Clay's Unwanted Blondie

Chapter 37

        Warning; There's brief mentions of suicide and assault, beware.

  RYDER CERVANTES

"THEY ARE somewhere off grid. Clay did a good job in covering his tracks because I've got nothing Ry and I've been working double time", Zuko spoke into the phone.

Frustrated, fury tipping him off the edge Ryder closed the door behind him walking down his graveled driveway with a rippled jaw.

To top it all of, he knew he was walking into another disaster that was his wife getting mad over him forgetting date night.

They never missed date nights. It was a tradition from the minute they got married and knowing Anjali, his wife, she would tear him a new one despite the circumstances.

Inhaling a gulp of calming mantra, his hands rested on the doorknob as he hung up on Zuko.

Opening the door took a rather huge chunk of energy from him.

Anjali's perfume lingered in the foyer even as he walked further into the house and his heart did a somersault because he was sure he had hurt the love of his life without even wanting to in the first place.

The very instant his feet touched the carpet of their living room, Anjali was seated by the couch, a glass of juice in one hand, tv remote in the other hand watching India's Matchmaking.

And the magnetic pull they had on each other had her sensing his presence long before he could make another step and apologize for missing the fourth date night in a row.

She drank her juice, slowly, punishing as he damn watched.

She placed the remote on the coffee table, taking her time to stand up, straighten the creases in her saree skirt before her doe eyes fell on him.

"Ani—"

"Don't Ry. Just don't", she begged.

He took a step forward wanting to wipe away that forlorn look on her face but she already had her hand in mid air.

A warning that if he took another step, she'd be forced to shed blood and it sure as hell wouldn't be hers but his.

"Work ran late and with Clay gone, I'm still trying to keep everything afloat. I have to save our company and I have to look for my brother before it's too late and—"

"I know", there was liquid in her eyes as she spoke, her thick lips trying their best not to quiver with tears, "I know it's been hard for you because I've been here, Ry.

I've seen you struggle, I've seen you trying to keep shit together for a month"

Then why won't you let me take you in my arms hug out all the shit I've seen during the day?

"But? Ani, I'm sorry. Fuck I-"

"I'm pregnant"

The statement sliced the air like a guillotine blade slicing the head of a criminal.

For a minute there, he'd been surprised and when the surprise wore off, he was elated.

"What? Right now? We are--? We are pregnant?"

He scratched the back of his head, eyes lingering on her tummy.

"Yes. Yes, I am and I've been meaning to tell you but you've been busy. Busy for me and I shouldn't even say that but that's how I feel which is why... I've made a decision"

The excitement evaporated from his face so fast.

Ani did that thing when she was anxious. Tucking her thick locks of dark hair behind her ear.