Renewed (Awakened #2) (4 page)

Chapter 3

The next morning I woke to an empty bed. Sunlight filled the room, and my stomach growled loud.

Pregnant, tired, and hungry...all the time.

This was going to be great.

I got up and pulled on one of Stefan’s shirts, then made my way into the dining room. Stefan looked delicious wearing basketball shorts, no shirt, and barefoot. His hair definitely looked teased, but that was expected after last night. I took in the beautiful sight of him as he made pancakes. He flipped the pancake in their air and caught it with the pan as I took a seat on the barstool.

I clapped as he turned and gave me a small, sexy grin.

“Are you hungry?” he asked as he fixed my plate.

“Did you hear my stomach growling?” I rubbed my tummy.

“Heard it all night. At one point, I almost made you get up and eat something so Bean would stop begging for food.” He chuckled as he set my plate of food down.

God, that smells delicious.

Kudos to you for finding a man who can cook.

He fixed his plate and sat down next to me as I shoveled food into my mouth.

Slow down, monster
.

 
“We have a doctor’s appointment at three. It’s a pregnancy checkup. I made it a couple of days ago.” He began slowing eating his food.

Gah
, I still couldn’t believe it. I had always wanted children, but after I got married and enjoyed the newlywed stage. Now I would have a baby first, then get married. Where was the fun in that?

Or…

“What do you think about eloping?” Stephan slowly turned his head towards me, a faint smile touching the corner of his lips.

“What?”

“You heard me. Eloping. I don’t want to wait until after Bean is born and I don’t want to do it before because then because I will be a fat cow.”

“You will
never
be a fat cow, Jennifer,” he scolded me.

“So what do you think?”

“I think I will be happy with whatever you are happy with.” He smiled as he picked up my hand and kissed the back of it, sending chills through my body.

“It’s settled then.” I smiled back at him as I finished my food. “Oh, man.” I gripped my stomach as a sharp pain exploded in me.

“What’s wrong?” Stefan gripped my shoulder.

I covered my mouth with my hand and got up as fast as I could, running straight to the bathroom. My head was buried in the toilet when I heard Stefan come in. Was this seriously what pregnancy was going to be like?

Oh, God!

“Babe, you okay?” Stefan asked.

“Leave, please…”

“No, baby.” He pulled my hair back out of my face.

“Is this normal? The pain was super intense,” I asked him as I wiped my face with a towel.

“What pain?” He was beginning to look worried.

“I felt a sharp pain in my stomach before I threw up.” The pain was gone now. Maybe I just needed to throw up.

“Maybe we should take you to the hospital.” Stefan handed me my toothbrush with toothpaste on it.

“I can wait until the doctor’s appointment.”

 
I stood to my feet, feeling very dizzy. Stefan grabbed my waist and pulled me over to him so that I could brush my teeth. After I finished, he started us a warm shower that felt amazing. Stefan squeezed some shampoo in his hands and began lathering my hair while I let the warm water spray on my face. He began massaging the back of my head, slowly working his way down my shoulders. I dropped my head forward, feeling the water wash off the soap out of my hair. He gripped and pulled on my shoulders, making me relax.

I rolled my head to one side as he began kissing and nibbling on the side of my neck. “You taste delicious,” he whispered in my ear as he began nibbling on it. He turned my head to the other side and began kissing my neck again while running his hands down my back.

I could get lost in his touch forever.

 
He leaned his head up and looked at me, his eyes melting my soul. “I love you, forever.” I leaned in and kissed him, passionately, hard, lovingly. He was mine, forever.

Once we finished our shower, I walked into the bedroom and collapsed on the bed. Stefan laid down next to me.

“How’s your stomach, baby?” Stefan asked. I took one more deep breath before placing my hands on my belly. Stefan rolled over to his side and propped his head up with his hand. He eyed me, waiting for an answer. In all honesty, I had forgotten about the sharp pains.

“The pain is gone.”

He placed a hand over my hands. “You will always tell me if you experience any abnormal pains, right?” He was concerned. I could see it deep in his eyes. For someone who doesn’t want to be a father, I could tell he cared. Truly cared.

“Of course I would. I honestly think I just needed to…you know…” I pointed towards the bathroom and stuck my tongue out.

“Okay, well we need to leave for the doctor shortly, so get ready, please. I will be in my office getting some work done if you need me.” He leaned over and kissed me, lightly flicking my lower lip with his tongue. I smiled as he rolled out of bed. I couldn’t help but stare at his toned, naked ass.

