Where She Least Expects It

Chapter 13

Tom tried to work that day, but he had received a text that morning about going to Brandon's for supper that night. He was worried that they had somehow found out already. Becky was already more important to him than his friendship with Brandon. He knew that, without a doubt, if he had to make a choice between them, he would pick her. That did scare him, more than the fact that he was undoubtedly in love with her.

His mind finally went back to the house he had been thinking about purchasing. If he needed something to occupy his mind, that would definitely do it. He picked up the phone and called the owners and gave them the offer that had been rolling around in his head. It had been on the market for awhile, so he knew the number he gave them was fair to both himself and to them.

He drew up all the paperwork and called the bank. Since the prior owners owned it outright, and he was purchasing it full cash, it was quick and easy. He called his parents next and asked them to come and do a walkthrough. It was a bit of a tradition that had come to pass between them over the years.  The only house he owned that they didn't was Brandon's old house, but only because they had been in it before and knew what kind of shape it was in.

By nearly the end of the day, he was pulling up to the house with the keys and his parents were right behind him. They met him at the front door.

"Son, good to see you." He and his dad shook hands and then his mom hugged him.

"Good to see you both. Let's get in here, see what I'm up against."

"Where's your girl?" his mom asked.

"Mom, she's...she's busy."

She smiled, "but she is your girl?"

He grinned, "yes, she is."

"Alright," she grinned back. "Where's the tablet?"

He handed his mom the tablet where she would start listing the things that needed to be done.  Brandon texted him while they were going through the house. When he found out Tom's parents were there, he insisted that they come tonight too. He was struggling with whether or not to tell them about Becky. He really wanted too, but he didn't want to complicate things either.

They had finished the walkthrough and were standing on the porch. "Brandon texted me, I'm headed over there for supper shortly. He said you guys should come too. You didn't get to come to the wedding, and it's been awhile. I need to stop at the house and change, you wanna follow me?"

His parents looked at each other, "sure," they replied together.

They all got there, and he saw Becky in the kitchen.  Their eyes met and they both smiled. He had been a little worried about being in the same room as her after the other night at the bar, but knowing she would be in his arms tonight was enough to settle his nerves.

They hung out and ate. Brandon and Alli talked about the honeymoon and showed off pictures. His parents enjoyed catching up with everyone. He noticed them talking to Becky at one point and realized that them getting along definitely helped his case and his plans for their future.

Brandon came up to him and started talking. It was mostly about the ranch until it wasn't, "have you seen Becky hanging around anyone?"

Tom gulped, "I don't think so. Why?"

He shrugged his shoulders, "Alli was wondering if there was something different about her lately. I was just curious if that was it."

Tom doubted that that was the whole story but figured he would be sporting a fat lip or black eye already if Brandon knew the truth. He let it drop, and they talked about other things. Brandon offered to help with the new house if he needed it.

By the time they were leaving, he could only think about how much he wanted to be at home, in bed with Becky.

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Becky pulled into Tom's garage and realized that she had gotten there before him. She dropped her stuff by the coat rack and decided to take a shower. A few minutes in, she felt a strong pair of hands wrap around her. She had heard his footsteps and hoped he would join her. She wasn't disappointed.

"I hope you don't smile like that for just anyone who gets in the shower with you," he said against her ear right before sucking the lobe into his mouth.

She moaned a little, then chuckled, "I've only ever showered with one man, and I will always smile like that for him." She turned around in his arms and, again, wasn't disappointed.

After an extra-long shower, they lay in bed. He told her all about the house. She had forgotten that he flipped houses then rented them out. She supposed she had that to thank for those muscles she was so fond of. She was worried she might not be able to hide her worry about the baby from him, but, somehow, when she was with him everything else melted away and it was just them.

They did their best to hide away over the weekend and pretend the rest of the world didn't exist. She was really enjoying the time they were spending together. She was finding that they were a lot alike. What had appeared as boring before, she realized was actually the same determination that drove her to work so hard...he didn't waver. They also liked the same kinds of tv shows and movies, with the exception of her love for chick flicks, but he suffered through them for her.

He was incredibly romantic. While cooking supper on Saturday evening, a romantic song came on. She had been sitting on the counter watching him cook and said how much she loved the song. He immediately pulled her into his arms and danced with her in the kitchen. It was hard not to fall more in love when he seemed to have jumped right out of one of those cheesy romantic movies.

When she was back at work on Monday, all of the worries about the baby came back. She wasn't sure how to tell him, even though she obviously had to. She was texting back and forth with Brock when she got an idea of how to get a little space to think. She texted him and made the plans. Next she called the airline to book a ticket. She would leave for New York on Wednesday and return the following Wednesday. She wasn't sure what to tell Tom...or everyone else for that matter. All she knew was that she needed to do some serious thinking and getting away from home would help give her the space to do just that.

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