Watch & Learn: Book II

Chapter Four: Machinate

Candace

I briskly walked inside of the Starbucks for my usual morning breakfast. I was back at work this week and I had a lot of work to catch up on. I went up to the cash register and was getting ready to order when it hit me. Dr.Kim told me to lay off on the coffee and sweets for the rest of this pregnancy. That means I have to opt for a more healthy option. I looked up at the menu, searching for a drink that could be relatively healthy for me. It was so difficult looking for an alternative to something when you usually get the same thing every time.

"Can I have a strawberry banana smoothie and blueberry oatmeal please?" I spoke to the cashier.

"Sure thing, will that be all?" The cashier asked me.

"Yea-" I started to say before I was suddenly interrupted.

"No, can I have a dark roast coffee with a bacon, Gouda, and egg sandwich?" I heard Damien say as he walked up behind me, handing the cashier his card.

"You didn't have to do that." I said, turning to him.

"I wanted to." He replied, pulling me into a hug. "You doing okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." I told him as I grabbed the oatmeal bowl from the cashier.

"I'm just making sure. I haven't seen you in a while and you haven't been returning any of my calls or texts... Did I do something...?" Damien asked for clarification.

"No, no. You didn't do anything." I assured him as I grabbed my smoothie.

"I hope not. I really like you Candace. I really would like for us to progress into something more than this..." Damien said nervously and I immediately started to feel bad. I really liked Damien but I was holding back. And now that I'm pregnant, I feel like I'm holding back even more. Damien is such a good guy and he really deserves better.

"I like you too Damien, believe it or not." I confessed.

"Then why do I feel like we're at a standstill? We've been in this phase of our lives for some months now. What's stopping us from progressing?" Damien questioned as I looked down at the ground. "Cmon Candace, talk to me."

"I would really like for us to be something more but there's a lot of things that comes with me that I don't think you're ready for." I told him as he grabbed his coffee.

"Like what?" He asked, taking a sip while we walked out of the Starbucks.

"Well for one, I'm pregnant." I said as he stopped in his tracks.

"Oh... Well I wasn't expecting that." He chuckled nervously.

"It's from my previous relationship. I'm six months. I found out a couple of weeks ago which is why I've been so distant." I told him.

"I'm gonna be honest with you." He said as I nodded my head. "I'm kinda uncomfortable with it but I can handle it. I'll accept everything that comes with you."

"Are you sure?" I asked as he walked me to my car.

"Yes Candace. I want this. I want to call you mine." He caressed my cheek and I couldn't help but to blush. "So what do you say?"