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“John—”

Click.

John hung up. He had to or else he was going to lose his shit. They were nothing? Since when? They were always something, and definitely not nothing. That word left a sour taste in his mouth. She was his, and he was hers. End of story. Did she not see that? That his heart was tied to her irrevocably?

Plugging his phone into his charger, John rolled onto his side. He’d love to go for a long run right now, but he needed to be fresh and awake for class tomorrow so that was out of the question. He’d go for one after class. John looked at the clock–1:00 am. Damn. He had four hours of sleep to get.

He had a feeling it was going to be a restless night.

John groaned at the blaring alarm. His eyes felt like sandpaper and his head pounded. He was lucky if he got two full hours of sleep.

The conversation he had with Alyssa weighed heavily on his conscience, pretty much the sole reason he couldn’t sleep. It didn’t help that he hadn’t seen her in months either. He regretted acting the way he did. She was under a tremendous amount of constant stress and like the asshole he was, he was only adding to it. But at the same time, they were just friends? John shook his head over the stupid word. They were definitely more than friends.

Knowing she was probably still sleeping, John sent Alyssa a quick text.

I’m sorry for hanging up on you. Forgive me?

Standing up, John grabbed some clothes and headed to the private bathroom he shared with his roommates who were still asleep. He turned the water as hot as he could stand, stripped his clothes off leaving him in only his dog tags and then stepped in. The scolding hot water flowed over his shoulders, cascading down his back and his chest, slipping past his ripped stomach to his muscled thighs.

Just friends, John said to himself as he palmed his cock. They were not just friends two months ago when they were kissing on his bed. Friends don’t do that. Friends don’t touch friends the way they do. Friends don’t look at each other with heat, passion, intense need. And friends don’t lean on each other in the way they do, running to one another at their darkest hour.

But if she wanted to be just friends, that’s all she would get from him then. Friendship. He’d give her some space to work things out and wait. He wouldn’t call or text, he wouldn’t drive home to see her. He’d wait for as long as he could, until she was ready.

John stroked his cock slowly and groaned. Damn. He hadn’t been laid in months.

He was ruined for anyone else. Another stroke … And John moaned, squeezing the head tight. He thought of Alyssa and her cute belly, her beautiful ocean colored eyes. Another pump in his hand. He thought about the first time he kissed her, the way her lips felt against his, so soft and sweet. The first time he made her go four wheeling that led to their first time making love. The way … John groaned loudly at the thoughts going through his head as he pushed his hips forward. The way it felt when he slid into her for the first time, her thighs squeezing him the way she squeezed his shaft. John picked up the pace, caressing his dick and thrusting his hips into his hand. The way she looked at him each time they were together. Even under the hot shower, he shivered thinking about making love to Alyssa again. His balls tightened, his orgasm impending. John leaned against the wall, holding himself up with one hand as he continued to pump his shaft. He was so close … the blood was rising and his heartbeat sped up as he stroked faster. Almost … There … So … Close … One more stroke and John saw stars as he orgasmed into his hand. He tightened his grip around his cock feeling the straining veins along the side and twisted it up and down, drawing out the overdue orgasm as long as he could. Sweet Jesus that was heaven on earth. It was exactly what he needed.

John stepped out of the shower, toweling dry his body. He wiped the mirror with his palm. His chest was beet red and his eyes had bags under them. He grabbed his phone to check the time and noticed a text from Alyssa. He hadn’t expected her to be awake.

You’re forgiven.

John grinned. She added a heart. Alyssa thought she could be just friends with him. Well, she had another thing coming. He was going to make her fall in love with him. The soul searing kind of love where there’s no turning back. The kind of love that is felt deep inside the bone. Forever.

They had it once, they would have it again. It was going to take some work on his part, but they would have it all.

A sharp shooting pain shot through Alyssa’s body, waking her up. She grabbed her stomach and held her breath. Dear God. Now that had to be a contraction. The pain was excruciating, like a burning fire searing her stomach while it bunched into a tight ball.

As her stomach slowly began to relax, she exhaled. Alyssa didn’t get much sleep. Between John hanging up on her, to the way her stomach would stiffen on and off throughout the night, Alyssa was exhausted. She reached for her phone to check the time and noticed a text from John. She had only fallen asleep about an hour ago.

Alyssa read the text and responded. It wasn’t easy for her to stay mad at him. Before she could process another thought, another contraction ripped through causing her to lose her breath. Alyssa gripped the phone in her hand, turning on her side wishing away the pain. She needed to get to the hospital … but that meant waking up Diane for a ride. What a predicament she was in. Sighing, Alyssa rolled out of bed, holding the bottom of her stomach in her hand. She went to Diane’s bedroom door that was slightly cracked open. She tapped on it lightly and whispered, “Diane? Diane?”

She didn’t even have to try again, Diane woke up immediately. “Alyssa? Everything okay, dear?”

She pushed the door ajar. “I think I’m in labor, but I can’t tell.” Ruffling blankets and footsteps, Diane was in front of her in seconds. The woman always looked so well put together, even for just rolling out of bed. She placed a hand atop Alyssa’s belly. “Don’t worry, honey, I didn’t know I was in labor either. I don’t think any first time mom does. It wasn’t until we were on our way to the hospital that Luke’s head was poppin’ out!” Diane’s eyes grew huge. “It’s normal. Go get your hospital bag and I’ll grab the keys and wake Clark.”

“Okay.”

Panic set in and another contraction swept through. She palmed her stomach, held her breath and counted the seconds until it was gone. Could she do this? Would she be able to do this? To be in labor, alone? She waited nine months for this moment and she was suddenly completely clueless. All the reading and preparing she did during her pregnancy went out the window with her brain as she sat stone faced on John’s bed. Her mind was running a mile a minute but nothing made sense.

Diane popped her head in John’s room. “You—what are you doing? Get your stuff!”

Wide, blank eyes stared back at Diane. Her chin quivered as she said, “I’m scared.”

“Oh, honey. It will be okay. I’m here for you. Where are your things? I’ll get them for you.”

“In the closet.”

Diane shuffled over and picked up her bag. Walking back to Alyssa, she placed her hand in hers. “Let’s get going, honey. The hospital is a good twenty minutes away.”