Soul-Mates Forever (17 page)

Once we are both clean and of course have our morning love making quickly, we hurry around the room, packing and shoving my new purchases into a big box that Hulk got me from downstairs.
Thank God for Hulk.
I put our address on it, and he takes it downstairs to the front desk while I finish packing. Again, we barely made it on the plane in time for takeoff.

“Is this how you are every time you go anywhere?” Tuck snickers at me once we are seated. “I mean, if it is I’ll live with it because I can’t live without you but I just want to be prepared for the next time we travel.”

I smack him on the shoulder, then lay my head there and yawn. “I normally take later flights.”
I am so not a morning person.

It seems like a much shorter flight this time. Of course, I slept almost the entire way. I know I have been sick but geez, will I ever feel like myself again? We get home, and I trudge upstairs and fall face first on our bed.

“Dang, beauty. You ok? Do I need to get you in to see Doc for a checkup?” Tuck asks as he lays down next to me, turning on his side. Brushing back the long hair that is shrouding my face, he tucks some behind my ear. “I’m worried about you, baby. I know you were pretty sick and I gotta tell you, you scared the shit outta me but you’d think over a week later you wouldn’t be so tired all the time.”

Sighing, I turn on my side to face him and put my hand in his. “I know, right? Maybe I should go see her. I finished all the medicine yesterday and still feel like I’m dragging. I dunno. Maybe I should wait a few more days. She did say to rest a lot,” I shrug.

Leaning over he kisses me softly. “Beauty, you just keep resting but if you’re not better in the next couple of days, I’m taking you in.” His sweet smile is my undoing, and I lunge at him, causing both of us to fall off the bed.

The next couple of days go slowly. I sleep in until noon each day, eat like a pig, have sex like a mad woman and then fall asleep early. The guys in the band keep trying to get me to practice with them, but they come over at night, and I’m already beat by then. What in the hell is wrong with me?

My phone wakes me up. Looking at the clock I see its ten thirty. I reach over to find a note on Tucks pillow. I turn back over and grab my phone and swipe answer. “Hello,” my voice gruff from not being fully awake.

“BESTIE!” Allie screams. Well, that woke me up. “You better get your ass up because I’m coming over. Have a latte waiting for me!” And the call ends. No sleeping in for me today. Slowly, I remove the covers, scuffle to the bathroom and take a hot shower. By the time I’m dressed and have two latte’s made Allie walks into the kitchen, walks directly to me and captures me in a hug.

“I’ve missed you so much, baby girl. Come let’s sit. How are you feeling? Is the baby finally gonna let up and give you a happy pregnancy?” I ask her as we walk over to the table.

She takes a sip of her latte. “Heaven! Yes, the nausea is gone and I was told I can have caffeine, but maybe only once a week is all. I am eating like a pig and sleep so much that I feel like I’m hardly ever awake. How are you feeling, better?”

I sit and stare at her. Eating like a pig? Sleeping all the time? No. I’m on the pill.

“Paxton? Paxton! Are you ok, honey?” Feeling a pat on my arm my eyes go back into focus and blink a few times.

“Oh, yeah. Sorry. I’m much better, thanks.” I start biting my lower lip and playing with my coffee cup. “So you started eating a ton, huh? And you sleep all the time?

After she finishes her latte she takes her cup to the sink and washes it. “Yeah, it’s crazy. I’m either sleeping or eating and the sex drive?” She turns her head to me and winks
. Oh. My. God! Could I be pregnant? No! No way!
“Pax, what’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” she asks walking over and sitting back down. She takes my hand and pats it. She reaches up with her other hand and pulls my lip away from my teeth. “Girl, you’re bleeding, here.” Grabbing a napkin she wipes off my lip, now sore from apparently biting it until it bled.
Just great!

I grab the napkin from her hand and blot my lip. “Oh, Allie. I think I’m in trouble.” I can feel the tears start to fill my eyes. “I’ve been eating myself into oblivion and I sleep all the time well except for when I’m pouncing on Tuck for sex. Oh, my God, Allie. I think I’m pregnant!” She stands, and bends over and hugs me tight while rubbing my back. “What am I gonna do? We’ve never… We haven’t talked about having kids at all. I don’t even know if he wants any,” I whine. My blubbering increases and I feel like I’ve just ruined our entire relationship and my life. I can’t live without him. I can’t.

