Vegas Baby! (Luck in Love Book 1) Page 9

  “I see them,” Leslie said, “they’re laughing and joking about something. Initiating the operation.” Sliding out her phone, Leslie called Jackson and told him to not say anything. His job was to send Keene to the restrooms. As she spoke, I peeked around. Jackson nodded while he was on the phone then whispered something to Keene.

  ---

  Hendrix aka Keene

  My mom had her hilarious ways. When she had a woman in mind for me, she became determined to force me to see things her way. It hadn’t worked with the other four prior women. My mom thought due to diligent studying of my preferences, Michelle was exactly what I wanted.

  Would I have messed around with Michelle, when I first met her, if she wasn’t Leslie’s friend? There was a good chance that I would have. Did I lead her on? No, but during our meetings before Vegas I didn’t block her like I had been gently trying to do ever since I met Londyn.

  Michelle was smart and knew that it would take a lot of convincing to persuade me. So she and my mother frequently put me in positions where I couldn’t avoid Michelle.

  One time, my mother had me take her shopping for her birthday, and Michelle happened to be at the same mall at the same time. The part that horrified me was my mom requesting to go to lingerie stores. But it was mostly a ploy to get me to imagine Michelle in what she picked out.

  Michelle’s birthday was towards the end of the year, but she ended up having more presents than my mom, who made her spend. Mom told Michelle that she needed to get used to my kind of lifestyle. I knew Michelle was being modest, she wasn’t that innocent.

  The two of them were very amusing. But what wasn’t amusing was trying to get myself out from under their grips. Or running out of space to slide my leg to the side at my birthday brunch.

  To provide a bit of extra entertainment, I predicted who was on the other end of Jackson’s phone. No talking only listening? That wasn’t like him. It had to be Leslie, but when she called his expression usually wasn’t as serious. It sounded like business. Jackson hung up and signaled for me to lend my ear. I was ready for him to tell me he had to leave. But I would have made up something and tagged along if he did.

  “Don’t make any facial expressions you don’t want to explain,” Jackson said. “You are needed by the restroom. Your present awaits.”

  “OK,” I said and nodded. I put my napkin on the table and stood up.

  “You can’t be leaving,” my mother said. “We didn’t get to the part where your promised me grandbabies within the next two years. They’re not going to come if you don’t start working on making some.”

  “Grandbabies?” I said. No way. Not with the choices I have. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Or months. I have to make an important call.”

  “Don’t stay away too long,” Michelle said, giving me a one over.

  I made my way to the restroom area, curious of what Leslie was going to do. It had to be her, who planned the surprise. Rounding the divider, my eyes widened and I inhaled then my lips regained my composure, spreading satisfaction across my face.

  “Londyn,” I said. Peeking over to Leslie I said, “And Leslie too.”

  Leslie and Londyn congratulated me on my birthday, and I explained why I wasn’t having a big party like I had done in the past. My interests changed a bit.

  “So if you’ll excuse me,” Leslie said, and peeled towards the lobby.

  “What’s that all about?” I said.

  “I…have something to tell you,” Londyn said. “This isn’t the best place or time but…” Her attention shot to the wall for a few seconds. “I’ll just say it. I’m pregnant.”

  Those words froze my ability to think. “You’re…”

  “Pregnant. And I came to ask if there’s a possibility that you’re the father.”

  “Why don’t we find a corner outside of this area?” I said.

  “OK.”

  As we walked…I didn’t know what was happening. I replayed the moments we had together in my mind. I remembered being safe. Oh. I forgot that one time.

  “Is this far enough away?” Londyn said as we approached a corner that wasn’t easily visible from either the lobby or restaurant.

  “Yes. Now you were saying.”

  “Were we?”

  “Yes, several times.”

  “That makes sense. There is a small chance it could be my ex’s.”

  “The one who cheated?”

  “Yeah. So that’s all. It’s only fair that I let you know regardless of my decision.”

  “Your decision?!” I said. “Please don’t. I mean. How do I say this? Londyn, I know going through a pregnancy is a big thing. A huge change in your life, but I’ll support you through it all emotionally, physically, financially. I’m here for you and our baby.”

  “It might not be yours.”

  “I don’t care.”

  “You don’t have to do this.”

  “I do,” I said and held her shoulders. “Stop fighting me Londyn. This is the best birthday gift I’ve ever had.”

  “How much have you had to drink?” She bit her lip, trying not allowing herself to experience her own joke.

  I laughed and held out my arms. “Hug?” To my surprise, she wrapped her arms around my waist and held on tight. I secured her close to my heart.

  “I missed you so much,” I said. “And I’m not the missing type.”

  “I think I’d miss you too if I knew what was real.”

  “We’ll start over.”

  “Can you tell me the stories?” she said.

  “Tell you? I’d rather show you. It’s more fun that way.”

  “Why do I get the feeling these stories are going to be greatly exaggerated?”

  “Because you know me.”

  “Are you speaking of Keene or was it Hendrix?”

