Chapter 56
Chapter Fifty-Six
NOAH
Straightening my tie, I make my way into the living room where Caleb is waiting, adjusting his cufflinks.
“Fuck, my husband is handsome,” I say, approaching him.
He gives my body a slow appraisal, causing the hairs on the back of my neck to stand on end.
“As do you, and I look forward to helping you undress later,” he says, gripping the nape of my neck and pulling me in for a kiss.
I get lost in his addictive taste. Kissing him and Jessica never gets old.
“Room for one more?” our wife asks.
We pull out of our kiss, looking towards her, she looks a vision in her floor length dress.
Caleb holds out his free hand, the other still on the back of my neck.
“Come here, beautiful.” She flushes and steps towards us as he takes her hand in his.
He tugs her into us and leans in to kiss her, before pulling back and allowing me to do the same.
“Stunning,” I say, pulling out of the kiss.
There’s something different about her, but I can’t put my finger on it.
“Have you done something different to your hair?” I ask.
She shakes her head.
“Your makeup?” Caleb asks. I glance at him then back to her.
“No, nothing,” she replies, clearing her throat, averting her eyes and licking her lips.
I look at Caleb and he shakes his head, because we’re both clearly on the same page, there’s definitely something different about her.
“Right, shall we go?” he asks instead, looking at his watch. “Don’t want to miss our reservation.”
I hold out my arm for Jessica, and she smiles as she links hers with mine.
I lead her outside as Caleb locks up behind us.
Even though our property is gated now and we have more security than the town house, it’s something we were not prepared to skimp on.
Even with Curtis no longer being a threat, you just never know who might be lurking in the shadows.
“You want to ride shotgun?” I ask, approaching the car.
She looks down at her dress and nods. “Might be a good idea in this dress,” she replies softly.
Opening her door, I hold out my hand as she slides in and then I lean over and kiss her lips before pulling on her seatbelt.
Her blush is the sweetest perfection. “Fucking, stunning,” I say, pulling back and closing her door.
Caleb rounds the driver’s side, staring over the roof of the car.
“Does she seem okay to you?” he asks, voice low.
I tilt my head slightly. “I think so,” I reply, but not too sure.
He gives a curt nod. “She’ll talk when she’s ready,” he says before climbing in the car.
I follow suit, reaching over the back of the headrest and squeeze Jessica’s shoulder before pulling on my seatbelt.
Caleb starts the engine and turns to Jessica.
“Lady’s choice, you’re in charge of the music.”
I already know what she’ll choose before surround sound fills the car.
“Why am I not surprised?” I say as I catch Caleb’s eyes in the rearview mirror, his mouth lifts into a smile.
“Hey, you love Sleep Token,” she says over her shoulder.
I mean yeah, I do. I’d like a puddle of mud too if Jessica liked it.
We all fall into general chit-chat and before we know it, we’ve arrived at Hyde and make our way to the Reading Room.
“What can I get you all to drink?” the waiter asks.
“A bottle of Bolinger,” I say, eyeing Jessica and Caleb.
But Jessica shakes her head and clears her throat. “Just water for me please,” she says instead, causing me and Caleb to exchange a look.
“Sorry, can you give us a minute?” Caleb asks the waiter who nods and leaves us all alone.
“Okay, what’s going on?” he asks as soon as the door clicks closed. “Are you ill? We can go home.”
She averts her gaze and begins to fidget, her nerves evident before she lets out a breath and looks between the two of us.
“I think I might be pregnant,” she says so quietly that I think I’ve misheard.
“Pardon?”
Her tongue flicks over her bottom lip as she swallows hard. “I think I’m pregnant,” she says again.
Caleb moves, wrapping his hand around the back of her neck and tugs her close, so their mouths are only a hairsbreadth away from each other.
“Jessica,” he says, his eyes boring into hers like he might have misheard her too. “Have you taken a test?”
She nods and clears her throat. “I have, but I’m too afraid to look. It’s in my bag.”
“Fuck.” His eyes flick to mine and then back to her. “Let’s look together, okay?”
Her hands shake as she fumbles with her clutch and pulls out something wrapped in a silk scarf. I reach over and take it from her hands.
“No matter what it says, we love you.”
We’ve only agreed to continue trying so long as she didn’t hyper fixate on it, which was probably easier said than done and that was over five months ago now.
Caleb grips her jaw and pulls her in for a sweet kiss. “We can go home, if you’d prefer. Fuck dinner, whatever you want,” he says, his concern only for her in this moment.
“No.” She shakes her head. “Noah wanted a date night. I didn’t mean to spring this on you.
It’s just, I don’t know, I took the test but then I panicked.
I almost left it at home, but the thought of not knowing.
.. I was going to check later when I popped to the ladies.
But then I was like, if I drink and then find out I am—” Caleb presses the pad of his thumb to her lips.
“Shhh, it’s okay.” He glances to me and then to the pregnancy test still hidden beneath the silk.
“Sweet girl, I couldn’t give a shit about dinner. I just wanted to celebrate because I had my one year follow-up today.”
“You went on your own?” Caleb asks, almost looking hurt.
“It’s fine Caleb, everything is as it should be. Besides, we’ve all been so busy, hence date night.”
Caleb’s eyes glisten and he grabs my hand, his finger tracing my wedding band.
The pregnancy test is still in my other palm.
“So, you’re okay?” he asks.
I nod. “I am, I’m good.”
“I don’t like the idea of you going to them alone, we’re in this together,” Jessica says, and I instantly feel bad.
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I promise to put my next appointment on the planner.”
I kiss Jessica softly and when I pull back, she wipes under her eyes.
“Sorry, I’m just really hormonal.”
I shake my head. “Don’t apologise for feeling, Jessica. It’s one of the many things we both love about you.”
She nods and blows out a breath before reaching for the pregnancy test still clutched in my palm.
Her hands tremble as she unwraps it, the results facing down, and she looks between the two of us before passing it to me.
“Are you sure?” I ask.
They both nod and I take a deep breath as I turn it over.