She takes another napkin and starts wiping my eyes. “You’re going to be a big girl and sit down and talk with him.” She leans back and looks me in the eyes. “Pax? Tucker loves you. You’re his whole life and you need to talk this out together. You’re in this together. Be strong and talk to him.” I nod sadly, sniffing and wiping my nose.

Taking a deep breath I sit up straight and square my shoulders back. “You’re right. I’ve learned so much about what not to do. Now it’s time to do the right thing. I’ll talk to him tonight.”

* * *

Made a killing at work today and have all my designs ready for tomorrow and then tomorrow night we play at the bar. Now, I get to go home to have a great evening with my girl, an awesome dinner, some cuddling and I am sure some hot sex and love making. Best. Day. Ever!

Walking into the kitchen, I can smell the aroma of dinner. Pax is leaning over the table lighting candles, so I approach her quietly, and as she’s blowing out the match, I put my arms around her. She gasps and then relaxes back into me. I kiss her cheek and then find my way to the soft skin on her neck. “Damn, you smell good.” Her head leans to the left, so I can nibble on her ear properly, my hand snaking around to her breast.

“Mmmmm, my sexy man. We need to eat before it gets cold.” She moves my arm from around her waist and sits down in a chair. Odd. She’s normally so easily persuaded by my sex appeal and charm. Something’s up, I can feel it.

We sit in silence for a long time, enjoying her beef stroganoff, salad and rolls. It’s making me fucking crazy! I look at her and see her head bent down over her plate. Her bottom lip is in her teeth, and she is pushing her food around. Scooting my chair back, I take her fork from her hand and set it on her plate. She looks up at me, in surprise, and I can see the glimmer of tears in her eyes. Reaching out, I take her hand and pull her up and over to me. She immediately sits on my lap and hugs me. “Beauty, what’s wrong? Why all the silence and tears. Are you ok?” She begins to cry, sniffle and talking into my neck, and I can’t understand a word she is saying. Cupping my hand around the side of her face, I move her head away from my neck and she stops talking. “Hey, talk to me. There is nothing on this earth you can’t talk to me about, baby. Nothing.”

She sniffs, and I wipe some of the falling tears from her face. “Well, it’s just…” Taking a deep breath she rushes, “I think I’m pregnant!” Her face falls back into my neck, and she starts bawling.
Wait! What?

I push her back and look at her in disbelief. Her face is all blotchy and red, tears are streaming down her face, and she is still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life. “I’m gonna be a dad?” She shrugs and I grab her and hold her close, so tight I’m afraid I might hurt her. Releasing my grip, I push her back again. “I didn’t hurt you or…” My hand sets down on her flat stomach and rubs gently. Looking back up at her, I smile wide. “I’m gonna be a daddy.”

“You’re not mad?” She asks, cocking her head and sniffing.

I remove my hand and lean down, kissing her stomach softly. I can feel her hand smoothing my hair, her fingers running through some strands. On the way back up, I press my lips against hers, still smiling.

“Mad? Beauty, I thought I was the luckiest and happiest man alive but now? I can’t even describe the awesome feelings I have. I’ve always wanted kids, to love and help grow up strong and independent, to show the world how kids should be treated with respect, love and caring. And to have you as their mother? I couldn’t ask for anything more. I…” I pick her up as I stand and swing her around. “I’M SO HAPPY!”

She starts giggling as I continue to swing her around. Stopping quickly, I slowly lower her down until she is standing on her tiptoes. My lips cover hers in an instant, my tongue delving into her warm and wet mouth. Pulling away, I see the spark in her eyes.

“Um, it’s not really for sure or anything yet but… I really have all the symptoms,” she whispers while looking down at her feet.

I lift her chin up with my finger, bend down and look her in the eyes. “Beauty, if the time is right, then it’s right. If not, I’m all for trying again, if it’s what you want.” She grabs me around the neck, kisses my cheek, nose and then all over my face and hugs me with intensity.

“I love you so much!” She whispers in my ear and then nibbles on it. I do what any lucky son of a bitch would do. I pick her up, carry her upstairs and make mad passionate love to my woman.

After cleaning us up, we are lying on our sides, holding hands, our fingers playing with each other’s, and we’re talking about our future. “So, I think you should go see the doctor and have her do a test thing on you to see if you’re pregnant or not. If you are, then we tell the world and start getting one of the spare room’s ready. If you aren’t, then we keep trying. I want a family with you. I want the whole thing, Pax.”

