he didn’t start questioning, and there was a week there where he had to fly out of town to deal with a client when I pretended I had my period.
My shoulders slumped. I did feel terrible for not telling him. But I didn’t want to get his hopes up in case anything happened.
Actually, I had been a chickenshit keeping it from him.
Especially since it wasn’t that long ago that when we talked about children, he’d asked me how many I wanted. I’d told him it depended on the amount of pain I would go through. He’d chuckled and smiled at me. There was a certain glint in his eyes that nearly made me blurt out my news. However, I didn’t. He was busy with work, and I didn’t want to stress him until I was in the all clear.
At least he would be there for the important appointments. I was sure I was still in shock myself because we had been safe. There was only that one time when I got sick and had to have cough medicine again. At first, I had refused, even after a rough coughing fit. Dad, Dylan, and Grayson had to hold me down to take it, and then after, Dylan and Dad quickly disappeared leaving Grayson to deal with me on his own.
Which was good in the end. It seemed with the right partner and under the influence of cough medicine, we spent the night in bed. I had even managed to convince Grayson to go skinny-dipping in the pool on the gym floor. He only nearly drowned me once when the cleaner walked in, and Grayson, while I gave him head as he sat on the side of the pool, shoved my head under the water and kicked the cleaner out.
Not that it bothered me at the time. I’d popped back up, coughed the water out, and got back to business while Grayson threw his head back and laughed.
It was the next morning, I had forgotten to take the pill.
One mistake and I was knocked up.
Still, just the thought of a mini-Grayson and me growing in my belly placed a smile on my face and warmth in my heart.
It was time to tell the father he would soon be… well, a father.
My bedroom door opened. I gripped the pee stick in my hand, hiding it as Dylan and Lori entered.
“There’s a thing called knocking,” I said with an eye roll for added effect.
Of course they ignored it. My sister and Dylan had been inseparable since Lori had moved. Seriously, I couldn’t have picked anyone more perfect for her. Dylan was always there to help her study, cook, or help her relax. He even took her to college and back to our apartment building whenever he got the chance. Unless she was staying at his house. He also met her at college for lunch, when she was between classes. Though I think in a sense he was like his brother, and went to piss on his territory. Not that Lori minded.
“I just asked Lori to move in with me, and she accepted.”
Grinning, I cheered and stood, still with the stick in my hand, to hug them both. The news wasn’t a surprise. Dylan had been hinting at it for some time, and Lori had confided in me she wanted to.
“That’s great news,” I said.
“So,” Lori started, “we’re going out to dinner to celebrate. Let’s go.” She took my free hand and dragged me toward the door.
“Hold on. Usually I would love to, but Grayson and I have things to do tonight.”
“Not anymore. Grayson said he was going to meet us there as soon as he’s done checking over Ethan’s stuff for his concert tomorrow,” Lori explained. Unease turned my stomach.
Ethan had turned into a star overnight. His first release flew to the top of the charts. He then again hit the charts, when the song he did with Evelyn went live. Since then, he’d had many other charting songs. I was over-the-moon happy for him. The best part of it all was he was still who he had been before he’d shot to fame. In fact, he had settled down with Evelyn out in the country. We had them both, and Monty, for dinner many times. Like we did for Randal and his girlfriend, Monica.
“But—” I started.
“No buts about it. You have to celebrate with us. We’ll be living in sin just like you and my brother,” Dylan said with a chuckle from behind me as we stopped at the elevator.
“How’d Dad take it?” I asked.
Dylan snorted. “He loves me, so he was happy for us.”
Lori giggled and moved to Dylan’s side to wrap her hands around his arm, leaning in. “He’ll be okay, eventually.”
Dad had finally been warming to Dylan. I knew a move like this would set things back a little though. At least Grayson and I got a kick out of whatever Dad would call Dylan. However, it wouldn’t take Dad long to accept the situation. Deep down he adored Dylan as he had proven himself by sticking by Lori and treating her like the angel she was.
The elevator doors opened, and we stepped in. My hand still clasping the pregnancy test.
“Wait,” I cried as the doors started to close. “I need my bag.” At least then I could put the damn stick away. I went to press Open, until Dylan grabbed my wrist.
“You won’t need it. Our treat and we’re driving anyway.”
Damn it.
Sighing, I leaned back into the wall with my hands behind my back. My thoughts drifted to Grayson. I was excited like always to see him, but I somehow, somewhere had to hide what was in my hand. I didn’t want him seeing it while Dylan and Lori were around. When he found out, it should be just the two of us.
“You aren’t,” Dylan said, his tone low and annoyed.
Blinking, I asked, “Aren’t what?”
He rolled his eyes. “She thinks she’ll be paying half when she moves in.”
“Hmm,” I mumbled.
“What does that hmm mean?” He narrowed his eyes at me.