  I rested my cheek against hers. Tears threatened to expose themselves, and I couldn’t let her see me get emotional. That day I promised myself that I wouldn’t let anything or anyone get in our way again. Looks like Mom will get her wish after all because if I couldn’t raise this one as mine, the next one will be mine for sure.

  Chapter 15

  Londyn

  During the next few months, Hendrix met me during the day for appointments with the obstetrician, carried me to labor and delivery classes, went shopping with me for baby and maternity clothes, and took me on strolls through the park. We also spent time learning more about each other and the information from the books we read about parenting.

  I didn’t discuss my relationship with Michelle until one day when Leslie had us all out for brunch. I planned to pull Michelle aside and let her know, but she asked and gritted her teeth when I answered. She said he had told her he was seeing someone, but she didn’t want to believe that it was true. I also addressed the rumors about me being pregnant. The girls were all happy.

  Although Michelle was burning with anger about the situation, she joked about calling for my help to find a husband. Still close with Mrs. Anderson, I had no doubt that Michelle let her know about Hendrix and I. So I was ready to get an angry call or visit from his mother, but it was as though I was nonexistent. By asking Hendrix, I found out that she knew. The way Hendrix told her was a bit hilarious.

  “She knows,” Hendrix said. “I was at her house one afternoon, and she mentioned the grandbabies again. I asked if she was confident about that desire. She was. Then I told her one would arrive sooner than she thought. My mom was overjoyed. She rattled off plans for the baby shower, what names I should consider, and mentioned that she was going to get online immediately and search for the best strollers and crib.

  “Then she said ‘I’m glad you have come to see things my way. Now, go run off and get that ideal cut, flawless, colorless, at least three carat diamond for Michelle.’ ‘Michelle? It’s not Michelle’s,’ I said. The delight that drained from her face was priceless. She grinned and asked who the surrogate was. I told her it was my girlfriend not a surrogate, you, and she replied with ‘Oh.’
Nothing more.”

  By investigating Hendrix I also found out that I had him wrapped around my finger for a while. He had moved into town because I told him I didn’t want to be in a long distance relationship.

  He claimed that seeing his mother more often and hanging out with Jackson were some of the main incentives, but I knew the deal. The reason why he bought the condo he did was due to the layout. One of the rooms was on the opposite side of the living space. Perfect for a roommate. That’s what he said verbatim too when trying to convince me to move.

  “Come on Londyn,” Hendrix said as I lay in his lap on my couch. “That room is waiting for your stuff. I’ll pack up everything.”

  “But I want to stay here,” I said. “We’re not getting married.” Keeping my eyes on him, I watched for a reaction. Exactly. He didn’t say at least one thing to assure me that it was going to happen, or it may happen, or he’d like to keep it on a distant agenda. The timing wasn’t right. That’s why I’m staying in my apartment.

  “Londyn, I—” he said.

  “You don’t have to explain. I’m staying here. Keep that room open for when I’m over there.”

  “It’ll make things easier if you move in.”

  “I live ten minutes away.”

  “Later on you’re going to beg me for this offer,” he said, stroking my hair.

  “It’s a limited time deal?” I asked, chuckling.

  “Yes, and it comes with tickets to see Talon in concert.”

  “You got tickets to see Talon?!” I said. “Those have been sold out since the day they went on sale! And I reminded myself to not ask Ariel for tickets every time someone gushed about theirs.”

  “I do, and I didn’t get them from Ariel,” he said.

  “Good. I’m still not moving, so…”

  “I have other tactics. I’m not giving this up. Just like that new car out there, I’ll have you at home in no time.”

  “I had been in the market for another car already,” I said.

  “Really? That’s why you rejected the idea a few times.”

  “I had to pretend.”

  “Pretend. That’s what you call it.” He bent over and savored my lips.

  “That strategy won’t work this time,” I said.

  “We’ll see,” he said and slid his hand up my blouse.

  ---

  One evening while I was parking my car at my apartment, I felt strange. All of a sudden the conversation with Hendrix about moving weighed down on me. When I had the baby, the help I’d get from him would be ideal.

  Why should I put off moving in with him if I would move eventually? I like my independence, but there’s little chance that we wouldn’t work out. His compromise was that I kept my apartment until I was ready to let it go.

  Shuffling through the hall of my apartment complex, with the wind chilling my skin, I thought about how much I’d miss the place. I had lived there for years.

  I would always remember that day as if it was yesterday. I turned my keys, opened the door, and went inside. I double checked to see if I actually closed the door because I still felt a little cold and still heard the wind.

  When I went into my room, I saw that my mattress was flipped over, items on my desk and night stand were scattered, and my window was broken. A few leaves flew from the window sill. Gasping, I ran back outside. There was no way to tell if the thief was still in there. I called 911 and Hendrix.

  With a thorough check of my apartment and questioning, the police summed up the incident as a breaking and entering. The robber couldn’t find much of value, so they took off with a few of my purses and a couple of necklaces that Hendrix had given me. The wind most likely carried the leaves into my apartment. After they left, the sight of the leaves kept bothering me. The trees outside weren’t shredding their leaves that much.

