Page 32 of Only for Tonight (Only For #1)

twenty-five

Ariella

T he car stops and I look up, seeing I’m at the airport. I grab the bag from beside me. “Thank you so much,” I say as I open the door and get out of the car.

Putting the bag over my shoulder, I head straight into the terminal and to security. It’s too early in the morning for there to be so many people here , I think to myself as I stand in line waiting to be screened.

I grab my phone and pull up the text thread that I have with Lexi and Zoey.

Me: At the airport and on my way to tell my parents I’m with child.

I glance at the top corner of the phone and see it’s just a bit past six in the morning, and I doubt either of them are up. But I’m somehow not shocked when Lexi answers me first.

Lexi: You sound like you are having an immaculate conception instead of you got caught with your pants down.

Me: No one caught us doing anything.

Lexi: On a scale of one to ten, how nervous are you?

Me: One trillion.

Zoey: Will you FaceTime us so we can see his face?

Me: No.

Lexi: I mean, he’s going to freak out for sure.

Zoey: I think he’s going to freak the fuck out.

Me: Thank you so much, you two, for calming me. SO thoughtful.

Zoey: It’ll be fine, Jaxon will be there with you.

Lexi: When Zara told my dad, he called it a mistake and it really hurt her feelings. But then Gabriel was all like King Kong and said I’ll take her away and you’ll never see her again.

Zoey: Ohhh, I’d like to see what Jaxon would do if that happened.

Me: You two are the worst, honestly.

Lexi: It’ll be fine. What is the worst that can happen?

Zoey: They disown her and never talk to her again.

Lexi: Zoey.

Me: Zoey.

Zoey: What?

Zoey: It’ll be fine. Text us after and tell us everything.

Me: Maybe.

I walk up and put my things in the bin before telling the lady, “I’m sorry, I’m pregnant and can’t go through the detector.” She nods at me and tells me to stand to the side where she pats me down.

I grab my things and text Jaxon.

Me: Just got patted down and I’m headed to the plane.

Himeros: Who the fuck patted you down?

Me: Wouldn’t you like to know? See you later.

Himeros: Text me when you land.

Me: Maybe.

I get on the plane and sit down, texting my mother.

Me: I’m on the plane. I'll take a cab when I get there so you don’t have to pick me up.

Mom: I’ll see you later, Ariella.

I put the phone on airplane mode, looking out the window as we taxi down the runway. My stomach is going pitter-patter and up and down. I don’t even want to chance it by eating anything, so I stick to just water. We touch down and I turn my phone on. The first text that comes in is from my mother.

Mom: I’m outside.

I smile as I grab my bags and head out of the airport, spotting her at the curb right away.

“Thanks for picking me up, Mom,” I say, hugging her when she walks around the front of the SUV.

“Don’t ‘thanks for picking me up, Mom’ me.” She walks to the back of her SUV and presses the button and it swings up, opening. “Why the fuck would you think I would let you take a fucking cab?”

“Whoa,” I reply, laughing, “two fucks in one sentence.”

“You look different.” She folds her arms over her chest. “Your face looks different.”

“It’s called a glow.” I put both hands under my chin and look to the side. “I walk on the beach every single day at lunch. Vitamin D, who knew?”

“It’s more than that,” she observes, looking behind me. “Where is your luggage?”

“I’m flying back to New York after this, so it’s just this.” I pick up my carry-on bag that has a single change of clothes in it, along with my deodorant and two pairs of panties.

“Get into the car, Ariella,” she hisses, pressing the button again and having the trunk close.

“Wow, I’m getting déjà vu to when, I think, it was twelfth grade when I was sick at school and they called you to pick me up.”

“You weren’t sick,” she yells from her side of the SUV as we get in, “you found out Timmy Morris asked someone else to homecoming.”

I gasp out, grabbing my seat belt. “Mom, it was a mental health day for myself and the safety of Timmy Morris.” I buckle my seat belt. “I had art, do you know how many sharp objects are in art class?” She laughs and shakes her head as I lean over and kiss her cheek. “You’re welcome.”

“So what is this lunch all about?” my mother asks me as soon as we make it out of the airport and she’s on the highway.

“I just want to discuss LA and stuff with you guys.” I avoid looking at her and I can feel her eyes on me, so I take out my phone to stop from looking back at her and caving to tell her the truth. I pull up his secret name and I text him.

Me: I’ve arrived in Dallas.

