My Cowboy

Thanksgiving

When I woke up, Ryder was right beside me, playing with my hair.

"Morning, Doll." He stated with that sexy accent.

He kissed my forehead.

"You stayed, even after I fell asleep." I said, shocked.

"Of course. You're my girl. I'll always be with you." He responded.

I jumped up from bed and sprinted into the bathroom. Ryder hurried in.

"You oka— right... Morning sickness."

"Yeah. I'm fine. Hold my hair." I instructed him.

He held my hair until my dad called from outside of my room.

"Munchkin, you alright?" He called.

"Go make something up." I whispered and shooed Ryder out.

He opened the door.

"Morning Mr. Cadwell. She's just not feeling well. Must have been something she ate." He lied to my dad. "You're okay, right Baby Doll?" He called from the doorway.

"I'm good!" I shouted back.

"Mhmm. Feel better sweetie. After all, it's Thanksgiving." My dad sympathized.

Ryder continued to stall my father until he left. When I heard the door shut, I was well enough to leave the bathroom.

"Please tell me you—" I began from the bathroom then moved into the doorway. "Oh good you did."

"Did what?" He asked.

"Put pants on. If you opened the door with all that hanging out there would have been issues." I paused and examined his pants. "Wait are those— you're wearing my sweatpants." I put my hands on my hips and gave him the look.

"Sorry, they were right there on the floor. I'll take them off." He began to strip.

"No that's okay." I quickly intervened. "Keep the pants on. If I have to see that right now I might have to puke again." I teased him.

"Come here and tell me that to my face." He played along.

I marched angrily up to him. "If I have to see that—" I began, but laughed at my horrible attempt to yell at him.

He laughed, then wrapped his arms around my lower back and pressed his body against mine. He leaned in for a kiss and I pulled away.

"What's wrong? I brushed my teeth." He defended.

"I've been thinking, I just don't know if this is a good idea. If we are going to have this baby, then I don't know if we should still date. Maybe it's best for all three of us if we just stay good friends. That way there's less of a chance of me hating you, like the way most of my relationships end. I only speak to one of my exes, and he's my best friend. He always was. I want us to be close for the baby, so I think we should break up." I backed away from him, crossed my arms, sat in my chair, and stared out my window.

"What?" Stunned, he sat on the bay window seat right in my line of sight. "You can't be serious. You said you love me, now you just want us to friends." He shook his head. "What changed?"