Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Kendall
“Hun, the two of you aren’t even engaged.”
“I know,” Adley says with a huff.
“So withholding sex until marriage seems a little crazy considering the two of you have been living in sin for months.”
Her eyes fill with tears.
“Um, no,” I say, feeling like the floor rocks beneath my feet. “Why in the hell are there tears in your eyes?”
“It’s all backward, everything is.” She covers her eyes with her hands and I notice her shoulders bounce as she starts to cry. I feel like I am stuck in the twilight zone because Adley does not cry, like ever.
“Please don’t do that.” I pat her shoulder like you pat a dog. I am so confused. “What’s backwards?”
“We met, we had each other, we had lots of sex, we bought a house, we are raising his son together and now.” Her body shudders as she looks up at me. “Now I am pregnant and we aren’t even engaged. I can’t seem to get any of it right.”
“Wait what?"
I want to kill Aaron, how in the hell did I get wrapped up in this rollercoaster. Then I am reminded of her words. “Did you say you are pregnant?”
“Yes, and I think Lexi is too. But they at least ran off and got married and then Sutton is about to pop. We are all getting knocked up yet here I am still doing things backwards.”
“So getting married is going to somehow changed the fact that you are pregnant?”
“No but at least everyone won’t look at me like I’m some whore.”
“Who is looking at you like that?”
“Everyone,” she cries harder and I know now that it has to be all the hormones she’s got rushing through her. Because this version of Adley is so not the Adley I know and love.
“Girl you need to pull it together. No one thinks you are a whore and forcing Rory to propose isn’t going to help anything.”
“So he doesn’t want to marry me?” Her eyes grow wide and I laugh.
“Oh my God this is going to be one hell of a ride for that poor guy. You are a flipping mess, girl. Of course he wants to marry you, but it will happen when it is supposed happen and not because you are pregnant. Does he even know?”
She shakes her head no.
“How long have you known?”
“Since last Friday.” She sighs, her voice shaking from the recent emotional outburst.
“First off, you need to tell him, because from what I’ve heard he is hours away from igniting, that man is a ticking time bomb.
Two you need to stop with this doing things backwards thing because you and I have never done things in order.
We create our own order of things and until now that has always been fine.
Don’t you dare let anyone convince you otherwise. ”
Adley takes a deep breath.
“Is there more?”
She nods.
“What is it?”
“Twins.” Her lower lip trembles and this time I lean in and wrap my arms around her.
“Oh girl.” I laugh because I can’t stop myself. “You really need to talk to your guy.”
It’s twenty after seven and I am still sitting at the shop. I keep looking at the clock, knowing I should go but my head keeps telling me it’s a bad idea.
“Why do you keep staring at the clock?” Leo says as he walks down the stairs and steps into the shop. He’s shirtless, since he never seems to wear a shirt.
“I’m not,” I say, grabbing the wrench and sliding back under the truck.
“Got a hot date?” I ignore him, then hear the roar of an engine just outside the doors.
I hear his shoes slapping against the concrete floor as he walks closer. Leaning over the side of the truck he looks down through the compartment at me and smiles. “Or are you hanging around here because you are starving for a little attention?”
“When have I ever struck you as someone that waits around hoping anyone will pay attention to me?” I ask him and he shrugs.
“First time for everything, sweetheart.”
“Don’t call me sweetheart,” I state as I slide out, almost taking out his legs with my cart in the process.
“You are a little sweet at times.” Leo chuckles. “But that is right before you,” he pauses when we hear someone clear their throat.
I glance over to find Aaron standing in the open doorway with his hands on his hips.
“We’re closed, buddy,” Leo greets him first and I cringe at his choice of wording.
“Kendall, you have a minute?”
“Shit, my bad.” Leo chuckles.
The scowl on Aaron’s face deepens and I hurry to stand brushing the dust off my hands.
I ignore the cocky arrogance of both men as they continue to stare the other one down.
Instead I usher Aaron outside gaining a safe distance before pausing to look back.
Leo disappears upstairs again and I am thankful.
“Seems like I may have interrupted something,” Aaron says and I turn back around looking at him.
“What?” I kind of laugh because he has to be joking.
When he holds my stare saying nothing more I know he’s being serious. “I don’t need you showing up here telling me where I need to be or what I need to be doing and with who.”
Instantly I grow defensive and I realize too late how harsh my word must sound.
“You’re right.” He steps back holding his hands up.
“Do want you want, and if you decide you want to see me, you know where to find me. If not, fine too, whatever the hell you want, Kendall.” He spins around walking back to his truck, climbing up inside.
The roar of the engine makes my body jerk in surprise and I stand there watching as he speeds away.
The longer I stare after his truck, the more irritated I become.