I press send and then look out the window. My stomach has been topsy-turvy since I woke up this morning at four to fly out. Jaxon had arranged a car service to pick me up and drop me off.

I wait for him to answer me but he doesn’t by the time we pull up to the driveway, and I wonder if he’s still sleeping.

He was on the road for the past four days and I would never admit it to him, but I missed him, a lot.

Too much. It was something I have never felt.

I was in his house and felt like I was lost. I would sleep in his shirt on his side of the bed.

The whole time I was telling myself it was because of the baby, and I would deny I was falling in love with him until my last breath.

We pull into the garage, and when she turns off the car, I get out and make my way into the kitchen.

The house is the same home I grew up in, and as soon as I step foot into the mudroom that leads to the kitchen, I get this overwhelming sense of tears.

“Ralph,” my mother yells from behind me, “I have secured the package!”

I hear him jogging down the steps and then he’s there in the kitchen with a huge smile on his face. “My baby,” he says, coming to me with his arms open and I step into them, wrapping my arms around his waist and closing my eyes. He kisses the top of my head. “How was the flight?”

“Good,” I reply, giving him a squeeze before I step out of his arms, “quick.”

“So tell us,” my mother finally urges, standing at the island, “what is this all about?”

“Well,—” I start trying to think of something to tell them. “I’ve decided to officially move to LA.”

They both share a look like, that wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. “Are you for real?” my mother asks me as I walk over to the stools and sit on the one I’ve always sat on.

“Yeah, I’m going to New York after this and I’m going to pack up my things.”

“I’ll come with you,” my mother offers, “it’ll be fun.”

“Are you sure?” I ask and she rolls her eyes as the doorbell rings.

“That should be Manning,” my father says and I swear I feel a tingle in my scalp. “Called me yesterday to talk, found out you were going to be here and invited himself.”

“Like he needs an invitation,” my mother quips. “He’s here every other day anyway.” I get off the stool and stand by it, but my legs feel like noodles, so I just stand here.

My father starts to make his way to the front door, and I hear it open. “You took too long!” Manning shouts as I hear the sound of heels clicking on the tiled floor, coming to the kitchen.

“Holy shit,” my father blurts, stopping mid-step while my mother makes her way to him. “Jaxon, what the heck are you doing here?”

“He came to surprise his old man,” Manning quickly adds in and I see him now. His eyes find mine right away and they literally light up.

“Surprised us all,” Evelyn says. “Showed up this morning at the ass crack of dawn, scared the ever-loving shit out of me. I thought it was the police.”

“Why would the police come to our house?” Manning looks over at her.

“That’s when they come to tell you someone died.” Evelyn rolls her eyes and he just shakes his head. “Or that they are raiding your house.”

“She really needs to stop watching those detective shows.” They squabble and Jaxon quickly goes to my mother first and kisses her cheek before going to my dad.

“Hope it’s okay I crashed,” he says and my father slaps his arm.

“That’s almost as dumb as this one asking me to have lunch with her.” He points to me with his thumb.

“Hey,” Jaxon greets, walking around them and coming to me. He puts his hand on my hip before he leans in. My eyes go big and he kisses my cheek. “Good to see you.”

“Okay, what are we eating?” Manning asks, taking away my parents as they rush around the kitchen.

“You look nice,” he compliments, his hand still at my hip, and I just glare at him. “That’s a nice dress.”

“Don’t ‘nice dress’ me, Jaxon,” I hiss at him. “Do you know why I’m wearing this?” I look down to the black dress that is loose, the arms pushed up to my elbows.

“Because it’s nice?” he says, his hand dropping from my hip and going into his pocket.

“No, it’s because my jeans don’t fit me anymore and it’s not fair.” I look around, seeing my mother and Evelyn taking the plates out of the cabinet while our fathers take the trays out of the oven.

“Baby,” he soothes softly and I shake my head.

“Shut up,” I hiss softly at him, “it’s not fair that you stay all hot and I don’t.”

“You’re hotter now than you were before.”

“You really aren’t helping.” I shake my head.

“Do you think you could go to the bathroom, and I could maybe join you?” he asks me and I should say no, but I haven’t seen him in a couple of days.

“I’ll be right back. I’m going to grab a sweater in my room,” I mention and walk out of the room and head to the bathroom down the hall.

I stand here, waiting and two seconds later he’s walking toward me.

