Page 16 of Our Unexpected Beginning (Club Surrender #4)
Julia
“ S o, I was talking with Ella this morning and she’s on board for the next event. We’ll have to get Colton to help with food delivery like he did for the Sampson wedding.” Lexi ticked off items on Mia’s wedding while they’d gathered at Surrender after Julia’s birthing class.
Julia settled in their usual booth in the upper pit, next to Melody and pulled out her phone.
Graham:
Just another day of hauling yards and wishing you were in my bed.
Julia:
Few more weeks, that’s the goal.
She sighed and reread the text she sent. Faux positivity to drown out the anxiety buried deep down.
The further into her pregnancy she became the more questions and anxieties took over.
Could she do this? Was she ready with all the tools she needed? Would this relationship with Graham last with throwing a baby into the mix? Was he around because he had to be?
Would these questions ever leave her mind?
Julia:
Just wrapped class with Mia and Mel.
“Helloooooo, earth to Julia.”
The calling of her name pulled her attention and she looked up at Melody, Mia and Lexi looking at her with confusion and concern.
“Where’d ya go?”
“What? Sorry, I was texting Graham.”
“Don’t worry, I already sent him all the pictures and the link Shannon gave us for the online material.”
“And I sent him voice notes.” Melody chirped happily.
Julia felt the tears well and she looked at her friends– family –and couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with love and gratitude. “Thanks.”
“You’ve become a Super Surrogate.” Lexi teased Mia.
“Helping where I can. I remember what it’s like when Daddy leaves.” Mia turned to Lexi. “Someone didn’t allow me to do it alone when Nolan was out of town for any reason.”
“Between you and Melly I would be lost.” Julia elbowed her best friend.
“Well, this is our baby. Graham’s just going to have to deal with it.” Melody teased, getting up and heading to the bar.
“Have you decided if you’re going to find out the sex?”
“Someone’s a little shy, the opportunity hasn’t come up.” As if on cue, the baby moved and she felt flutters in the upper part of her stomach.
“Well, Alexis is a beautiful name for a girl.” Lexi playfully tossed her hair over her shoulder.
“Alex is one of the names on our little list if we have a boy.”
“I would have thought Michael would be on your list.” Melody returned with a tray of hot chocolate and passed them out to the table.
“Oh, I like that name. Is it?”
“Well,” Julia paused, taking a mug from Melody. “It was my brother’s middle name. I know it’s traditional for Jew’s to name after someone who’s passed.”
“That’s right, I forgot about that.”
“My mother used to yell our middle names when we were in trouble. I’d like to honor my brother in some way. I don’t know how I’ll feel about it, you know?”
Lexi nodded in understanding. “You can’t let things from your past define where you’re going. ”
“Excuse me?!” Mia exclaimed. “Oh, I’m sorry, wait.
Hold up.” she giggled, extending her hands out for everyone to stop.
“Hold up. You!” She pointed at Lexi. “You Miss ‘ I let Noah swing by his balls for eight months while I pulled my head out of my ass’ is giving wisdom on not holding onto the past!?”
Lexi pressed her lips together, narrowing her eyes at her best friend. “Mia Darline Lockhart.”
“In a few months, I will be. But am I wrong?”
“No.” Lexi gave her a sour look that melted into laughter. “You’re not my best friend for nothing.”
The girls all broke into laughter and Julia returned to her messages.
Julia:
The coconut has been swimming laps and rearranging my ribs all day.
Julia noticed three missed calls from an unknown number and wondered if it was a new client looking for seamstress services. She shot a quick professional message and continued to clear out the rest of her notifications when a new one popped on her screen.
Wes:
Hey Julia, can you come to the office please ?
Wes:
Without Melody.
She gave her phone a questioning look.
Julia:
* eyeballs* Uh oh. Am I in trouble?
Wes:
Not more than usual. * laughing faces*
Wes:
No, I just gotta run somethin’ by you.
Julia:
* sarcastic salute * yes Captain.
Julia:
I’ll be up in a sec.
“Jumping bean is calling my bladder. Be back,” she whispered to Mel not wanting to interrupt their conversation and she slipped away toward the bathroom’s of the club, knowing she could slip through the other side of the locker room to head down to Wes’ office without arousing any suspicion.
Julia knocked twice and walked into his workshop. She breathed in deep, taking in the scent of fresh wood and leather that filled the space. “Hey old man, what’s up?” She spotted Wes sitting at his work table.
“Hey, I didn’t mean to break up the crew.”
“Eah, it’s okay. I’m kind of peopled out after birthing class. A class of twelve is easily thirty people at any given time.”
