The Mechanic

Chapter Forty-seven - "The Bitter Truth."

"The Mechanic"

Chapter Forty-seven

'The Bitter Truth.'

Scene...

Continuing

Demi's POV

At first, he chuckled as if I were joking.

I couldn't blame him; the announcement wasn't the most cordial. I shouldn't have smiled, but I did, and it misled him of my seriousness.

"What?" I grinned, raising an eyebrow.

He beamed those teeth, the creases by his eyes deepening.

"Demi, I hope to God you don't tell my mother that way."

I squinted my eyes at him suspiciously.

"You knew."

"Of course, I knew. You're over two weeks late." He crossed his arms over his chest, his smile falling slowly. "It's about time you told me."

I wasn't sure how to feel.

Not only was I completely surprised that Joe had memorized my menstrual cycle, but I was shaken at the fact that he wasn't upset with my decision to keep the news to myself. Parts of me were embarrassed; others were ashamed; others delighted.

Timidly, I dropped my eyes to the floor, lowering my voice to a whisper.

"I'm sorry," I confessed.

"Don't be," Joe replied, his voice deep. "I know you're afraid."

Carefully, I lifted my eyes back up to his.

"Aren't you?" I asked, sincerely. "Joe, we talked about this. I'm not ready."

"We don't have much of a choice," he reminded me. As Joseph moved nearer to me, he brought a palm to my jaw. "And yes, I'm afraid. For a lot of reasons; one of them being my mother." I felt my lips twitch upward at this comment, my ever-present love for him reminding me why as he spoke. "But we trust each other. And that's enough."

I blinked, unsure.

"But Joe . . . I knew. I knew and I almost left-,"

"You weren't going to leave," he dismissed. "I know you, Demi, and I know you wouldn't have."

I closed my eyes as Joseph placed a kiss on my forehead.

And as the sensation sent warmth throughout my body, I couldn't fathom why this man still loved me so.

"I can't believe you're not angry," I mumbled. "I really don't deserve you."

Joseph pulled away, his hazel eyes sinking deeply into mine. That telepathic power he had; that hypnosis he used that put me in a trance every time; there it was. Holding me in mid air. Stifling my breath. Making the room spin.

That wisdom he had, making its rounds all over again as it reminded me of just who I was dealing with.

"That's where you're wrong," he said, his tone synching with the rest of his demeanor. "You. Demi. You deserve the world. But you're an abused mind; an abused heart, and you fall into abused habits. So you think I'll get angry when I won't. You think you deserve nothing for simple, human things like fear . . . and mistakes. But you're wrong." His thumbs caressed my cheeks; circled my ears.

I was flustered; taken aback. Somehow, I'd forgotten this side of him; the side that made me fall for him in the first place.

"I . . . I can't help it-,"