Chapter 16
ISLA
Laughing, I can’t help but inspect what I just unwrapped.
“This is a little… I don’t know… What is it?” I look at Hadley’s mom April, perplexed.
We’re all sitting in a circle at Violet’s house for my baby shower. She had her baby a few months ago, so it was the easiest solution of locations. The pink decorations are gorgeous, the games we played ridiculous, and of course, Hadley’s mom went overboard with snacks. Also, presents…
“It’s a unicorn outfit.” She seems proud of her choice and starts pointing to various aspects of the clothing. “See? The little horn on the hood.” I laugh again. “She’ll be like a burrito wrapped up but with a special hat. Perfect for Halloween.”
“That I can see, thank you.” It’s a cute gesture. I search for the next item from the pile of gifts. My head indicates the giant diaper cake in the corner. “Thank you, everyone, but it seems like a lot of diapers for the first few weeks, will I really need them?”
The moms in the group say yes in unison.
I’m not going to argue with their perspective that they calculated right. I hold my hands up. “Okay, okay. Forget I asked.”
An abundance of unwrapped presents are around me, still with another pile to go. Not only do I have the usual ladies from my circle of friends who are the next best thing to family, but also a few colleagues, and of course, Ivy, my brother’s girlfriend.
Hadley claps her hands. “Okay, everyone, let’s take a little break before we continue to the big round.”
“Great idea, I need to pee. This kiddo has been pressing against my bladder all day,” I say as I stand.
By the time I’m done in the bathroom, I come out to find Hadley carrying a bag of ripped wrapping paper to the garage in one hand. “Surviving?” She grins.
“This is really a special day, thank you.”
She waves me off. “It’s the least I can do. You were my maid of honor, and I’m not having a kid anytime soon, so it keeps the ladies in there occupied.” Hadley throws her thumb over her shoulder.
“They are really into this.”
Hadley studies me, maybe trying to read me. I’m familiar enough to know that she is about to ask a question that I might not appreciate. “Um, should I bring up the topic?” Her face screws into a cautionary look.
I take a second. “You mean Vaughn?”
“Yeah.” I hate her sympathy in trying to comfort me with her hand on my wrist.
“I invited him. If he doesn’t want to come, then that’s his choice.”
Hadley takes a moment. “But you do want him here, right?”
I shrug my shoulders. “I do. Doesn’t mean it will happen.”
“What’s going on between you two?”
“Nothing. Just focusing on this baby, and he’s been busy with work. Not to mention, I think it's going to be a long time until he forgives me.”
“So, no discussion of…” She’s struggling to beat around the bush.
I shake my head. “Is there something to discuss? We are two people who gave into lust a few times.”
A short laugh comes out of her mouth. “You had sex with him three times because you can’t keep your hands off of one another.”
“Two times. At Christmas, I was completely well-behaved, thank you very much… Besides, hurricane us were kind of at it more than once, so I’m not sure your numbers correlate.” I sound far more serious than I should as I bring my arms to cross over my chest.
She tries to keep her loud laugh in but fails miserably. “I think you probably need to investigate that—” she circles her hand as if she is outlining a circle “—situation a little more. See if it is really just lust or a chance for something else.”
I chortle a sound. “Not sure now is the time for it. Besides, I…” I lean in to ensure nobody can hear.
“I’m not sure if I want to get my hopes up or if I’m already there and know I shouldn’t get my hopes up.
” I stand taller. “Plus, he’s been a little too possessive and broody lately.
Not exactly getting points from me… Okay, it's kind of hot. But I mean, he doesn’t even show up to my baby shower.
Surely, a smart man would have figured out that my invite was because this means a lot to me.
But no, Vaughn enjoys keeping everything in limbo, as if it’s some game with my very hormonal emotions. ” I’m completely riled right now.
Hadley quirks her lips out, just listening, however, something feels like she won’t respond to me as a sly smirk forms on her lips, her sightline over my shoulder.
The clearing of a throat instantly draws my attention behind me.
Oh shit.
Hadley doesn’t say anything, because Vaughn will.
He throws me a tiny little wave. “The guy who is playing a game with your emotions is here.”
My sight whips back to Hadley who smiles tightly. “Think that’s my cue to leave you two alone.” She walks on and spurts out a laugh.
Vaughn only steps closer. “Sorry I’m late.”
I can imagine that my face must looked flushed. “Uhm… how much of that did you hear?” I ask awkwardly.
