It had been three weeks since bringing James home and Levi and I could not have been any happier. The two of us had created the perfect system for taking care of James, especially at night when we were trying to sleep. We operated like a well oiled machine. Kenney and Jason came over on days we did not have band practice and the days that we did, Levi's mom would look after him while we played in her garage, just like we have done for a long time.
I walked into my and Levi's bathroom and realized something. My mind quickly flashed back to Levi and I the first day that we moved into the apartment. I quickly grabbed a pair of shoes and took off to the door.
"Harley, where are you going?" Levi asked confused.
"I need to run to the store down the block, I'll be back in a few," I said trying to hide the panic in my voice.
I quickly walked to the convenience store and grabbed a couple pregnancy tests. While standing in line, I noticed one of our new neighbors standing behind me. I didn't know if I should introduce myself, but decided not to as I felt that this was probably not the best moment.
"You just moved in a few weeks ago," the woman behind me asked.
I plastered a smile on my face and turned to her, "yes I did, I thought you look familiar."
"Your husband seems like a fine man," she said smiling at me.
"Oh no, he is not my husband, but he is my fiance."
"Oh, I'm sorry dear. I saw the two of you come home with a baby a few weeks ago, I just assumed."
"Oh its no problem," I said feeling extremely awkward.
She glanced down at the pregnancy tests in my hands and gave me a questioning look. "I know it is none of my business, but...?" she asked trailing off.
"Oh, um, I don't think I am. I just want to be sure." I said. This had to have been the most awkward encounter that I had ever been in.
"I'm judging you either way, don't worry." she said sincerely.
"Thank you." I replied in almost a question.
"I'm Beth by the way, my husband and I live right next door to you and your fiance."
"Hello, my name is Hailey." I replied, shaking her hand. I decided to keep my nickname from her, as I felt then she may start judging me.
"If you don't mind me asking what are your fiance and baby's names?"
"My fiance's name is Levi and then our son is James." I said smiling proudly.
"You remind me so much of my daughter Rachel. She and her husband live out in Montana with their six kids."
I smiled at her and placed my tests on the counter, as it was finally my turn. I paid for my stuff and said goodbye to Beth.
Before I walked out of the store I heard Beth call from the checkout area, "Hailey, why don't you and your little family come over tonight for a cook out?"
I looked back at her and smiled, "we would love to!"
I quickly walked back to the apartment and started to tear open the test before I even closed the front door. I probably should have waited until I was safely in the bathroom, or our room, as I heard some throats being cleared in the living room. I looked over to see Kenney and Jason sitting on the couch giving me some disapproving glares.
"What? Okay I'm sorry, it was one time. I just want to be on the safe side"
"The safe side would have been protection," Jason said trying to make a serious face.
"Yes, Harley I thought we taught you that." Kenney said, succeeding much more in being serious than Jason was.
"Yes, I know bad Harley." I grumbled walking into the bathroom. I quickly took the tests and set them on the sink counter in the bathroom while I waited. Since I had to wait a few minutes, I walk out into the living room and was met by four pairs of eyes. "Okay even James is staring at me like you three are, and its rather creepy." With that the guys burst out laughing, including James, who probably had no idea what was going on.
I walked back into the bathroom and let out a sigh of relief that all of the tests came back negative. I threw them in the bin and skipped out happily into the living room again.
The guys all looked at my like I was crazy, or at least finally lost it. "It's all good! Not pregnant, which means as soon as James is ready we can hit the road again!"
The guys all stood up and started cheering. I was soon tackled into a hug by Kenney who soon had Jason on top of him. "Guys you are squishing me!"
"Good!" exclaimed Kenney, "this is what you get for almost having another kid!"
"Okay guys, enough squishing my fiance!" Levi said getting up off of the recliner.
He handed James to Kenney as I am sure he trusted him to not drop him much more than he trusted Jason. Levi then walked up to me and put his arms around me and kissed my lips. As he pulled away he said, "you know, I was kind of getting excited about the idea of having another kid with you."
His statement quickly earned us glares from Kenney and Jason.
"I'm going to take that as a no, then." Levi said with a hint of disappointment in his voice.
I leaned closer to Levi and whispered into his ear, "don't worry, we have plenty of time to start a family later."
"Guys seriously!" Jason yelled from his spot on the couch.
"Well not right now! I mean like after the wedding or a couple of years from now, sheesh ya act like we are animals or something." I grumbled.
"Ya well just to be sure, Jason and I are moving in for a while," Kenney said with a grin.
"Great" I muttered.
The four of us lounged around and talked awhile, before I noticed the time. I nudged Levi and told him that we were going over to the neighbor's house for dinner. However, as soon as Kenney and Jason heard they were begging us to let them join.
I groaned as I got up and took James from Kenney and led them next door. I knocked on the door and Beth answered with a smile on her face.
"Hello, Beth it is so nice to see you again. This is my fiance Levi and our son James."
She smiled and said hello, before shaking Levi's hand. She glanced over at Kenney and Jason questioningly and I sighed before saying, "this is Kenney he is Levi's brother and this is Jason who is a super good friend, apparently they are moving in to prevent a possible kid number two."
Beth laughed and said they were welcome as her daughter Rachel and her family had surprised them from Montana.
The night was so much fun and I really enjoyed getting to know Beth and her family. I got to spend time talking to Beth and Rachel and the two of them gave me a lot of advice on how to take care of James and to have a successful marriage with Levi. It was nice to sit down and have some girl talk for a change, because let's face it, I had just spent most of the summer stuck in a tour bus with three guys, and surrounding by hundreds more, I was well over due for some girl talk.
