Chapter 47: Chapter 47

Deborah never tried stopping me from leaving. I walked past her out the front door with my luggage in tow, never turning back. Scott followed me out, “Let me drive you.”

“You don’t need to. Anna will pick me up. I’m going to text her now.” “Don’t. I want to take you,” he insists. His black linen shirt is open at the top and his pants hang off his hips, making him look illegally delectable, “If you must.” My natural attraction to him is breaking through my resolve. The warm breeze carries his fresh scent over to me making me want to bury my face in his chest. If it wasn’t for his mother did, I probably wouldn’t be leaving but then again, he threw the lamp, siding with his mother, maybe leaving is best.

He pins me against his black Mercedes kissing me full on the lips as I slide my fingers across the stubble on the back of his head. His lips linger on mine, he rubs hard against me. He reluctantly releases me allowing me enough room to open the door and wait for me to buckle in before grabbing my bags and throwing them into the back.

“I wish you’d stay and talk to mom,” he admits.

I look out the front windshield knowing that isn’t happening anytime soon, “I’m so angry at you for keeping these secrets from me, first Lara and now this. That is huge Scott. There’s also no telling what I’ll do or say to your mom given half a chance. I have to leave. I expect you to be there when I tell mom.”

“Did you take the picture?”

“Yes, it’s in my bag. I kept it in case mom doesn’t believe me. The separation will do us good. Maybe you’ll think twice before keeping something like that from me again.”

“That’s not fair Isabella, I was protecting you.”

“You were harming us rather than protecting me, don’t you see that? How is keeping me in the dark defending me? It’s chipped away at my trust for you,” I say pulling my hand from his. He turns the car off parking down the street from Anna’s, “Are we okay?” he asks.

“I guess so,” I say unconvincingly. “I’ll see you Friday.”

“Okay.”

I know he doesn’t believe me, I didn’t believe myself. Things aren’t okay. I reach for the door when he slides his fingers through the sensitive hairs at the base of my neck pulling me in for a kiss that is perfect and unhurried. Our lips press against each other, neither of us wants it to end. His skilled tongue makes its way into my mouth fucking me orally. Every second we are locked in a kiss, my resolve to leave the car and create space weakens. The spell he casts on me is too strong. What we have will never get old.

He carries my bags to Anna’s door and pecks my lips one last time, before leaving me to go back to his mother's. I watch his cool swagger as he returns to the car unaware I’m staring him down, have mercy. The front door to Anna’s house finally opens, she and Lara shriek with excitement. Arms stretch out ready to embrace me; we hug in our traditional fashion. It is great seeing them again; tears of happiness flood my eyes. Lara notices first, “None of that now! You’ll make me cry and nowadays it doesn’t take much.”

“Let her walk in the door Lara,” Anna scolds. “You just want to go first,” Lara accuses her. “Oh my! I take it we have a lot to catch up on?”

“Too much,” Anna says knowingly. “Let’s grab some sandwiches and do some sun-worshipping by the pool.” Lara leads the way to the kitchen. We work on our snacks without delegating tasks. Lara got the drinks, Anna the sandwiches and I looked for sweets. We are set. We place everything on a silver platter and carry it to the patio table.

“Should we change into our suits?”

Anna grins, “You can if you want Isabella, I’m on my period and Lara refuses to go into a chlorinated pool in her condition.”

Lara scowls at Anna, “You’re such a bitch! You ruined my surprise!”

Anna waves Lara off, “I’m sure she’s guessed! You don’t think she can tell?” she asks in disbelief.

I look at her very prominent bump, “It is obvious,” I confirm. “Really?” she asks stroking her belly.

“Stop stroking your damn belly, we all know you’re pregnant,” gripes Anna.

“Do I hear a pang of jealousy?” I tease her.

“No! She’s pregnant and she’s driving me crazy with it. Baby this, baby that, I don’t ever want to hear that word again!”

I look over at Lara, “You’ve been driving her crazy, haven’t you?”

“Is there anything more fun to do?” asks Lara.

“Who’s the daddy?” I ask.

“Jeremy of course!” she says indignantly.

“Boy or Girl?”

“I’m waiting to find out.”

I look over at Anna, “Girl,” she answers. “Double bitch!” Lara snaps.

Anna defends her honor, “Isabella knows you’re too impatient to wait nine months!” I take a bite of my sandwich, listening to them bicker like an old married couple. A sparkle catches my eye on Anna’s finger. She sees me look at it, “You're not?”

“I am! Andy asked me to marry him!”

“You’ve only been dating ten minutes, when are you getting married?” “Wait a minute,” Lara interrupts. “I’m not done with my news yet.” We both turn back to her, “I dropped out of Uni.”

She waits for an earth-shattering reaction which she doesn’t get, staring at us angrily, “Aren’t you going to react, say something?”

“It’s hardly surprising. I can’t see you taking care of a baby and finishing school,” I explain. “Is Jeremy dropping out too?”

“No, his parents are supporting us until he finishes.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Can you finish telling her please,” Anna says impatiently.

“When I found out I was pregnant, I dropped out of University and enrolled in beauty school. I finish a month from now. When the baby is born I can work out of my house.”

“How far along are you?”

“Seven months!”

I grab her wrist pulling her close to me, “Congratulations!” I say hugging her, “You deserve it! I can’t believe you never mentioned all this in your texts!”

She pulls away studying me, “Anna suggested we save our big news for when you come. Will you let me practice cutting and perming your hair for my final?”