She gives me her beautiful smile and blushes. “I agree. I’ll call in a little bit and see when I can get in. I want that too, Tuck. I want it all. You’re the only one I want to have and do everything with. I’m so happy.”

I kiss her again, well, because I just can’t help myself. We laid there and talked for more than an hour until she had to go to the bathroom, and she tells me she will call the doctor’s office first thing in the morning. Meanwhile, I called the guys to set up a practice for after work tomorrow before our gig in the evening. I couldn’t have asked for a better soul-mate than the one I held in my arms all night.

Pax’s appointment is Monday morning, and she’s still really tired so she isn’t coming tonight to the gig. That’s ok. We have the rest of our lives for her to sing with us. We started our first set, and the crowd is roaring. It’s a full house tonight and then some. I hear there is a line outside waiting to get in. Awesome! By the time we are ready to close up the last number of the night, my adrenaline is pumping, and the girls in front of the stage are jumping up and down and screaming.

“Last song everyone! We’ll be here again tomorrow night so come ROCK THE HOUSE with us!” I turn and look at Spike and nod. He clicks his sticks together, and we begin. As I’m singing and getting into the song, I look around and could have sworn I saw Pax but there’s no way that could have been her. Once we finish, I take my guitar off and set it in its stand, holler at the guys and head for the bathroom. It takes forever to get there due to all the girls grabbing me as I walk through the crowd, the guys patting my back and one girl had to be pulled off me by a nearby bouncer.

After getting my business done and washing my hands, I push open the bathroom door, turn to walk down the narrow hallway and I am pushed against the wall, someone is nipping at my ear, so I start to push them away only to inhale the fragrance of wild lilacs. “Dammit, Claire! What’s it gonna take for you to quit attacking me?” We both start laughing until my eyes move to the left and see Pax standing there, her arms crossed and her mouth dropped open. She turns quickly and starts running. “Claire. Claire! Paxton just saw us. Move out of my God damn way!” I yell as I push her away. I take off running, chasing the only woman I’ve ever wanted. The crowd is so thick that by the time I get out the front door and look to my right, Lana’s VW bug is screeching out of the parking lot.
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

Running as fast as I can I get to my motorcycle, rev it up and almost lay it over as I race out of there. Damn, Lana’s little car can go fast. Getting closer and closer behind them, I can see the railroad crossing arms coming down, the red lights flashing. Lana’s car picks up speed and makes it across just in time but there’s no way I can without being killed by the train passing so I slam on the brakes and stop. “DAMMIT!” I scream hitting my bikes handlebar.

I pull out my phone and hit call on Pax’s number. “Come on, beauty, pick up, pick up. Please pick up.” It goes to voicemail so I hang up and call again. After doing that five times, the train finally leaves and the crossing arms start to rise. I race over, weaving around the arms and head home as fast as my bike can take me. Pulling into the road to the house, I don’t see Lana’s car anywhere. Maybe she pulled into the garage. I practically lay my bike down as I stop, hop off and run to the front door, jam my key into the lock and open it. “Paxton! Pax!” I scream running around the house. Finding the downstairs empty I run up the stairs two at a time and run into our bedroom. Bent over, my hands on my knees, I’m panting and trying to catch my breath. Getting my second wind, I run into the bathroom. Empty. I pull out my phone and try to call her several times always getting her voicemail. Walking to the bed I sit and try to call her again, this time leaving a message.

“Pax, beauty. It’s not what you think, really. Please believe me. I will look for you until the day I die if I have to. Please talk to me.”

Hanging up, I sit there looking at my phone like it will magically ring. I feel like I’ve been sitting there forever when there’s a tap on the bedroom door. Looking up, blurred by the tears in my eyes I see someone.

“Um, can I come in?” Hulk asks. I nod, some of the tears dropping from my eyes. I sniff and wipe them away hurriedly.
Men don’t fucking cry.
He walks over and nods at the bed. I tilt my head, and he sits next to me. “She’s safe.”

My head moves quickly to him, my eyes wide. “Where is she?”

His hand pats my shoulder. “She doesn’t want to talk to you, not right now, man. Give her a little time. Let her cool down a bit, ok?” I look at him, concern and sadness on his face.