The Devastating Truth

Chapter 10- Not Much Longer

                Doritos, peanut better, and ice cream. That sounded good as I peered into the kitchen cabinets and the freezer. When the freezer door shut, I looked at the clock above the stove. Two twenty-four. In the morning that is. I guess that was another perk of having this new house- I could be awake downstairs and not have to worry about waking up Zayn or Ryder. Well the house isn’t really new anymore. We’ve been here for two months. We made it through Christmas, and my birthday the day after, and it was almost Zayn’s birthday. This Saturday was the party at my house. Holy shit, I had to start planning. It was Wednesday… At least I had my ice cream.

                My head shot up when I saw Zayn walk around the corner and into the kitchen. He looked so innocent and vulnerable when he just woke up. He looked like he was a sixteen year old climbing out of bed at three in the afternoon. A sixteen year old that didn’t care what his parents would say or that he was late for his part time job… he just looked cute. “I’m so sorry. Did I wake you up?” I asked as he pulled out a bar stool and sat down beside me.

                He shook his head, his dark hair falling into his eyes. “Nope… I just rolled over and you weren’t there. I figured I could find you down here. What are you eating this time?” He said, referring to last night when I was up poring pickle juice over some popcorn.

                “Ice cream. Peanut butter. Doritos. I wish she’d just pick one thing to make me crave, but noooo she’s determined to get me to eat every single thing.” I mumbled quite annoyed that I was always hungry, but not caring enough to not shove another chip in my mouth. Zayn just chuckled.

                “Why don’t you hurry up and come back to bed with me?” Zayn said, standing up and wrapping his arms around me from behind. “I need you to stay with me…”

                I smiled at how sweet he was when he was half asleep. “Sorry, but I’m not sleepy… not one little bit. Even if I was, I wouldn’t be getting much sleep.”

                It took him a minute to grasp what I was referring to. “Oh. Is she hurting you? Can I get you anything?”

                I shook my head. “Nah, I’ll probably just eat a little more and watch some TV down here. I don’t need Ryder up.”

                “Then I’ll stay with you.”

                “No, Zayn. Go back to bed before you hit the floor and I have to leave you there.”

                “C’mon, El,” he said, taking my hand. “Let’s watch a movie…” he pulled me to my feet and led me to the living room that was practically a movie theater. A million movies and a ridiculously large television.

                “But my food…” I whined, sitting on the couch and pointing to the light shining from the kitchen down the hall.

                “I’ll get it, love.” Zayn half-whispered as he dashed off down the long hallway. But before he could get back, I saw a light from upstairs flicker on and a small voice called out.

                My husband must’ve heard him too. The kitchen light flicked off and Zayn was up the stairs faster than I could get up. I only had three more weeks to go… I was getting pretty slow. When Zayn walked back down the stairs, he had a very scared looking boy in his arms. He placed Ryder beside me and my little boy instantly got closer and buried his self beside me. “I thought you were gone, mommy.”

                “Never without you, Ry. Go to sleep, mommy and daddy are just gonna watch some TV. I love you.” Then Zayn sat down beside me.

                “I love you too, mommy… and daddy… and Scarlett…” And without another word, he was snoring.

                My eyes opened wide and I nearly jumped out of my skin. Zayn was picking Ryder up off of me and moving him to the smaller couch.  It was still dark outside so I know it hadn’t been long since I had fallen asleep, but for the first time in weeks, I was sleeping good. And Zayn just had to move Ryder… Maybe Scarlett already loved her brother. Or at least loved him enough to not kick me when he was around… It was almost strange the way babies knew things and who people were.

                “Zayn…” I mumbled, half asleep. “He was fine…”

                “I know. But I thought you’d both be more comfortable if I moved him…” Zayn replied, yawning.

                I went to say something else when she kicked the living daylights out of me. “Ahhh.”  

                “What is it? Is everything okay?” Zayn had been over protective lately.

                “She’s calm when Ryder’s around… I was sleeping pretty darn good. Thanks, babe.”

                “Sorry. She’ll be here soon…” he said kissing my forehead and lying down beside me.

                Now I know why he moved Ryder. “Someone’s jealous….” I mumbled.

                “Me? Jealous of what?”

                I raised an eyebrow. Then Scarlett kicked again and interrupted my serious mood. “Ugh. I hate you, Zayn.” I huffed and puffed as I pulled myself to my feet. I was so ridiculously fat, I realized when I looked down and couldn’t see my feet.

                “What?! Why??”

                “You did this to me.” I turned off the television and spun back to face my husband. “Bring Ryder to our room please.” And I headed up the stairs, trying not to trip on my way up.

                A few minutes later, I heard the lamp switch off and a set of feet come pounding up the stairs after me. Zayn walked in, carrying Ryder. He put him gently into the middle of our king sized bed and the climbed under the covers also.

                The next morning, we all slept in, tired from our adventures throughout the early hours of the morning. As usual, Ryder was the first one up. He woke me up, but not on purpose, and I tried to stay as still as possible. His two little hands were on my belly and as if on cue, his little sister nailed me. He tried to hide a giggle, but he loved feeling her move almost as much as Zayn did. Since Zayn and I explained to Ryder that the baby is in mommy’s belly, he’d constantly talk to her…. Ask her what she was doing or ask her if she loved him yet. It was absolutely adorable.

                I had my head turned, so I couldn’t see Ryder or Zayn. I felt my husband pull Ryder away and then he whined. “But I like talking to mommy’s belly…”

                I grinned and rolled over. “Yeah… he likes talking to mommy’s belly….”

                “I thought you were asleep. I wouldn’t have pulled him away.”

                “Kinda like last night?” I asked, now completely remembering why I was so tired. Zayn sighed and Ryder came crawling back over to my side of the bed.

                “Hey mommy?” he asked, putting his head on my arm.

                “Yes?”

                “You wouldn’t leave me, would you?”

                “Never ever ever. I love you so much. Why do you keep asking that?”

                He shrugged. “Are you going to love me when Scarlett gets here?”

                “Why wouldn’t I?”

                Once more he shrugged.

                Then Zayn, who had been watching my conversation with Ryder, spoke up. “So, who wants breakfast?”

                “It’s like eleven…”

                “Fine. Who wants lunch?”