26. The Threat of Good Times
“YOU OKAY?” I reach across the car to rest my hand on Piper’s thigh, giving it a little squeeze. “Need me to slow down?”
She shakes her head and holds up the cracker in her hand. “These are actually helping a decent amount.”
I want to believe that, but her skin is still pale and her eyes are still glassy. “I should take you back home so you can rest while I check in at the shop and make sure everything”s okay.”
Piper rolls her eyes, but for once it doesn”t make me feel better. “I”m fine. And if it really is what you seem to think it is, I”ve gotta get used to it.” As with so many other things, Piper is taking the possibility that she might be pregnant in stride.
When I first met her, I thought she was a loose cannon, but that”s not the case. At all. She’s actually shockingly chill. Most people will never get to see that side of her, and part of me fucking loves that. Loves that I”m one of the only ones who knows who she really is.
I would love it more if she didn”t look like she was about to throw up again.
“We should take the test as soon as we get there.” On our way to the shop, we made a quick pit stop to grab a box of crackers, a case of ginger ale, and a two-pack of pregnancy tests. Piper insisted she”d only need one, but I want to be absolutely positive before I get my hopes up.
Higher.
From day one, Piper didn”t take any of my shit. She didn”t let me get in my own way. She didn”t back down when I tried to push back. She stood up to me when I was being fucking stupid and kept me calm when I was ready to lose my shit. That”s why every inch of me wants to see a little plus sign on that test.
Because Piper isn’t just everything I want to have. She’s also everything I want the mother of my children to have. And now that the possibility exists, I want it more than I think I’ve ever wanted anything.
Outside of her.
“That’s fine.” She nibbles on her cracker. “As soon as we get there, I”ll go to the bathroom and pee on the stick.”
I shake my head. “You”re not doing anything.” My grip on her thigh tightens. “We are going to do it.”
Piper makes a sound that’s half scoff, half laugh. “No way. Everyone will notice if we go into the bathroom together.”
“That’s fine.” I come to a stop at a light and turn to face her. “Because as soon as we’re done in the bathroom, we’re telling everyone about this.”
Piper”s eyes widen and her jaw goes slack. “What do you mean, this?”
“I mean this.” I motion between us. “All of it. You and me.” My eyes dip down to her softly curved belly. “And if there”s going to be more of us.”
Piper’s already peaked complexioned pales even more. “You”re not supposed to tell people before—” She swallows hard, fingers toying with the hem of her T-shirt. “I wouldn”t be far enough along to—”
“You”ve been throwing up for days, Sugar. They’re going to notice when you keep running to the bathroom.” I lift my hand from her thigh to trace along her cheek. “It’ll be okay. I promise.”
Her lips purse into a soft pout. “You say that now, but I remember a time when you were super worried about everyone at the shop finding out anything about us.”
I flash her a smile as the light turns green. “That was back when I had my head up my own ass.”
Piper is quiet beside me as we start moving again, and I peek her way, finding her lower lip pinched between her teeth, brows creased in worry. “What if they’re pissed?” Her eyes come to my face. “What if they don”t think I should work there anymore?” Her voice pitches. “What if they don”t like that your girlfriend is an employee?”
“That won’t matter.” I slide my fingers along her hand, tracing across the spot I plan to fill soon. “Because you”re not going to be my girlfriend for long.”
Piper doesn”t even pretend to misunderstand me. “Is that so?” Her brows lift and a little of the attitude I love so much creeps into her tone. “I feel like that”s not a plan you can make on your own.”
I lace our fingers, and lift her hand to my mouth, pressing a kiss against her skin. “You”ve seen my house, Sugar. You know I don”t make any fucking plans on my own.” I pull past the shop and up the alley at the side, circling to the back of the building. “You make all the plans. I just execute them.” I park in the only open spot left, shutting off the engine before facing her. “That”s why I’ll be driving us to the jewelry store, and you’ll be picking out your ring.”
Piper”s eyes narrow and her head tips. “Aren”t you supposed to get down on your knees?”
I lean in, lowering my voice as I ghost my lips over her ear. “I will get on my knees for you any time. Anywhere.”