Shrugging, I explained, “Grayson and I had the same argument months ago. I told him if he didn’t let me pay my way since I was working, he wouldn’t get any in the bedroom.”
Dylan’s eyes widened. He looked to Lori, “Do not—”
“That sounds like a great plan, sister.” Lori grinned.
Dylan groaned. “Kenzie, you shit.”
Giggling, I bumped his shoulder with mine. “What are BFFs for? Though,” I started, and looked to my sister, “I’m not in college working for my degree.”
It was Lori’s time to glare at me.
“Ha!” Dylan burst out. “See, so I’ll pay until you get a job in nursing.”
Lori grumbled a “We’ll see.”
It was true though. Grayson and I had a similar argument. I had also mentioned about getting a different job. His reply was a gruff “No.” I’d argued my point, that we could be seeing too much of each other. His brow rose, and he’d stated, “If you try and find another job, I’ll come find you, and drag you back.” He took me into his arms. “You make my day easier. If I didn’t have you with me, I’d be a tyrant to work with. Do you want people to get fired?” He was playing dirty. I knew and so did he by the smug smile he had on his handsome face.
Rolling my eyes, I’d replied, “Fine. But I swear, if you don’t let me pay half the bills, you won’t be getting my booty for a very long time.” He’d growled in the back of his throat and called me evil, but I’d won something out of it at least.
Dylan and Lori chatted to each other on the drive to the restaurant. Even though I had just eaten, I could have something small. I was happy for them. They wanted to celebrate. I’d share the moment with them and then I would take Grayson home and tell him he was going to be a dad.
I laid a hand on my stomach and looked down. I wondered how everyone would be once they found out. I knew Dad would be happy. In the last month, he’d been going on about how good it would be to have a grandchild crawling around. Lori and Dylan would be just as happy. I knew they’d make a wonderful aunt and uncle. Even Vice would be a great uncle. Actually, I couldn’t find anyone who would be against my pregnancy. Everyone at work was used to the fact I was with the boss. They found it amusing when I would argue back with him, not caring what he would say because I knew he wouldn’t ever put me down in any way.
Grayson and I were in the heavenly stage of our relationship, with halos and all, so why was I still nervous about telling him?
I wasn’t sure.
At least by the end of the night, it would be over, and I could finally relax. If there were a small chance he didn’t want the baby…. Sighing, I laughed at myself. I was being stupid, overthinking things. Grayson would want our baby.
The car stopped, and I looked up to see us parked in front of the restaurant where it had all started.
Where I finally decided to leave Robert and where I met Dylan.
“What are we doing here?” I asked.
Dylan glanced to Lori and then back to me. “Hope you don’t mind, but we love the steak here.”
“Oh,” was all I managed. Shrugging it off, the valet opened the door, and I got out. “Thank you.” I smiled. The younger man blushed.
Lori linked her arm in mine—at least it was my free of pee stick one—as we waited for Dylan. “You’ve been quiet tonight,” she commented.
“Sorry. I really am super happy for you both. I just have something on my mind.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“Tomorrow. Let’s enjoy your celebration dinner, and soon we’ll be celebrating your graduation. How do you think you’re doing?”
“Good. At least the professors tell me so.”
I bumped her hip with mine. “You know I’m proud of you.”
Smiling, she nodded. “I know, but I appreciate you telling me.”
“Ready to eat?” Dylan asked, coming up beside us.
“Yes,” Lori replied.
“Of course.” I nodded.
Dylan stepped ahead as we walked toward the door and opened it for us. I was too busy thinking of when Grayson was going to arrive to look around and take things in. It had been so hard for the last month to keep my mouth shut. I prayed I could last a couple more hours, even with the pee stick burning in my hand. Maybe I should just throw it out. However, I soon rejected that thought because I was sentimental. It was the first stick I peed on out of the other twenty I’d tested. It meant more to me than the others. I was going to end up grossing my child out and placing it in its baby book to show him or her when they were older.
A quick movement beside me caught my eyes. Looking there, I spotted Dad. Smiling, I greeted him, “Dad, you’re here to celebrate as well. That’s nice of you.”
He looked to Lori, Dylan, and then around. “Sure,” he mumbled and rubbed the back of his neck.
Narrowing my eyes, I studied him. He looked flushed; he wouldn’t meet my gaze. My father was hiding something from me.
Placing my hands on my hips, I leaned in and asked, “What did you do?”
“Trent, how about we go get a drink?” Dylan offered.
“Yeah.” Dad laughed. “Sounds like a great idea.”
Lori dropped her arms when I stepped forward and grabbed Dad’s wrist. “Dad, if you’ve done something to mess with their night—”
He laughed again.
Oh God.
What had he done?
I shifted this way and that to look around the room to see if I could find if Dad had booby-trapped anything.
“Puddin’,” Dad started, “you look like you need a drink.” He tugged his arm free and then took hold of my hand.
