Jenalyn: Crossing Lines (#4) [Complete]

Chapter 16: Hayden

Saturday, 9:21 P.M. EST

I feel much better in the hotel's security, and not out in the streets where anyone could see me. Ty picked up on the fact that I lied about being exhausted enough to stay in the room. I followed him down the bar; it's not like he’s been drinking, so it isn’t a trigger.

Plus, I’m under 21… and pregnant. 

Nobody is going to hand me a drink. 

“Do you want me to order you something to eat?” Ty asks as soon as we make it to a small booth by the entrance.

I shake my head knowing he’ll give me shit for it. “I’ll eat something when I go back to the room,” I tell him. “I’m still full from the ride over here, actually.”

He nods his head as if to understand, but still turns to me after a moment. 

“You know,” he begins as he flips through the menu. “You may be eating for three now…”

I don’t mean to roll my eyes, but it happens. I’m not in the mood for a lecture; I’ve eaten plenty today. “Mama G didn’t sound too convinced that it’d make it,” I say with my tone flat. “I wouldn’t get your hopes up.”

Ty looks like a part of him wants to take offense, but he still maintains a nonchalant attitude. “I mean, it certainly won’t make it if you aren’t taking care of yourself,” he says after a second. “Shouldn’t we be cautious just in case?”

I shrug my shoulders. I don’t mean to be so underwhelmed talking to my “baby daddy” about the possibility of having twins, I just… don’t have a good feeling about it. I’ve realized as of late that the feelings I get in my stomach usually mean something.

What if this feeling is telling me not to get excited? 

It’s a small mass growing beside the baby that they haven’t even detected until my last appointment. If it were really a twin, I really doubt this is how this wouldn’t have played out.

Plus… twins don’t run in my family as far as I know, and Ty isn’t really the father…

It’s not possible.

“I eat, Ty,” I say with a small sigh. “Plenty.” 

He says nothing. I’m sure he knows better than to push food too hard on me at this point in our “relationship.” He still orders enough food for an army when the waitress comes though.

“Well I’ll eat for all four of us!” he says with a carefree smile as the waitress walks away.

I hate how cute he is sometimes, but right now all it does is remind me of how terrible I’d be to stay with him. He’s cute now, but give him much longer with me and I’m sure he’ll turn into a monster like Dane in no time. 

I can’t do that to him.

I’m pulled from my thoughts when a younger-looking woman approaches our booth with excitement. I can tell by her demeanor as she waits for me to respond that she must be a fan of sorts. She wears a huge smile, clasping both hands together at her chest before turning to me. 

“You’re that girl Harlee Gold adopted, right?” she asks. “I don’t know, my daughter loves you guys! Hayden, right? Could I get an autograph? It would make her life!”

I have to hold back laughter imagining that Harlee would adopt me. She wasn’t even 18 when this whole thing happened, but I don’t bother correcting the woman. I just flash Ty a quick look demanding his “polite face” before turning back to the woman. 

“Of course!” I respond in a sing-song voice, taking the paper and pen she rips from her purse. “What’s her name?”

The woman grows more excited, forgetting her daughter’s name for a moment before blurting it out with a laugh. “Sammi!” she exclaims, “Oh, and with an I!”

I scribble a quick message on the sheet before signing it and handing it back to her, still wearing a polite smile on my face. She thanks me three whole times before giggling and shifting her weight to the opposite leg.

She’s honestly growing a little too comfortable for my liking, but for the sake of being nice, I do nothing about it. 

“So what are you doing out here?” she asks after a moment, smiling so wide I could probably count every tooth in her mouth.”And in a bar? How old are you, missy? Dating a rockstar does not equal 21, you know!”

The scrutiny Hayden is always under because of this tests me. I want to clap back and tell this woman to mind her damned business and back the fuck off.

But instead? I have to sit here with a polite smile as I contemplate an appropriate response.

“We’re here for dinner, hun,” Ty says after a second, saving me the trouble of having to. “Having a baby with a rockstar does equal a hungry mama! So, if you don’t mind? We could use some privacy. Sorry hun, we're just exhausted from travel.”

It disappoints the woman, but she doesn’t give us any trouble before shuffling off with her autograph.

I’m thankful for Ty, but don’t say a word. I just pick up my phone and pull up my message thread with Gage.