The slight pinking of her cheeks makes me feel a little better. It”s killing me to see how terrible she feels. Watching her suffer has been one hell of a wake-up call. A reminder that even if I have every intention of doing everything in a relationship, it’s impossible. I can”t carry a baby. Can’t deliver it. Can”t have morning sickness for her. Sure as hell can”t breast-feed. Even if I hadn”t come to the realization I couldn”t do it all, it would have slammed me in the face eventually.
But I’ll still always carry as much weight as I can get away with.
I collect the plastic grocery bag containing the box of tests and tuck it under my arm before climbing out and going around to collect Piper. She’s sliding out of her seat when I get there, so I wait as she adjusts her shorts and shirt. When she”s ready to go, I rest my hand on the small of her back and direct her into the building. This parking spot is closest to the back entrance, which leads directly into the shop.
It”s loud and warm as we walk in, but everyone’s busy with their first job of the morning, so no one pays attention as I lead her through and into the door connecting the shop to the block building housing the break room, my office, the reception area, and our destination. There’s a collection of customers at the front desk keeping Nancy distracted as we duck into the bathroom. I flip on the light and lock the door then pull the box of tests from the bag, tear into it, and pass one off to Piper.
She takes it, lifting her brows at me. “Are you going to turn around?”
I shoot her a smirk. “If this test comes out the way I expect it to, peeing in front of me should be the least of your worries.”
Once again, she rolls her eyes, but a smile tugs at her lips. Like it pleases her that the functions of her body don’t bother me.
I’ve never understood why women need to worry about things like that but men don’t. Why can men belch and scratch and practically shit their pants, but God forbid a woman blows her fucking nose?
And then there’s the period bullshit. Yet another normal bodily function women are supposed to be embarrassed by. I remember finding my mother’s pads when I was eight, and the humiliation on her face when I whipped them out in front of my father. His immediate disgust told me everything I needed to know about the dynamics of their relationship, and his acceptance of her and women in general. It was the first time I knew I never wanted to be like him.
Piper rips into the wrapping of the test as I read off the directions. She does as I direct, removing the lid, dropping her shorts, and sitting down with one hand holding the plastic wand, absorbent end directly in the line of fire. Once she’s done, I hold out my hand and she only hesitates a second before passing it over. I recap it while she finishes up and then we wait, both staring as the line of demarcation creeps its way across the screen.
The result is almost instant and I can’t hide my stupid smile as that little plus sign looks back at me.
Piper’s head lifts, eyes moving over my face. “You look awful fucking happy for a guy who’s about to be dealing with dirty diapers and late-night feedings.”
“Don”t threaten me with a good time.” I grab Piper”s frowning form, pulling her against my chest so I can breathe against her skin. “Talk to me, Sugar. Tell me what you”re worried about.”
She”s not upset. I know what Piper looks like when she”s upset, and this is not it. What I see on her face is worry. Fear. Both totally normal reactions to this.
“What do you mean, what am I worried about?” Her head tips back, nearly clipping me in the chin, so she can stare up at me. “Do you know how big babies are? It”s gotta come out of my vagina. Can you even imagine what that”s going to feel like?”
“I don”t imagine it”s going to feel great.” I swallow hard. I”m about to make an offer I don”t want to make. But I”ll do it because I don”t want this if she doesn”t want this. “It doesn”t have to happen. If you don”t want—”
“That is not what I”m saying at all.” Her lips soften into a smile. “But it is super sweet of you to say that, especially since you are so clearly excited about accidentally knocking me up.”
Relief washes through me. “Why shouldn”t I be excited? You’re going to be the best mother ever.” I bring my hands up to her face, cradling it in my palms. “And now I know what to do with all the extra space we have.”
I hadn”t really been worried about it, but now my definition of the rooms in our house has already shifted. The room our bed is currently in—nursery. The room at the front of the house that would have been a random living room space? Playroom. I’m even plotting out where a swing set will best fit in the yard. The plans are already forming in my mind, and I can”t wait to get started on them.
And that means it”s time to march my ass out and confess my sins to the women who work for me.
Sliding the used test back into the box, I take a deep breath. “Let”s go tell everyone.”
