Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Zac
My heart was thumping so hard, I felt like I could barely breathe. My chest was tight, my hands shook and I can’t stop shifting the weight of my body from one foot to the next.
After Presley raced off, I shrunk to the chair and stared after her. I wanted to move, but I felt like I couldn’t.
Pregnant.
It all still seems completely surreal.
I never imagined myself having kids. Sure I love Piper, and Grayson is a pretty cool kid, but I never thought I’d ever have any of my own. Granted my father was amazing, I was simply crippled with fear of ever having any child of my own having to face the things I did. Things happen, and no I never thought history would repeat itself, but I could be taken from them in a million different ways. Putting a child through that loss, it was heartbreaking because I know how that feels.
When Aurora came back inside, her cheeks stained with tears and Jace took her into his arms, it’s like something snapped inside me. I stood and went to her, as Jace reluctantly passed her to me. Together we shared a moment and then, I asked her for Presley’s address.
And now, here I am.
Standing outside the door of her apartment, in a narrow hallway that smells of stale cigarettes and piss, I realize even more how little I know about her.
Lifting my hand to knock, I continue to bounce nervously and then I hear the flip of a lock. Slowly the door opens and she slips outside, closing it behind her.
Presley worries her lips, looking at everything around us, but refusing to look up at me.
“Look at me,” I whisper the words and she lets out a sigh. “Please,” I try again and lean to the side, slouching in an attempt to see her face. “We need to talk.”
“It’s okay.” She waves me off and I grab her hand, holding it tighter when she tries to tug it away.
“You’re right.” I gently glide my thumb over the palm of her hand. “It is okay.”
“That’s not what I meant.” Presley finally looks up and our eyes meet. I see the shininess, though she is doing her best to hold herself together. She’s pretending to be strong and unaffected but everything is about to change.
“I know.” I’m not a stupid man. I understand she is attempting to dismiss me. But what she doesn’t get is that I’m here whether she wants me to be or not. “What I am telling you is that it is gonna be alright, because I am in this with you.”
“I’ve done this before.” She again tries to pull her hand away and I pull it closer, placing it on my chest, keeping my own over hers.
“Done what, exactly?”
“The pregnancy, the birth in a room full of strangers, the coming home alone and the late-night feedings and diapers changes. I’ve dealt with the exhaustion from lack of sleep, the ER visits, the loneliness and?—”
“And you think that it’s the same this time around?”
She shrugs and I laugh. Her face morphs into irritation and I can’t help but reach out and wrap my arms around her. She tries to resist me but when I have her close, she gives in, her body swaying against mine. “I’m here, Presley,” I say next to her ear, still holding her to me. “Sweetheart, I don’t know your past. I don’t know the shit you endured with your ex, but what I do know is I’m not the kind of guy to walk away. I am here, and you can count on me. You aren’t doing this alone.”
“But I can,” she adds, her voice muffled from her lips pressed to my chest.
“I know you can.” I think she needs to hold onto her independence, so I will give her an inch. “But what I am telling you is that you don’t have to. This may not have been planned, but it’s not a disaster.”
Leaning back I allow her some space as she tilts her head to look up at me. Using my thumb I drag along her cheek to catch a stray tear. “It’s kind of a disaster.” Her mouth tilts up at the corner, the old sarcastic side of her resurfacing. I understand now that she’s been dealing with this on her own and the attitude and distance was her simply building up walls she didn’t have to build.
“A beautiful one,” I challenge and she rolls her eyes. “Too cheesy?”
She takes a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment and I watch her.
Being this close I notice the patch of freckles across the bridge of her nose and her dark lashes almost touching her cheeks they are so long and full. Presley really is a beautiful woman and I find myself wondering how any man could walk away from her. Especially when she is carrying your child.
“I’m sorry he hurt you.” She opens her eyes and tries to step back. “Hey.” She looks away from me. “I’m not trying to pry, all I am saying is that no one should have to go through anything alone. I’m sorry you ever had to.”
I am met with her silence, only the sound of her taking slow calming breaths.
“This is me, promising you, that I am here. Any time, day or night, I’m a phone call away.” She nods, still not looking at me. “Late-night junk food runs, foot rubs, whatever you need.”
“My feet swell, so do my hands, and I get really cranky.”
“More than usual?” I ask and she punches my side making me shift away fast. It’s the first chance she has to escape me since I showed up and took her hand. Instantly I hate the distance. It’s a weird feeling but all I want to do is keep her close. The knowledge that she has a part of me in her is astounding.
“You have a lot of room to talk.” Presley narrows her eyes at me.
“I was a bit of an ass tonight, wasn’t I?” Remembering the way I called her out in front of everyone I regret it all over again. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s not the first time I’ve been targeted with an audience.” Okay that hurt, like a verbal kick in the nuts. “But it was deserved.”
“It wasn’t,” I interrupt, regaining her attention. “I am sorry, you didn’t deserve that.”
“I’ve been kind of a bitch to you.” She shrugs.
“You’ve been dealing with a secret.” She swallows hard. “But no more secrets, okay?”
“Kay.” I’m not sure if she’s just telling me this to shut me up, or if she means it.
“So where do we go from here?” Presley seems confused by my question. “Doctor, or have you already been? Is there anything you need now? Anything I can do?”
“I’m okay.” She offers me a smile. “I do go for my first visit next Thursday, just an initial exam, but I can?—”
“What time?” She seems surprised. “I can pick you up.”
“It’s just to determine the due date and nothing really happens at the first visit.”
“I’m going,” I say with determination. I meant what I said. She is not doing this alone.