I pinched my eyes closed, and fought the pull between us. It had nothing to do with the fact that I was pregnant with his baby, and everything to do with the raw physical and emotional connection we shared. On some deeper level, my soul still yearned for his, and it brought back the familiar ache of having lost my missing piece. I wanted us to find our way back to that place, but not under the guise of our impending parenthood. I wanted him to want me because he couldn’t live without me, and not because he felt an obligation towards me as the mother of his unborn baby.
He trailed his hands down my arms until he held my hands in his. “C’mon, let’s get some sleep.”
“I should go next door,” I said, my voice unconvincing. I opened my eyes, and found Reid regarding me with a frustrated intensity. Maybe now he understood just how crazy he made me because I’d give him that very look many times.
“Stop being so damn stubborn, and do as you’re told.”
When I didn’t move, he started unbuttoning my light grey cardigan, and a shiver worked its way up my spine when his fingers brushed my skin. I hated how my body reacted to him, to his touch, and I hated all the confusion that had me fumbling when I was around him. I might have been angry with him every time we had anything to do with each other now, but there was one thing I couldn’t deny. I missed him.
He led me back to his gigantic bed, switched the bedside lamp off, and pulled back the covers before sliding in and turning on his side. I removed my knitted Ugg boots, and climbed in, turning away from him. He covered me with his thick comforter, and I closed my eyes thinking that was it, but he surprised me when he wrapped his arm around me waist and pulled me into his chest.
“Sleep,” he muttered into my hair, as if he knew I was overthinking it. He splayed his hand over my stomach, and my heart leapt into my throat. He might not have intended it that way, but I saw it as his silent way of claiming our child, and that alone was enough. For now, it was enough.
I threaded our fingers together, resting over and protecting our little Peanut, and fell asleep with no trouble at all.
** ** ** ** **
Reid and I seemed to slip into a pattern after that. For the past three days he’d been at my side constantly, always checking up on me, walking me to class, carrying my bags, and making sure I was eating and drinking enough. When he looked at me, I could see the possessive gleam in his eye, a new kind of protectiveness that made me equally possessive. Although we hadn’t spoken about the exact status of our relationship, something had shifted and we now moved in synch. Everything we did centered around our Peanut, and for once, it felt easy. Right.
“Can I grab you some lunch?” Asked Reid. He leaned in close, trying to be heard above the noise in the cafeteria. His nose brushed my neck, and my skin broke out in goosebumps. I wasn’t sure if he’d done it intentionally or not, but either way I was acutely aware of everything he did, every point of contact, and the exact position of his body in relation to mine.
I turned my head, aware of how intimate the position looked, and smiled. “Please. I’m starving.”
He nodded once, and signaled for Dane to follow him. Kennedy shifted at my side, and we both sighed as we watched Dane and Reid walk away. Reid and I weren’t together, but hell if I didn’t ogle him. My hormones were in fact in overdrive, and the sight of him always made me rub my thighs together.
“Sorry I’m late, bitches.” We all smiled when Grady sat down at the table, and laughed when he gave Ashley and Chase the evil eye. They were hunched closely together in conversation, and because we all knew they were kind of together, they didn’t bother hiding it.
“I swear Ash, if you start making out with my brother right now, I may have to knock you unconscious with that fabulous next-season Chanel purse.”
I snickered behind my hand, but stopped short when everyone around our table stiffened. Their eyes were trained behind me, and when I twisted in my seat, I saw why.
Stella was walking towards our table with Amy and their friend Desiree at her flanks. I straightened, and the hair at my nape rose at the vicious expression on Stella’s face.
“You’re pathetic,” she said with a sneer, stepping up to our table. “What lie did you tell Reid to get him to stick around when you’re pregnant with someone else’s baby?”
Kennedy stood up, followed by Ashley and Grady and they walked around the table until they were side-by-side with Kennedy. I stayed seated, hoping that Stella would say whatever she came over to say before I got myself worked up.
Kennedy folded her arms over chest, and straightened her stance. “Stella, get real. Jade didn’t have to lie about anything. You and Reid are over, and the only one who looks pathetic here his you.”
Stella bristled. “That may be the case now, but he’s been texting me for two days saying he wants us to get back together.”
My head shot up at that, and the look on my face caused Stella’s eyes to flash with sickening satisfaction. She’d hit me where she knew it would bother me, and I hated to acknowledge that it was working.
I slowly rose from my chair, and turned to face the smug bitch. “Your relationship with Reid is none of my concern, but this baby is his, and he knows it - ”
Stella’s maniacal laugh had my words tripping in my mouth. “You’ve reached new levels of desperation, Jade. Were you so threatened by me that you had to get yourself knocked up just to keep Reid to yourself?”
I stayed calm, keeping a firm grip on the tempest of feelings threatening to spill over. I couldn’t allow Stella a glimpse of the doubt fighting its way to the surface.
“I’m obviously not as desperate as you are, if you have to lie in an attempt to make me jealous. Are you that insecure?”
“Or maybe you’re just delusional for thinking that Reid would ever pick you over the mother of his child,” remarked Kennedy.
Stella’s face had started to redden, and she let out a shrill scream before her hands shot out and landed on my chest, giving me a hard shove. I stumbled backwards, and landed against Grady, who looked ready to rip Stella’s hair extensions out.
“You liar!” Screamed Stella. “You’ve been trying to break us up from the moment we started dating! You took him from me!”
I wanted to open my mouth and respond, but I stopped when Reid appeared at my side. “Are you okay?” He asked softly.
“She’s fine,” replied Grady, “But psycho Hobbit won’t be if Kennedy gets her hands on her.”
Dane took Kennedy from Ashley’s grasp, and pulled her away, while Ashley kept Stella from getting closer to me. The tension was rolling off Reid’s body in waves, and he looked murderous.
Reid turned, his back to me, and bellowed, “Stella!”
Everyone stopped mid-action, but it was Stella who cowered on the spot. She swallowed, looking guilty.
“Reid,” she pleaded, “baby, you don’t understand. I was just defending myself, your friends started.”
I couldn’t help but stare incredulously. The entire cafeteria had seen her push me first, but that little seed of doubt over whether Reid would believe her or not wriggled around in my head. The last time Stella had attacked me, Reid took her side.
Things are different now, I told myself.
Surely he must’ve seen it?