My eyes met his as a chuckle left his lips. “See something you like?” he asked as he pulled on his black boxer briefs.

“Very much so,” I responded as I watched him pull on his khaki and light blue polo.

“Get ready,” he said as he walked out of the bedroom, shutting the door behind him. I rolled over and grabbed my phone. I needed to call Kennedy.

“Hello?”

“Kennedy, hey! It’s Jen.”

“Everything okay? I miss you!”

“I’m sorry. It’s been crazy since I’ve been home. I have some exciting news to tell you.” I sat up and swung my legs over my bed.

“Stefan proposed to you?”

“How did you know?” I asked.

“Stefan asked for my blessing before asking you. He said that since you didn’t have any family in your life to ask for their blessing, he wanted to ask me. I mean, we are practically sisters.”

I laughed. “I had no idea he asked you. You never said anything to me.”

“Why the hell would I tell you about that? I am not ruining
that
surprise. Plus, Stefan told me he would kill me if I told you, and I’m pretty sure he would put a hit out on me. He does have the money, after all.”

“Whatever, Kennedy.” I smiled. I missed her. “How are you and Ayden?” I had been so wrapped up in my life and everything going on that I hadn’t made a lot of time for her. I needed to change that.

“Oh my gosh. Okay, so you pretty much know I am
not
the type of person to be all lovey, gushy, mushy, shit,
ya
know? But
oh.my.gosh
! I am just…so-”

“In love?” I interrupted her.

“What?”

I laughed. “You heard me.”

“Well I am not…
in love
. At least…is that what you call this?” She was whispering now.

“Does he mean the world to you? Do you wake up every morning just to see his face, and go to bed each night just so he can cradle you in his arms? Does he take your breath away every time he kisses you? Do you-”

“I get it, Jennifer. You’re going to make me puke.”

“Well…” She was avoiding my question.

“Call it what you will…”

“You’re in love!” I screamed! I jumped on my bed and jumped up and down. “My best friend is in love!”

I wonder if the world is ending?

“Stop yelling!” Her voice was serious. I knew she probably hated to admit it, but she was in love!

“What? I am just excited for you!” I bounced down on my bed with a loud whoosh and let out a deep breath.

“Is everything okay?” I snapped my head around to the door. Stefan.

“Oh yeah, sorry.” I smiled and mouthed Kennedy while pointing at the phone. Stefan smiled and closed the door back.

“Did Stefan hear you?” Kennedy asked.

“Yeah, but I don’t know how much or anything. Oh my gosh!” I laughed and threw my back on the bed, lying down and looking at the ceiling.

“I miss you. I miss being able to have you here and talk to you. Stefan stole your ass away from me.”

“There is enough of my ass to go around. Why don’t you come over later? Maybe you and Ayden? We can have dinner.”

“Yeah, sure! We’ll be there. Seven work for you?” I could tell she was excited.

“Yeah, perfect.”

“I’ll bring the wine.” I heard her moving stuff around, probably trying to find something to wear. “Fuck! I can’t find anything since I’ve moved to Ayden’s house.”

I laughed at her. “Kennedy, just throw on some sweats. Who cares?”

“I care. I just hate that I can’t find shit with these boxes everywhere.” I heard her rustling through another one.

“Okay. Well, I have to go. See you at seven?”

“See
ya
at seven. Love
ya
, bitch.”

“Love you.”

We hung up the phone, and I let out a deep sigh. My best friend was in love.

After I finally got ready, we made our way to the doctor’s office. I’d wondered if Stefan would come in the room with me, but after the nurse called my name, he stood to his feet. I grabbed his hand and squeezed it as we followed the nurse into a room. Stefan didn’t let go of my hand as we sat down.

“My name is Caroline,” she said, smiling. “Today is going to be rather easy. We’re just going to confirm the pregnancy, run a couple of blood tests, and get your vitals.” She started with my blood pressure. I watched as the machine beeped and squeezed my arm, and she nodded as it gave her a reading.

Next, she took my weight. I stood up on the scale and squeezed my eyes shut. “One hundred and thirty. We want you to gain weight during the pregnancy. We want baby to be nice and healthy.”

I looked at her and smiled as I sat back down in my chair and grabbed Stefan’s hand. Caroline took my temperature before typing everything in on the computer.