He’s wearing a pair of black jeans that look like he’s worn them forever and a black T-shirt.

The tattoos on his arms make my mouth water.

“Hi,” he says softly, pushing the hair away from my neck and leaning down to kiss me. “I hated not being able to kiss you,” he mumbles and I open the bathroom door and slide in with him right behind me, his hands on my hips.

The door barely closes behind him and I’m turned around and pushed toward the door.

His hands are in my hair and his mouth crashes down on mine.

His tongue slides into my mouth and I melt into him.

Four days has been way too long, my hand goes to the back of his hair, my nails gripping his head.

“We need to get back out there,” I tell him when he lets my lips go and his kisses trail to my neck.

“I leave tonight,” he tells me. “After this, we’re leaving here because I need to get inside of you.”

“I’m not going to go to your parents’ house and have sex with you.” I put my hands on his chest.

“Okay, we can get a room.”

“Go away,” I urge. “Let’s get this over with and then we’ll see.”

“That means you missed me as much as I missed you.” He smirks and bends to kiss me softly. “Also, why didn’t you make plans to have lunch in a public place?”

“I don’t know how he’s going to react, Jaxon,” I whisper-hiss. “This is the safest bet.”

“He’s going to be fine with it. He likes me.”

“You’ve never gotten his daughter pregnant before”—I raise my eyebrows—“so the jury is still out.”

“Okay, let’s get this over with so I can hold your hand and touch you when I want to,” he suggests, moving me away from the door and kissing me one more time before walking out.

I wait a minute before I join him in the kitchen and notice they are in the living room. “Okay,” my father states, standing next to the chair he usually sits in, with his hand on top of it, “what is going on?”

“We know,” my mother says and I feel the back of my neck start to burn as if I’m being branded by a poker. “We figured it out when Jaxon got here.”

“What did you guys figure out?” I walk into the room, standing under the arched entryway, right next to Jaxon.

“I don’t think you did,” I mumble and look up at Jaxon. “Jaxon and I?—”

My mother squeals, “Are dating!” She claps her hands as if she just solved the puzzle.

“Sort of, yeah,” I say, thinking that is one way to ease into this.

“Sort of, yeah?” my father and Jaxon say at the same time. I look over at Manning, who has his hands in his pockets and looks down at the floor, trying not to laugh.

“Well, okay,” I concede. “Yes, we’re dating.”

“Oh my,” Evelyn says, sitting down on the chair beside my mother, “for real?”

“For real,” Jaxon confirms, finally putting his arm around my shoulders.

“Well, that and…” I look up at him and inhale deeply. “We’re…” I look at my father who has no expression on his face. None. Not a smile. Not a frown. Nothing. I can’t read his face and it’s killing me. “Having a baby.” I wait a beat. “Together.”

“I’m sorry?” My father turns his head to the side as my mother and Evelyn both gasp. “I’m not sure I heard you.” He blinks his eyes tight and then opens them again. “Did you say you’re having a baby, or you want to have a baby?”

I put my hand to my stomach. “We’re having a baby.” I stare at him. “Like it’s in me right now.”

“What the fuck?” my father roars and Manning just looks over at him, his hands out of his pockets, ready to step in if something happens. “What the actual fuck?”

“Ralph.” My mother moves to him and puts her hand on his forearm.

“I know this is a shock,” Jaxon starts and my father just glares at him. I turn to him and put my hand on his chest, telling him to let me talk.

“This is a shock to everyone,” I say calmly. “It was a shock to us as well. But it’s done, it’s here and we’re going to?—”

“You’re going to what, Ariella,” my father barks, “have his baby? You don’t even know him.”

“Ralph,” Manning says, his voice tight, “let’s give them a chance to talk.” My father looks over at him and the stare is one I’ve never seen before. I’m about to step forward when my mother gasps.

“Oh my God, you’re the one.” She puts her hand to her mouth and then looks over at Evelyn who opens her mouth also. “You’re the puck bunny his girlfriend caught you with.”

“Don’t call her that,” Jaxon snaps, his tone tight and my mother’s eyes go big.

Evelyn puts her hands on her head. “This is unbelievable.”

“And she’s my ex-girlfriend,” Jaxon snaps, “long before Ariella and I even started anything.”

“You got her pregnant when you were with someone else?” my father sneers at him. In that moment my heart breaks as he looks at me, disappointment all over his face. “Incredible.”