Broken {Completed}

The Worst Best Day

I rubbed Jen's back as she threw up the contents of her stomach. Once she was finished, I helped her up to the sink so she could rinse her mouth out with mouthwash.

"Shannon I'm so sorry. It just happened. I think I had some bad sushi for lunch," she said sitting down on the tub. She looked fatigued and pale.

"Baby, are you pregnant?" I asked taking her hand in mine.

Her eyes widened as she began to think. "Oh my god. I haven't had my period in two months." She stood up and walked in front of the mirror lifting her shirt with one hand and with the other tracing the slight curve of her lower stomach. "Oh my god," she repeated. "Oh my god. Oh my god! I'm pregnant!" She jumped into my arms and kissed me.

My hands instantly went to her hair as I held her tightly and kissed her back. I was father of two now, and I could help but smile as I recalled explicitly the night before I left for London.

"How could you go 2 months without knowing you were pregnant?"

"Well I didn't exactly have the pleasure of thinking about myself with your son recently getting out of the hospital, and then having to run the company in your absence."

I kissed her again and spun her around. "Come on! Everyone has to know! And yes I'll marry you!" She said against my lips. She grabbed the box sitting on the counter, but I stopped her.

"Let's go back to the kitchen. I want to do this properly and in front of everyone else.

She nodded and allowed me to guide her back into the kitchen. Everyone looked at us with worry. I got back down on one and looked deeply into her eyes.

"I know I haven't always been there for you, but I'm here for you now and forever. Kate Jennifer Rhodes, will you marry me?" I opened the box and saw her reaction as soon as her eyes saw the silver diamond rose engagement ring.

She began to cry and shook her head yes grabbing the leaf that securely held the ring in place. Her hands were shaking, so I grabbed the ring from her and placed it on her finger. Everyone began to clap and cheer for us as she kissed my lips softly.

"But that's not all the news," I said standing up. I glanced around the table, and everyone was smiling except Gunnar and Antonio. Gunnar seem like he was on the brink of snapping, and Antonio's expression was distant and hard to read. Maybe now wasn't the right time, but it's too late now, I thought.

"I'm pregnant!" Jenna shouted happily. That was the breaking point for Gunnar. He stood and stormed out of the house fuming.

"I'll go get him," Toni said following after him.

"What's with those two?" Jared asked as he stood and walked toward us.

"I have no idea," Jen responded worriedly.

• • • •

"Hey kid."

"I don't want to talk Toni. Go away," I said harshly.

He sat down beside me and didn't say anything else.

"What do you want?" I finally asked.

"The same thing you do. Quiet."

"Oh please it's not like your life is changing drastically."

"Your right it's not, but it's slightly more painful. I haven't told anyone this, but liked your mom. Maybe even loved her, but the fact that she is with Shannon is just a constant reminder of how I'll never have her. It reminds me so much of high school, and all those things I just wish I could forget forever."

"Really?"

"Yeah. There was this beautiful cheerleader, and she was smart, funny, charming, a lot like your mom. I loved her. She was the only girl I ever wanted, but she didn't want me. She wanted the guy that got accepted to Harvard, the guy that was going to be a future surgeon, the guy with money. So she fell in love with him, and they were together for a while, but it didn't last long. When our class reunion came around, I was the big shot the model, with the fancy cars, his own business, and the money. I did all of that hoping she would come to me, but she still rejected me. She said that she would have dated the old me she knew in high school before she dated the guy that stood in front of her. I was crushed, and I've never liked or love anyone until I met your mom, but now I'm just reliving everything."

I could hear the pain in his voice as he told me about his past. "Why don't you just date one of the women from the dojo? I'm sure they would be more than willing to date you."

"Sure I could lower my standards and go for the easy choices, but I don't want that. I don't want a girl to throw herself at me. I want her to be cautious when she's around me, and I want to earn her love. I don't want it to be freely given because of my money or looks."

"I wish I could say I knew what that felt like but I don't." We sat quietly for a while watching a car with tented windows slowly drive around the curb.

I don't recognize that car. Maybe it's someone visiting a neighbor for the first time or checking out the neighborhood, but that wasn't the case the windows rolled down and something metal glittered in the moon light...

"Gunnar get down!" Toni pushed me out of the line of gunfire and into the bushes. He landed on top of me breathing heavily.

We heard the car speed off followed by everyone running out screaming and asking what happened.

Toni and I got up from the bushes. My mom ran to me and kissed my cheeks repeatedly. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine mom, a branch scratched me, but-"

"Bug!" Natasha said running to her brother just in time to catch him as he fell.