Sugar, Spice and a pinch of Fantasy

Chapter 39

--------- Chapter 39 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Emily knocks the door tentatively, poking her head in. Alex and Matt are sitting on my bed. The three of us aren’t even talking to each other yet I feel the piercing looks they’re giving me.

               “Alex? Haden would like to see you downstairs,” Emily murmurs, walking over to my bed. She sits down beside me and wraps her arms around me, rocking me slightly. “Everything will be okay. Haden will take care of everything,” she murmurs.

               “I need some fresh air,” I announce, getting off the bed. “I’ll be back in an hour or so,” I call to Emily as I grab my jacket.

Matt’s hand locks around my wrist, stopping me from moving. “Where are you going?” he demands.

               “Just a walk or something. I need to clear my head,” I murmur, disengaging my wrist. “I’ll be back soon. You can go talk to Haden,” I mumble.

He nods his head and walks out of my room, leaving Emily and I alone. I can feel her gaze trained on me and it makes me squirm. It’s as if she knows something.

               “Em...I think the baby is Carter’s,” I admit after a moment. I need to tell someone and Emily is as good a person as any to tell.

               “Then tell Haden this! It isn’t fair on him,” she murmurs coldly.

               “I don’t...I can’t! I want it to be Haden’s...and there is a chance it is,” I defend quietly.

               “Is there? Is there really a chance Jessica? You honestly think you would be able to tell whether you’re pregnant three days after? Bull shit! Have you seen him? Haden looks like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders, he’s shattered! He loves you so much...and you...you’re taking advantage of his kindness,” Emily hisses as she stomps out of the room.

My first reaction is this immediate anger that flares up. Who the hell does she think she is to talk to me like that?! But...she’s right. I told Haden the baby is his even though I know in the pit of my stomach that it isn’t. I need to tell him. I’ll deal with all the anger, I just can’t lie to him. I love him. And true my love for him is still in the cusp of being brotherly, I really, really do love him.

Making up my mind, I tip toe down the staircase and into the living room. The guys aren’t here. Hmm. I try the study next and then the garage but still no sign of them. Hmm, if I was Haden and feeling like crap, where would I go?

Bar!

I slowly edge my way into the entertainment room where the bar is and sure enough Haden is perched on one of the bar stools, with Alex and Matt opposite him, all three of them in some intent conversation.

               “Hey,” I whisper quietly, making all three jump.

               “Hi! I err, left the heater on in my room!” Matt calls and heads out of the room.

               “Oh, right...I should help him turn the heater off. You know Matt...” he trails off, leaving Haden and I alone.

               “Hi,” I repeat, chewing on my bottom lip.

               “Hey,” he murmurs back, his face drawn.

               “I need to talk to you,” I mumble, walking towards him slowly.