  “You’re not staying here,” Hendrix said. “We’re going to go get some boards to close off that window then the rest of this week I’ll have someone pack your things.”

  “I agree with everything except packing my things,” I said. “I’m packing them myself.”

  “I’ll help you.”

  ---

  On the weekend, I was busy packing boxes when Hendrix stepped out to go pick up some food. The doorbell rang. I knew Leslie wouldn’t be stopping by, she was on her honeymoon. When I asked who it was, a familiar voice answered. Xavier.

  “Hi Xavier,” I said through a crack in the door, large enough to show my face.

  “Hi?” he said. “That’s all I get from the woman carrying our baby? I don’t get a warm welcome? How are you doing babe. Come on in?”

  Babe?

  “I’m—” I said.

  “Yeah, I heard about our little one. My question is why didn’t I hear it from you? And are we going to talk about this while I’m standing out here? Everyone can hear us.”

  “Let’s go to the club house. There are couches in there.”

  “Fine.”

  I closed the door and hurried to grab my keys and purse. Returning from my room, I found that Xavier had opened the door and came in.

  “There’s nowhere to sit inside,” I said. “Let’s go.”

  While scanning my apartment he huffed. “You’re moving and you didn’t tell me either.”

  “First of all, I’m not with you Xavier. I don’t need to tell you what’s going on in my life.”

  “Right cuz you’re with that millionaire, billionaire dude. You moved on up. Congratulations. Although there wasn’t that much space to move. You know my financials.”

  “Is this why you came here? To insult me?”

  “No, look I want to be a part of the baby’s life. Mom was elated to hear the news. She said she knew you were always the one. I’m just mad I had to hear it from someone else.”

  “I planned to tell you later,” I said. “There’s a chance, a large chance, the baby isn’t yours.”

  Xavier laughed. “Wow and you cursed me out at my house.”

  “You deserved it, and I wasn’t with him then Xavier.”

  “OK. But you better believe he isn’t touching my child. You shouldn’t be letting him touch you either according to all the women he has on the side. Competing for a millionaire may make those women a little more aggressive. Don’t think a baby is going to stop them.”

  “There’s no one on the side,” I said.

  “I checked him out,” he said. “Don’t worry though. I’ll be here for you when you catch him creeping. I’m a much better protector too. Then we’ll be one happy family.”

  I raised my eyebrows. “Along with your women?”

  “I won’t have a need for them then.”

  “I’ll have the hospital call when it’s time for you to take a DNA test,” I said.

  “Why do I have the feeling that he’s going to mess up before then? Bye babe.” Xavier opened the door and left.

  Chapter 16

  Hendrix aka Keene

  When Londyn’s things were all moved in I couldn’t help but to be happy that I won that disagreement. I didn’t like the circumstances, but my Londyn was finally at home. And she was away from Xavier, who snuck up and tried to get to her. Londyn rested her head on my chest as we watched over the city through the living room floor to ceiling window.

  “Living your dreams?” I asked.

  “No, I had a much more handsome man,” she said. “You’re a bit of a disappointment.”

  I chuckled and bent down to kiss her belly. “I recall you saying that you weren’t moving in here unless you were my fiancée.”

  “So it was you who broke into my house and stole some of my bags. You could have asked me if you wanted to return them. I would have given them to you. It was a little dramatic don’t you think? A set up. Not fair.” She smiled.

  “For the record I didn’t do it, but I am harvesting the rewards.”

  “Are you going to stay down there all night?” she said and offered her hand to help me to my feet.

  “Pretend you�
��re in a helicopter overlooking the city,” I said.

  “Why?”

  “You said you wanted to fly on one, but you’re afraid of heights that high.”

  “And.”

  “It’s a relaxation exercise.”

  “Alright,” she said and stared out the window. “I’m imagining. We took a detour to go down the coastline.”

  “Good. So I say I love you and our unborn child more than you’d ever know.”

  “Where are you going with this?”

  “I say I wouldn’t want to spend the rest of my life with anyone else.”

  “Are you proposing?” she asked and looked down on me.

  “I pull out this ring from my pocket, the one I’m pulling out now, and say Londyn, you gave me my dream to make this house a home, but it’s not enough. Will you make the baby and me happier, more than we have ever been during the course of our entire lives, and marry me?”

  Londyn started laughing. “This isn’t real.”

  “Tis,” I said. “We don’t have to get married right away. We can put it on the calendar. So…” I took the ring out of the case.

  “Yes,” she said.

  I hopped up and kissed her after sliding the ring on her finger.

  “Oh,” she said, pushing her hand up against my chest, denying me from further pleasure. “I left the phone in my car. I have to go get it to tell everyone the good news.”

  “I’ll let you go for now.”

  About ten minutes later, Londyn returned but in a panic.

  “Londyn, what’s wrong?” I said, securing her.

  “My car… they… It was siting lower than normal. I didn’t see anyone.”

  “What happened?”

  “They slashed my tires.”

  “Who’s they?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “This is personal,” I said. “Why didn’t I put this together? They broke into your house and slashed your tires.”