Chapter Eighteen
Ivy
Late March 2023
Wringing my hands in my lap seems like the right thing to do as I sit here and wait for Camden and Travis to walk through those doors. It’s been a week since the doctor told me I was… Pregnant. I still can’t wrap my head around it.
That explains the weight gain.
And here I thought it was because I quit working out, practically lived at Josephine’s bakery, and my boobs were finally filling out all on their own.
I don’t know how to tell the guys since I’m still trying to figure out my life.
I’m deflecting.
Simply not trying to face the music, and that isn’t even the worst part of it all.
Ugh, I don’t know why I’m so worried about Cam and Travis finding out, but I am. What will they say? Will they kick us out?
The what ifs run through my mind, threatening to drive me crazy. So, I do one of the things that really seems to help me when the going gets a little tough.
Taking a deep breath, inhaling the fresh air while closing my eyes, I breakdown each scent I find. Espresso bean from Cam’s coffee, vanilla bean, this morning. Lavender from the Air Wick fresheners all around the brownstone, and Gain washing powder. I love every last one of the scents, but at the moment, them mixing together like this has me running for the bathroom as the front door creaks open.
“There she goes again.” Cam announces, followed by a giggling Travis.
“I don’t see how you’re gaining weight with as much as you throw up.” Travis laughs.
“You’re not purging, are you?” Cam asks, making it in the bathroom just as I empty the contents of my small breakfast into the toilet.
“No, you whore, I’m not.” I roll my eyes. Fucking hormones.
“Let me help you.” Cam says, watching me struggle to get up. “What’s going on with you, Iv? What’s this little soiree all about?”
Taking a peek at him, my nerves begin to skyrocket into overdrive. “Let’s get Travis and go into the living room.” I say, patting his hand as he guides me out of the bathroom.
“Why don’t you sit and I’ll get Travis?” He offers.
“Sure, sounds great.” Walking the short distance to the living room, I stand. Sitting is the farthest thing from my mind as I try to figure out how I’m going to say this.
“I know right. Maybe we should all cook-”
“I’m pregnant!” I blurt out as they both walk in. My back is turned to them because I’m so scared of what they’ll say. Plus, I don’t want to see the weird expression or disappointment on their faces.
It’s so quiet in here that if I stop clenching my ass cheeks, they’ll definitely hear the fart before they smell it.
It’s eerily silent, and I don’t think I like it.
“Heifer, what?” Cam says after twenty light-years go by. “What the hell did you just say?”
“Don’t be stupid, she just said she was-”
“Pregnant.” I cry as my knees give out on me. Thankfully, Cam catches me before I fall.
“Why are you crying? Everything is going to be okay.” Cam whispers, making me sob even more. “Seriously, stop it, there’s snot and I don’t do well with snot.” He gags, making me laugh through the tears.
“Yeah, puddin’, why are you crying?” I guess it’s now or never.
“I don’t know who the father is.” I whisper, hoping neither one of them heard me.
“Bitch, what?!” They shout in unison.
Bloody fucking hell. “I said, I don’t know who the father is because I fucked Jake the same day he broke up with me and I fucked Abel all night long on New Year’s Eve and Day. Did you fucking hear me now?” I shout, my chest moving up and down at an alarmingly fast rate with each ragged breath I take.
“Pregnant? You’re really pregnant?” Camden asks, sounding like he still doesn’t believe me, so I pick up my shirt and show him my growing belly.
“Very much so pregnant, three months to be exact. And I don’t know which one of the guys is the real father.” I sniff. “I mean, I’m almost ninety-nine point nine percent positive it’s Abe, but that one percent could mean it’s Jake’s. God, I don’t want it to be Jake’s.” Cue the waterworks.
The air whooshes as they each help me sit down. “Come on, honey, take a seat, we’ll figure this out.” Travis says, attempting to reassure me that everything’s gonna be okay.
“Hey, Trav, isn’t there a test that can be run to tell early on who the baby’s father is?” Cam asks, grabbing my attention, but I won’t get my hopes up.
“Maybe, but she’ll have to ask her OBGYN. But, honey, the real question is, are you going to tell them about the pregnancy?” Travis asks.
“No, I don’t want to tell either of them anything until I know more. For now, I’m going to keep a low profile, but I’m going to need a cover story if I ever run into either of them.”
“We’re listening.” Cam answers for both of them.
“It’s just an idea, but can we all agree that the baby will be for Camden if anyone were to find out and question me about it?”
Glancing at one another, I see both their brows crease as they silently have a conversation without the use of words. Minutes go by before they nod to each other and say, “Alright, that’s the story we’ll go with… For now. You have to find out who the father is by any means necessary.” Cam says in a stern voice that has tears prickling the back of my eyes.
“But we’re going to help you every step of the way. We’re going to be the best uncles this kid has ever seen.” Travis says, making me feel slightly better.
“My first appointment is next week, and I promise I’ll find out. The last thing I want to do is put a strain on you guys. You’ve both done so much already.”
“That’s what families do for each other.” Travis says.
“Yeah, we take care of our own.” Cam chimes in, wrapping his arms around me. “Trust me when I say, we’re gonna get through this. I’m gonna be the finest daddy you’ve ever seen. Travis, we’ve gotta go shopping. I need hot dad clothes… Stat!”
I’m laughing so much my stomach hurts. “Oh!”
“What? What’s wrong?” Cam asks when he sees me clutching my stomach.
“Nothing, I think the baby just kicked.” I say on the verge of tears again. “Why am I crying so much? This is ridiculous.” I say, wiping my face.
“Hormones will do that to you.” Cam says, helping me stand. “Have you eaten breakfast?”
“Yeah.”
“What about second breakfast?” Travis asks, reminding me of Merry from The Lord of the Rings.
Laughing, I answer, “No second breakfast here. I’ve gained twenty pounds already to say I can’t keep down my food most of the time.”
“Make sure you mention that at your appointment, maybe they can give you something for it.” Cam says, heading to the kitchen. “Since we’re all free for the remainder of the day, Travis and I will make lunch, dinner, and some snacks while you rest up a bit.”
“I don’t want to rest, I need to finish working on a piece I started before I found out I was pregnant. I’ll have to figure out how to juggle it all since art is going to be my livelihood. Even though I’ve been dropping the ball lately.”
“We can help you there.” Cam says. “Just leave it up to us. We’re gonna get through it all.” He stresses.
“If you guys insist I take a breather, I’ll do it. I have been very tired lately.” My new physician gave me some literature on motherhood but recommended I schedule an appointment with one of his colleagues.
I made sure to schedule the appointment before I left because knowing me, I would have forgotten. I’m going to make a list of concerns and questions to ask since I don’t know the first thing about being pregnant besides how the baby got there in the first place, I snicker.
Scooting back on the couch, I lie back, get comfortable, and let my mind wander. Is there really a way for them to tell without conducting a paternity test to find out who the father is?
I’m praying there is, and I pray it’s Abel.
Okay, that’s weird.
Why would I want it to be Abel when I don’t even know him?
Jake and I were together longer, so it’s only right he should be the father. He’s the one that knows me better than anyone.
That’s a fucking lie, and it’s beyond time I accept it.
That’s why I want it to be Abel. We hadn’t even known each other for two hours when he had me figured out to a T.
Of course, there’s still much more for him to learn, but I have no doubt in my mind if I wouldn’t have left like I did… We’d be thriving as a couple.
Boy I really fucked that up I think as I drift off to sleep.