That was when I started to notice the people sitting around the tables. “Oh, there’s Ethan and Evelyn. I wonder what they’re doing here. Wait, there’s Randal, Monica, and…” Turning around, I glanced at everyone I knew. “Why are Dara, Ryan, Hudson… Hell, why is everyone I know here? Dad, did you set them up to prank Dylan and Lori on their special night?”
He sighed. His hand hit his forehead as he shook his head back and forth and mumbled, “You’ve got your mother’s brains.”
My head jerked back. What did he mean? Was I missing something?
“Kenzie,” Grayson called.
A smile was already on my lips when I turned to find Grayson standing behind me. It only faltered, and my brows rose when I watched him dip down to one knee.
I just about ate my heart when he asked, “Hands please.” He held his up and waited for mine.
The only problem was I had one pee stick to get rid of. Flattening the test against my leg, I slid it down and heard it hit the floor. Grayson did also, but once I took his hands, he looked back up at me smiling.
“It may have been presumptuous of me, but I asked everyone here tonight.” I tilted my head to the side. He chuckled.
Wait one second.
He was on his knee.
In front of me.
Jesus. I was so slow on the uptake.
Did it mean… could it be possible he really wanted to tie himself to me forever? Legally? Was he sane?
I mean, I knew we would be tied together when the baby was born, but he had a choice if I were to have his last name or not.
Shaking my thoughts from my mind, I offered him a shaky smile.
“This is where it all started. Where you made your first change in life. What you didn’t know at the time was that you were not only making changes in your life, but mine also. Here you left your dickhead ex”—people laughed—“here you met my idiot brother”—more laughter while Dylan rolled his eyes, and I looked on with tears in mine—“and it was here you began your life again. The day you walked into my life, you took my breath away. Since that day you have taught me many things, but most of all that love was real. I love you more than anything, so it was only a matter of time until I made it certain you were mine in all ways. Makenzie Mayfair, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“Yes,” I yelled almost instantly, which caused another round of laughter. “Yes,” I whispered as tears ran down my cheeks. “Yes.” I nodded.
As people clapped and cheered around us, I looked at Grayson to see his smile was bright. His eyes shone with tenderness as he pulled a ring from his pocket and slid it on my finger. In one swift second, he was standing and taking me into his arms. His mouth descended on mine and claimed me. He lifted me and swung me around. I pulled back, wrapped my arms around his neck, and laughed.
Meeting his gaze, he said, “Thank you.”
Puzzled, I said, “I should be thanking you for taking me on and keeping me.”
He grinned and shook his head. “No, thank you for bringing me out of my hole and showing me there’s more to life than work. Love you, baby.”
“Honey, you have made me—”
“What’s this?” I heard Dylan ask, and I froze.
“What?” Grayson asked me, planting me on my feet.
Slowly, I turned to see Dylan pick an item off the floor and hold it up.
No, no, no.
“Dylan,” I cried and went to snatch it away, but he stepped back and held my test up high.
“It looks like….” He stiffened and glanced to me. “Is it yours?”
“What is it?” Grayson asked.
“I was going to tell you tonight.”
“What you got?” Dad asked Dylan.
“Oh my God.” Lori gasped, her hand covering her mouth.
“Wait,” Dylan started and then turned a little green in the face. “Did you pee on this?” He threw it at me. Only I didn’t get to catch it. Grayson’s hand came out and snatched it up. He flipped it over, and I watched as his whole body tensed.
He raised his wide eyes up from the stick to meet mine. “Is… what… does this mean?”
Biting my bottom lip, I nodded.
“It’s yours?” he asked.
I nodded again and then stepped closer to him to whisper, “I was going to tell you tonight.”
“How long?”
I sniffed, then laughed nervously. “I’m past the scary time. Two months now.”
People started to whisper around us. Dad boomed, “What’s goin’ on?”
“Why did you wait?”
Shrugging, I said, “I honestly don’t know. I’ve only known for a month. I guess in case anything happened, I didn’t want to get your hopes up.”
“You’re pregnant.” He blinked slowly.
“Yes.”
“With a baby.”
Smiling, I said, “Well, I hope so.”
“The night of the cough medicine?”
“Yes.”
He cupped my cheek with his free hand. “Never keep it from me again, please. Through it all, the bad, scary, and good, I want to be there for you.”
My bottom lip trembled. I nodded and cried, “I won’t ever keep anything from you again. I promise.”
“I know you won’t, or I’ll tan your ass.”
“Well, now you’re just asking for me to lie.” I grinned.
Grayson chuckled. He tucked the test into his pocket and placed his hands on my hips. His forehead dipped down to touch mine. “Now the night is even better.”
“It is? I didn’t spoil it?”
“You could never.” He kissed me lightly, then looked up and around. Smiling, he yelled, “We’re having a baby.”
“Holy fuck, yes!” Dad shouted.