Drive | Joult

Chapter 40

(Jennifer)

I watch him walk into the living room and then he's out of sight. "What'd you say to her?" I don't think I've ever heard him this mad before, except maybe one time. "What are you talking about, Nicholas?" His mom asks, seeming caught off guard. "You know exactly what I'm talking about." I lean up against the wall, feeling like I'm gonna be sick. "Nothing she doesn't already know. I wasn't trying to upset her. I just wanted to know if the baby was yours or not." Babies, I mentally correct her. "Of course those babies are mine. What the hell is wrong with you?" This is all my fault. "What the hell is wrong with you defending that slutty hick you call your wife? How could you possibly trust her after you leave for a few months and she goes around fucking strangers?" I get up and run upstairs and straight to the bathroom. I throw up into the toilet. I hear footsteps and then the door creaks open. Why does he have to come in here now? I feel his hands in my hair, braiding it and he finishes and starts to rub my back. "You're gonna be okay, you just need to relax. All this stress isn't good for you." I wipe my mouth off and look at him. "Do you wanna brush your teeth?" He asks, helping me up. "Yes, please." He walks out and returns with my toothbrush and toothpaste. He leaves and I brush my teeth.

I walk into the bedroom and see Nick packing our stuff. "What are you doing?" I ask. We can't possibly be going back home. "Packing. We're leaving, now." He says, sounding in a hurry to leave. "Okay. Where are we going?" I ask, helping him pack. "Hotel." He mumbles, zipping up his bag and mine. He grabs Collin and Ali's diaper bag and sets it in Ali's car seat. It's not too heavy to bother her sleeping. "We can't just leave. You're mom wants you to visit. I can go and take them with me or you can keep them here. I don't mind." He picks up Collin and Ali's car seats. "Yeah, we can. My mom clearly doesn't want me here if she can't respect you." He carries them downstairs and I follow with our suitcases. "This is crazy, Nick. You can't possibly be choosing me over your own mom. It's just for a few nights anyway." He waves a taxi over. "That's exactly what I'm doing." He gets in the taxi with Collin and Ali, leaving only one seat for both of us. He sits down and gestures for me to get in too. I roll my eyes and climb in, putting the bags under our feet. "Take us to the nearest hotel, please." The driver nods and drives off towards our destination.

We get to our room and unpack right away. We have a room with another room connected to it so Collin and Ali can sleep in the other room.

I change into some comfortable shorts and a tank top. I flop down on the bed, waiting for Nick to finish taking a shower. It seems to be taking him forever. I hear the door open and he walks out of the bathroom, wearing nothing but his boxers. "You look hot." I say, turning on my side to face him as he sits down on the bed next to me. "Are you flirting with me?" He asks. "Hmm.. I might be." I smile at him. "Trying to seduce your own husband? How scandalous!" He smirks at me. "If I do remember correctly you were the one flirting with me on the plane." I think of his threatening tone yesterday. "You did it first." He defends himself. "Really how so?" I ask, looking interested. "You were kicking my seat. That seems like a pretty flirtatious thing to do." I laugh, forgetting all that's happened today. "I suppose you're right, as long as it worked." I raise my eyebrows at him. "Oh, it worked." He turns on his side, so our faces are almost touching. "Really?" I mumble, taken back by his closeness. "Mmhm." He leans in and kisses me, wrapping his arm around me.