Chapter 21

After my confrontation with Mike, I hurried to my car and was just about to pull out when my phone began ringing. I answered, barely listening as Layla began

rambling about work. I pulled into the McDonalds drive through and ordered some food, feeling extremely famished when I felt a fluttering in my stomach. I gasped

and pressed my hand to the spot where I felt it, hoping to feel it again. “What’s wrong Bella?” Layla asked and I responded immediately, “I think I felt the baby

move,” only to have her squeal loudly, “My god-daughter moved! Meet me for lunch, please!” I laughed and handed the young girl at the window some money.

“Alright, I’ll meet you. Text me later, I gotta go now.” “Stuffing your face,” she said with a laugh before she hung up and I grabbed my bag of food, still high off the

excitement of feeling the baby move.

“She’s four months pregnant,” Jacob said. That thought kept replaying through my mind. Was it only four months ago that I left her? She had moved on fast, but there

was no telling who the father of the baby was. It seemed like an eternity to me, four months ago I was dating what could have been the love of my life, if only she

knew how to keep her legs closed. Arabella didn’t seem like the mommy type, but I guess when you’re trying to marry someone famous you’d do anything to keep

them. I found myself picking up the phone and dialing her number, only to hear a recording telling me that that number wasn’t in service. I looked at the clock, and

decided to go to her job, hoping that she wasn’t at lunch yet. When I got there, it was unusually empty, but the receptionist waved me in, and I headed to

Arabella’s office. I opened the door without knocking and spied her lying on the couch, which had been moved, next to her desk. She was furiously stuffing fries in

her mouth and I couldn’t stop the snort from escaping my mouth. She looked up at me and swallowed her mouthful of fries. “What are you doing here?” she asked

and I quickly closed the door as she stood up, smoothing her top down, which emphasized her stomach. “So it’s true?” I asked and she followed my eyes to her

stomach and blushed. “Who told you?” she asked and I noticed the wobble in her voice. “Jacob did. So you decided to land yourself a millionaire did you?” I could’ve

kicked myself as I saw the effect those words had on her.

When I spotted Jacob at the door, I felt nauseous. When I stood up, I instinctively put a hand over my stomach, as if I was trying to protect my baby from its father.

“Jacob did. So you decided to land yourself a millionaire did you?” I felt my face drain of color and I felt my eyes well up. With all that had transpired between Mike

and me, I knew exactly how he felt about me. A slut, a whore, a tramp, Mike thought of me as nothing more than a common prostitute and it hurt. I swiped at the

tears that had been spilled, silently cursing my hormones for making me extremely sensitive and over emotional and I replied in a voice that luckily didn’t betray my

true feelings, “You’re right. You are exactly right about me. I’m just a good for nothing whore, and I trapped Jacob with this baby in my belly.” I showed him my ring,

“He’s madly in love with me, and I’m madly in love with his money, so why the hell are you even here? I’ve moved on, why haven’t you?”

I saw the tears in her eyes and I felt like the biggest jerk in the world. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I came, as you said, it’s time for me to move on, and if you’re

happy with him, truly happy, then I’m happy for you. I just hope that you treat him better then you treated me.” For a second, I thought she was walking up to me,

and I felt a smile begin on my face, but she moved past me and opened the door for her office. “Thank you for that lame ass attempt at an apology, I guess. I’m not

going to lie, if I never see you again, it’ll be too soon. Ta-ta.” After effectively being kicked out of her office, I drove to my apartment and proceeded to drink away

the memories that haunted me. I must’ve passed out, because when I woke up Jerry was in my apartment, standing over me with a huge mug of coffee. “How many

times are you going to drink yourself into a stupor over this girl? She’s moved on, started a family and new relationships, and from the looks of it, isn’t concerned

about you at all.” He thrust the mug into my hands and proceeded to pick up the numerous empty bottles that lay about in my living and dining room. I quickly

guzzled down the all black brew and jumped in the shower, trying to erase the stench of alcohol that clung to my body.

The next morning I woke up to the sound of someone opening my bedroom door. I buried my head under the pillows, unwilling to face another morning. “Leave me

alone, I don’t want to get out of the bed,” I whined as I felt the sheets being thrown off me. “Breakfast,” I heard some angel declare and I lifted my head and

sniffed, “Pancakes?” I asked suspiciously. Jacob grinned, “With extra whipped cream and your favorite fruit topping.” I dropped my head back and felt a huge smile

coming. I had been blessed with great friends and a great boyfriend. I allowed Jacob to drag me to the breakfast area where I proceeded to dig in. After all of my

food and some of his had been devoured, I let out a huge burp and proceeded to rub my belly contentedly. Jacob cleaned up the mess, and I took this time to take

my prenatal pills and use the bathroom. When I came out, Jacob was lounging on the couch and patted the space next to him when he saw me standing there. I sat

down, suddenly wondering about the ring on my finger when he began to talk. “I know that we haven’t known each other that long. I also know that when we met,

you were going through some hard times, and that sent red flags up, letting m know that you were off limits. But I still fell in love with you, and despite your drama

with Mike and the fact that you’re pregnant with his child, I want you.” I looked at him, my mouth sudden frozen, as his words washed over me. “I want to marry

you, to make a home with you and OUR baby. I know that you’ve noticed that ring on your finger, and yes, it is an engagement ring. I love you Bella, flaws and all,

and I hope that you love me too, otherwise, I’m going to feel like the biggest jack-ass this side of the equator.” I wrinkled my nose delicately, “What flaws could you

possibly be speaking of? I’m perfect!” I laughed when he gave me a ‘serious face’ and I leand forward and kissed him lightly. “Of course I love you. I am surprised

that this happened so quickly, but I’ve learned to live life like it’s your last.” I felt that fluttering in my stomach again, and I quickly placed his hand on my stomach.

“And I love that you love me, even fat and pregnant with another man’s baby.”

Needless to say, I did not go to work that day, instead I stayed in bed with Jacob, and we talked about our future together, the wedding, the baby, and of course

we made love. I was excited about my future, so when my dad called, I of course had to tell him that I was getting married. His reaction didn’t go as I had hoped it

would……..

A/N: it’s been a while….. thanks to everyone who stuck with me while i went through my many problems with my computer, the internet and my writers block.