“I get that. Mel comes home and gushes about all the things she’s learned.”
Julia nodded. “I swear, that girl should have been a midwife not a school teacher.”
Wes chuckled and nodded in agreement. He got up from his bench, pulled off his work apron and walked over to his desk. “So, I wanted–” His words stalled and Wes scrubbed the back of his neck, huffing a breath.
Julia had never seen him nervous like this. “Your nerves mixed with baby kicks are going to make me hurl, Wes. Spill.”
“Fuck.” Wes ran his hand over his face and sighed.
Julia shifted from foot to foot infected with his nerves, watching as he walked around the desk, roughly pulled the drawer open and handed her a small box.
She opened it to find a beautiful rose gold band set with a heart shaped diamond. “Shut up.” she gasped.
Her heart raced and she sat against the edge of the desk and Wes came around and joined her. She knew exactly what he was hinting at.
They sat in silence, the nerves wafting off of Wes as if he handed her a grenade .
Julia looped her arm around his elbow and looked up at Wes. “Putting the urge to tease you aside,” she started. “It’s beautiful, she will love it and I don’t know any two more deserving people.”
Placing his hand gently over hers, Wes sighed and relaxed. “I’ve been holding it for weeks. I wanted to wait for the right time.”
“There’s never a right time. It’s just now and whatever you make of it.”
“Do you think she’ll like it?”
“I’ll have the fridge and blanket fort ready for the sleepover gossip-fest.”
Wes chuckled and kissed her forehead. “Thank you for the approval and giving her space.”
“You give her love. It’s more than a best friend could ever hope for.” She pulled away and wiped the water from her eyes. Damn hormones.
Julia shook her head and handed him back the box for safekeeping. Only when he took the box did she let the joy and excitement of what would come take over.
“Okay, so tell me. When, where, how?! How long do you expect me to keep this quiet?!” She gushed, wrapping her arms around her shoulders and grinning. “A bestie is only so strong.”
“I’m hoping in the next few weeks.” Wes chuckled. “Graham helped me pick it out. So that leaves you someone to gush with.”
“Are you kidding me? That meathead knew all this time?! ”
“Be easy on him.”
“Fiiiiine.” Julia rolled her eyes and laughed.
Wes cleared his throat. “Hey, so um. I know it’s none of my business.”
“But you want to know how we are just like I’d want to know about you and Melly?”
“Yeah, something like that.”
“We’re good, I think. I mean all this wasn’t planned and things are progressing.” They had gone through three-quarters of their question sheet. Julia was already looking for the next one.
“But?”
“He’s so confident that everything will be roses…I’m not wired that way.”
“Graham knows you’re not.”
“I know he does.”
“Would it make you feel better if he was questioning things?”
Julia sighed. “That would feel like the most normal thing in the world to me.” She looked at her hands, anxiously cracking her knuckles out of nervous habit. “I’ve had to anticipate moves like a boxing match my whole life.”
“I heard about what happened…”
“Yeah. I hate to admit a part of me thought he’d run for the hills by now.” Julia smiled up at Wes. “I’m glad I was wrong about that.”
“He’s happy.” Wes’ words were reassuring .
“So…” It was Julia’s turn to be nervous. “I have to ask, is it a man thing? Like I’m pregnant, and he’s afraid he’s going to manhandle the baby into a pirate or something?!”
Wes’ eyes widened, and he began to laugh. Julia crossed her arms in annoyance even though her lips quirked into a smile. “It’s not funny.”
“I’m sorry, kiddo. Oh boy.”
“Ever since I started showing things have fizzled.”
“Fizzled?” It was his turn to furrow his brows. “Not to give bro secrets or anything but I thought you two were fucking like bunnies at every chance?”
“Maybe that was the wrong word.” Julia paused and contemplated her choice of words.
She was only used to talking to Mel about boy stuff.
She was her best friend, and they supported each other from hoe to homie.
This was different. Wes was someone invested in both parties.
There was the bro code of solidarity factor as well.
“The sex is great, but the daddy-to-be took out my Dominant.” Julia shrugged and shuffled her feet. “We haven’t played here since before.”
“So he’s been steering clear of toys, props, and restraints?”
“Yeah. There’s been a little restraint. Graham’s been easy.”
“I understand. There are a lot of things you have to consider when you’re pregnant. You’re over thirty, I’m sure he’s being overly cautious. ”
“Please tell me there’s a book, bible, how-to, or something in this club that will get through to this man that the sex is great, but I’d really like to get fucked now.”
“There is, but you should talk to him.”
Julia wrinkled her nose. “Apparently, pregnancy took my bratting powers away. There’s only so much I can nudge through the distance.”