He smirks as he leans against the wall with his arm against it, and he crosses his ankles. My impression is that he enjoys making me squirm. “Enough.”
I gulp and laugh nervously. “Sorry. I’m a little emotional today.”
“I’ll let it go. It seems like quite a spread in there.” Great, he’s changing the topic.
“They all went overboard, it’s really sweet. Declan and Connor are in the mancave somewhere in this house… if you need an escape.”
“I just got here,” he states, matter of fact. “And I know. They warned me to avoid baby games like the plague, so here I am, hopefully saved from measuring your belly, although…” His head slants to the side. “Could be kind of interesting.”
A smile curves on my lips. “Good choice of timing then. I still have another round of presents… the big ones. We will be needing two cars to get it all back to your house, for sure.”
“You mean our house.”
A sound of doubt hits my lips. “Is it, though? I’m pretty sure you dragged me there without my choice of humble abodes, and if it weren’t for the fact that I’m going to be a kickass mom, then you would lock me in a tower.”
He laughs. “Lock you in a tower? Nah, I’d lock you to my bed.” It escapes him, and the moment he realizes, his jaw flexes.
We’re flirting.
It seems we still have it in us.
Still, my eyes blaze slightly from the surprising choice of words. “I’m sure…” I try to stay calm while a painful feeling hits that nub between my legs, the kind of pain only he can relieve—or my hand, but Vaughn is so much better. “It would be an adventure.” It’s nearly a rasp.
His smirk pulls a tiny bit, drawing my attention to his lips.
But then he grumbles a sound, bringing us back to the present for our little offtrack distracting talk. “So, what am I supposed to do?” He straightens his posture, and his hand finds my arm. “Not that I’m not interested, it’s just I really have no clue.”
I giggle. “It’s more that your appearance is a thank-you for all the gifts, and you sit with us for a little bit, preparing for a lot of ahhs and cooing.
I actually have sympathy for you right now, because it’s going to be a little much.
Hopefully, they tame down their labor stories in your presence.
They also all love to give unsolicited advice, but luckily, in a kind way.
They just want to help. I’m so grateful for it. ”
A gleam appears to glaze his eyes. “I’m happy that you have everyone in there.”
“I’m lucky. And it is great. It’s just that it’s… not biological, ya know?”
His head tips low. “I get it.”
“Yeah… you do.” An unsaid realization floats between us, an understanding. “Now come on, get ready to be sucked into an atmosphere of sickly-sweet goodness.”
“Ready as ever.”
Vaughn follows me, and I don’t even realize until I feel a sizzle run along my spine that it causes me to glance down to see our hands holding. I’m not sure who initiated it or if it’s just a natural magnetic need between us.
I like our hands interlaced, it’s the type of support that needs no words. A signal that you’ve got one another’s back. But it’s also an act that only normally happens between someone holding a child’s hand or between two people who are in a relationship or on their road to that.
I don’t let the thought overtake me, and I can’t even if I tried, because soon we are ushered by someone into the room which must feel like a pit of doom for Vaughn, but his smile seems the opposite. He must be acting polite.
The appearance of Connor and Declan in the back holding up a beer in support is also a solid vote of confidence for team Vaughn.
We sit down next to one another back in the circle and someone hands over a big box. Vaughn instantly holds it since my belly is in the way.
“Wow, this seems bigger than my body,” I note as I begin to rip the paper.
A box with what seems like a highchair is soon revealed.
Violet pipes up. “It is Scandinavian design, has a few inserts so even the newborn can be table height when you’re eating dinner, plus it grows with the child to the point that you can even use it as an adult as a normal stool.” She claps her hands together. “We all got it for you.”
I scan the circle, feeling emotions swell in me and a pool of water forming at the bottom of my eyes. Vaughn seems to notice, and his arm snakes around me to pull me into a side hug, and he speaks up. “It’s just what we need, thank you. Right, Isla?” Thank goodness he can read me like a book.
“Yeah, it’s… perfect. Wouldn’t have thought of it,” I add.
The next few gifts are far too generous. A bouncy chair, a travel cot, a few cute little onesies.
“Okay, open this one. It’s the last one.” Hadley hands me a bag with tissue paper, and my eyes go round with curiosity at Vaughn, who just returns the gesture.
“Hmm, I wonder what this could be.” I begin to pull out the paper. When my hand dips in, I feel only softness, yarn maybe. The moment that I pull out the blanket, I’m done. Tears fall from happiness. “Oh my.”