This Can't Be Real

Chapter 6

The house is nothing like I was expecting it to be. In my mind, I had a vivid idea as to what I was expecting. White walls, neutral tones used throughout, and for it to have a sorta manly feel to it.

I couldn't be more wrong if I tried.

Yes, the entrance hall is painted white, but it works with the walnut and glass staircase that's to the right of the front door. It has a welcoming feel to it and strange enough, I almost feel at home despite not knowing that this is my house.

Walking towards the kitchen, there's a large, built-in, fish tank that sits to the right and is filled with different fish. Joe explained to me that it was Zachary who wanted the fish tank and who picked all of the fish. He hasn't named any of them because it'd be too hard to know who is who with there being over twenty of them.

It's the first little fact I've learned about the child that's supposedly ours.

“And this is the kitchen,” Joe announces while opening the double wooden doors for me.

I'm in awe at the kitchen. It's nothing like Jess's. This is more like my dream kitchen. Hell, this is my dream kitchen!

Everything's white and high gloss. There's a dark grey, maybe it's silver, I'm not too sure, rim running around the cabinets and cupboards to break the strong white up. The island is long and has four black bar stools neatly tucked in at one end. There's also some spot lights built into the base of the island that are shining onto the off-white marble floor.

I can't say or do anything. I feel like I've fallen in love with a kitchen I have probably been in numerous times over the years.

“So . . .” Joe starts from where he's standing behind me. I turn and look back at him. It's just now that I'm realising that I have stepped fully inside the kitchen. I feel that at home here, I can't help it. “What would you like?”

I watch him as he moves away from the opened doors and moves to the built-in fridge. He opens the white door all the way and stands to the side so I can see what's in the fridge. There's a wide selection of foods and drinks, I wouldn't know where to start.

“Have you had anything to eat yet?” I ask in return.

“No, I haven't. I've been busy all morning. Not had the time to stop and eat,” he answers. He turns his attention to the opened fridge and sighs.

“You should eat something,” I comment out of concern.

“As should you.”

“I don't know what I want though.”

“I don't know what I want either.”

We look at each other. There's that connection again and if I didn't know any better, I'd swear that this is what always happens between us when it comes to food. I'm surprised he's not nagging at me to eat since I'm meant to be pregnant.

I need to bring that up with him actually.

Blinking, I break our eye contact and look down at my hands that are clasped together. “I can get food with Jess. It doesn't matter,” I murmur.

“Are you sure?” He asks, sounding disappointed. I nod. “I'd feel better if you had something here with me, but it's your choice.”

I feel like I've hurt his feelings and I can actually feel myself being saddened at the thought of hurting him. It's something I shouldn't be so fussed about, I barley know the guy so I shouldn't be feeling like this.

“I'll take a bottle of water if you have one,” I tell him. I need liquids if we're going to talk and if I'm going to have to digest all the information that's going to come my way.