“You are not perming my hair!” I say guarded. Her expression turns to disappointment and makes me feel guilty enough to make a sacrificial offer, “You can dye and cut it.”

She lights up, “Thanks, Isabella. You’re way better than a dummy!” Anna giggled, “That’s what she would have used if you said no. Don’t worry; we’ll record it so you don’t have to sit in a classroom. She can just send the video to her teacher and if the video isn’t good enough, then you have to go in.”

“Why aren’t you doing it, Anna?”

“I can’t have her fucking my hair up before the wedding,” she says wisely. “Good point Anna, I’ll just let her fuck mine up.”

“I’m not fucking anyone’s up,” Lara says defensively.

I blow a kiss to Lara trying to lighten her up and then focus my attention on Anna who appears to be bursting at the seams with her news, “What about you, Anna, tell me about Andy!”

“He’s amazing, sweet, everything I ever wished for.” “And?” I ask.

“And what?” she asks confused.

“Anna, he goes to school with me and Scott, when do you ever see him?” “He visits every weekend.”

“Why hasn’t Scott said anything about this?” I ask suspiciously.

“I don’t know, Andy said he told Scott. You should ask him why he never told you.”

My stomach churns thinking about all the other stuff he didn’t tell me. Was he protecting me from this as well? “Later,” I dismiss her suggestion. “When are you getting married?”

“We chose to get married this Labour Day weekend!” “Seriously? What about school?”

“I’ll transfer to yours!” That is enough to get me excited; finally, l will have at least one of my friends with me again. We start jumping up and down squealing.

“Maybe you can move into our building!” I suggest. “I’ll get the number for you to call.”

“I’m sure Andy already has them. OMG. I would love to live near you,” Anna gushes.

We take a break from chatting to finish our sandwiches and downing our first of many screwdrivers. Anna takes the pitcher to refill it. We drink the entire day, so I can see us getting pretty liquored up.

Lara looks at me expectantly, “What about you, do you have any news?” “Not really,” I say evasively.

Anna looks at me suspiciously, “What’s wrong? Trouble in paradise?” “We had a pregnancy scare.”

Anna looks down at my belly, “I don’t think I could handle Pregzilla’s, I take it you’re not?”

“Sadly no, he was over the moon happy about it, which pissed me off.” Lara looks at me knowingly, “So you wanted to be?”

I sip my screwdriver, “Of course, I’d love to carry Scott’s baby.”

“You have your shows and school, I see why Scott thinks it was a bad time,” Anna adds.

“Doesn’t take my disappointment away.”

“It will happen when it’s the right time,” Lara reassures. “Is that all that’s bothering you?” Anna asks.

“No, his mother slept with my father and Scott never told me,” I blurted. “Apparently, dad was planning on leaving mom. I’m so angry at him for not telling me and you don’t even want to know how I feel towards my father. Now I have to tell my mother so she doesn’t find out the way I did.”

“Holy shit!” Anna and Lara said in unison.

“Why does Scott feel the need to keep such big secrets from me?” “He’s protective of you,” Lara explains.

Lara looked like she was having trouble grasping the news, “Your dad and Scott’s mom? That’s so hard to believe. He’s such a family man. He’s always been there for you. Why didn’t Scott tell you?”

“He said he was protecting me. He knew how close I was to my father.” “He should have told you,” Lara says.

Anna nodded, “I agree. Did you guys fight?”

“That’s why I’m here, fucked if I’m going to sleep under that whore’s roof.” “Tell me you didn’t call her that to him?”

“I didn’t call her that to him,” I say laughing. “You called her that?” Anna asks.

“I did.”

“Holy shit, what did he do?” Lara asked.

“I bet he defended his mother,” Anna guessed.

“Indirectly, he smashed his mother’s lamp against a mirror.” “So your mom doesn’t know? Are you sure?” Anna asks. “Yes, I’m sure.”

Lara looks concerned, “Are you going to tell her?”

“She should know, so she doesn’t learn about it from someone else.” “Who’s going to tell her,” Anna asked. “I don’t think you should tell her.

What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.”

“I can’t take the chance of her ever finding out. How’s Johnson?” I ask changing the subject.

“Who knows,” answers Anna flippantly.

Lara starts laughing, “She knows! She’s just too embarrassed to tell you he idolizes the other team!”

“What do you mean,” I ask confused.

“Okay, how do I put this nicely? We were going to a bar downtown to meet Andy when we bumped into Johnson. We saw him but he didn’t see us.”

“And?” I encouraged already fascinated by the story.

Lara tries answering but keeps breaking out into fits of laughter, “Let’s just say, Johnson was dressed better than both of us! Stilettos, pencil skirt, push-up bra, the works!” Anna shakes her head, looking down with embarrassment.

“Bullshit!” I said disbelievingly. “On my baby’s life,” Lara swears.

“Don’t swear on that,” Anna admonishes.

“Wow,” I say grinning. “Wish I was there. I never thought he was very attractive as a guy, but maybe as a girl, is he pretty?”

“Pretty ugly,” they answer in unison. “Does Jeremy and Scott know?”

“We didn’t say anything,” Anna says. “It could ruin their friendship.”

“True,” I agree. “What about Michael? Have you heard anything about him?” I ask.

Lara shrugs, “He’s just got this new amazing part-time job he boasts about all the time with the NSA. I can’t remember what he does or what it stands for.” I gasp.