Piper stands firm as I try to pull her to the door. “I thought you wanted me to take two tests?”
“Sugar, that test was about as positive as it gets. Between that and the way you”re feeling, I”m not worried the results were wrong.”
I unlock the door, and pull her out after me, pausing to glance at where Nancy is still busy at the front desk before turning to head into the shop. I walk to the center of the space, raising my voice so everyone will hear it over the sound of the machines. “I need everybody over here for a second.”
As I wait for the women to collect, Nancy strides through the door, looking surprised to see me. Her gaze drops to where I still hold Piper”s hand in mine, one corner of her mouth tipping into a smile as she crosses both arms over her chest and leans against the wall, smirking as the rest of my employees circle around.
Once everyone”s in place, I take a deep breath, and spill my secrets. “I just wanted to let everyone know that Piper and I are in a relationship.” I swallow the guilt trying to come for me. Trying to make me think I”ve let them all down. “We”ve gotten to know each other over the past couple months, and get along really well. I want to be transparent with all of you considering how our paths crossed.”
I look around the faces staring back at me and almost shift on my feet. I wasn’t necessarily expecting applause, but the confused expressions have my words stalling out. I’ve finally gotten to the point where I know I’m not doing anything wrong by being with Piper, but their reactions make me worry they don’t feel the same.
Amber, one of my newer employees and the detailer in our paint shop, is the first to speak. “Are you fucking with us?” She looks at her coworkers. “He’s fucking with us, right?”
Piper’s brows lift and I can see words working their way up her throat, so I pull her into my side, holding tight because I’m not one-hundred percent sure what she’s about to do. “I’m serious. We’re together.”
Amber snorts out a laugh. “Holy crap, Tate. We already know you’re together.” She juts her chin forward, regarding me like I’m the biggest dumbass she’s ever seen. “You guys have been fucking in your office for weeks.”
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.
“That happened once.” Piper scoffs, crossing her arms as she whispers under her breath, “Weeks my ass.”
“I think what Amber is trying to say,” Nancy comes up beside us to rest one hand on my shoulder, “is that we’re all unsurprised, but also very happy you finally found someone who will put up with your shit.”
Relief makes me laugh. “My shit?”
Nancy peers at me over her glasses. “Has she been inside your house?”
Piper snorts.
“I think what Nancy’s trying to say is,” Crystal pauses, “has she discovered you live on grilled cheese and leftovers?”
“At least someone will finally make him get rid of all his ratty, old T-shirts.” Nikki, one of my best mechanics, holds a palm to the side of her mouth as she leans toward Piper. “Between you and me, they probably all need to go.”
“I’m right here.” I glance down. “And what in the hell is wrong with my shirts?” I know they’re a little worn-in, but I work at an auto shop. What do they want from me?
Nikki’s eyes widen in mock innocence. “Nothing. They’re exactly the kind of shirts I’d expect a single man to wear.”
Piper presses her lips together in an unsuccessful attempt to hide the smile working across them, and I decide I shouldn’t be having all the fun.
“In related news…” Unlike Piper, I don’t try to hide my smile. “Piper’s pregnant.”
The whole room erupts into excited squeals as my staff surrounds us.
No, not us. Piper.
I’m elbowed out of the way as they fuss over her and prove she won’t be unmothered any longer.
I watch for a few minutes, feeling settled deep in my soul for the first time in my life. Certain my future won’t be tainted by the past I built a fucked-up foundation on, wondering why in the hell nothing I put on it held up.
Piper is starting to look a little pale, and a sheen of sweet clings to her upper lip, so I duck out, knowing she’ll be in good hands while I get the crackers and soda I forgot to bring in my haste to see the truth I already knew.
No one notices as I slip out the back door, going straight toward where my SUV is parked, feeling fucking weightless.
Then my eyes land on my Jeep and I come to a stop, not really believing what I’m seeing. All four of my tires are slashed and deep gouges run up the doors and across the hood. A popping sound makes me jump just before the alarm starts to wail.
“What the fu—”
A man steps out from behind my vehicle. A hammer is clutched in one hand as his dead eyes fall on my face. A slow sneer twists his lips. “Didn’t expect you to get out here so soon.”