Think Of Me

Chapter Ten

“I really can't believe her.” Aaron spoke about Jacqui next to Jeanna on the couch.

After some coaxing, he had managed to get Risa out from under the bed and watched The Little Mermaid with her. Once she had fallen asleep, Aaron had carried her back to his room and tucked her into bed, coming back to join Jeanna in the living room afterward.

“Did you really know nothing about the pregnancy?” Her voice was small, and she kept her eyes focused on the coffee mug tucked between her knees.

Aaron placed his finger under her chin to bring her eyes up to his. He didn't know how to convey his sincerity in a way that Jeanna would understand. It was obvious from the moment they met again that she didn't trust him anymore. “I swear,” was the best he could come up with. “If I had known that you were pregnant, I would have stepped up and done my share. We could have made ourselves work; get married and be a family–”

Jeanna interrupted him. “I wouldn't want to marry you.” The sting registered on his face and she continued, “I walked in on you sucking another girl's face off, Aaron. Would you really expect me to stay with you?”

He removed his hands from her and sat back against the arm of the couch. “I guess you're right.”

There was awkward silence as Aaron sat trying to think of something else to say and Jeanna “watched” a re-run of How I Met Your Mother. She kept telling herself over and over that Aaron didn't matter to her anymore, but she couldn't ignore how he made her heart feel. Being with Aaron felt natural to her. Hell, they even had a kid together. But the past kept making Jeanna withdraw. Besides, she was with Cristian now. She had someone who loved her and kept her and Risa's best interests in mind.

Speak of the Devil, and he shall be seen, Jeanna thought as her iPhone buzzed in her pocket and saw Cristian's cheesy face cross the screen.

“Hey,” she said, smiling. Maybe a call from a level-headed person would help straighten her feelings out.

“Hey, Baby. Where are you? I thought you wanted to go for coffee tonight?”

Shit. Jeanna had forgotten all about their coffee date plans. She pulled the phone away from her ear and glanced at the clock on the screen. It was almost ten o'clock, and she had a huge day at work the next day. “Oh, God. Cris, I'm so sorry! I forgot! I had dinner with Risa and she insisted I watch a movie with her before her bedtime. Can I take a rain-check?”

He sounded disappointed, and it was apparent in his voice. “Yeah, okay. Sure. What about tomorrow night? Maybe Aaron wouldn't mind keeping Risa until then?”

“Yeah, that sounds perfect! I'll talk to you tomorrow?”

“Okay. Goodnight, Babe. I love you.”

There were those three words. It wasn't the first time that Cristian had said them... and it didn't feel right to Jeanna. Instead she awkwardly replied. “Thanks, goodnight, Cris.” She waited to hear the click on his side of the line before locking her cell phone and shoving it back into her pocket.