Page 101 of See You Soon

"I didn't think this would ever happen. I purposely avoid situations like this for a reason. We're always gone. At any moment, any of us can lose our lives. I don’t want her to break into pieces when I leave after what she’s been through. She lost her brother and yet she still somehow wants to be with me knowing how hard this life is. It's hard on the family. Noel gives Rooker shit all the time. She's always begging him to get out of the Navy. The toll it takes on kids isn't something they need." I pull into the parking lot, and I spot Ari's Bronco.

"I get it. I do. But Ari seems like a great girl that knows what she wants. You're a good man, Danny and you'll be an even better father. Who cares about the rest? Ari and you will make great parents." I park into the lot and grab Ari's keys into my hand.

I'm about to exit the driver's side when Kane's voice interrupts.

A quirk a brow.

"Look man all I'm going to say is... I better be the Godfather to that little girl or boy!" He grins.

I smirk, shaking my head.

"It's a boy, I don’t know the gender yet but I know for a fact it's a boy. My swimmers are all men."

"Hah. We'll see. Anyway, are we still headed for the bar? Lopez wants to go drinking again tonight at your favorite place."

I'm hesitant to answer. A small part of me knows I should go home and be there when Ari returns home from work but a bigger part of me can't say no to a night of liquor and fun with the team. The addiction to drowning out the noise was too high.

"Hell yeah."

Chapter43

ari

Iend up getting out of work later than usual. It's nearing midnight and I'm completely drained emotionally and physically. I kept thinking about how I was going to live my life as a single mother. My negative thoughts just always go to the worst possibility, I can’t help it. I'm dramatic but that's where I just go nowadays with the year I've had.

There were no more sightings of Shane for the rest of my shift, at least to my knowledge. The possibility of Shane attacking me again is valid. His threat still lingers in the back of my head.

One crisis at a time…

The drive from the hospital to my mothers' house is short.

I so badly want to crawl into bed with Danny but instead, I'm driving home, wanting to cry my eyes out. My mind's running wild already.

I expected to have missed calls or text messages from him but to my surprise, nothing. My heart ached knowing I had pushed him away with the announcement of my pregnancy. I dropped my phone out of my hands letting it fall back into my backpack.

I hadn't expected this either. This was a milestone in my life I thought would come at least five years from now. I was just as surprised as he was, but I resented the way he reacted. I'm still in my car, parked outside of my mom’s house not wanting to go in just yet listening to music hoping it would take some stress off.

Suddenly my phone buzzes with a text message.

DANNY:

Where are you, Cherry?

Did he really expect I would drive to his house after the way he reacted?

What do you mean? I'm out of work, just got to my mom’s. What do you expect?

I stare at my phone waiting for a reply and sure enough he doesn't take long. I don’t understand why he thinks I’d be at his house right now. After the way he reacted to finding out I was pregnant… he left me disappointed.

Danny:

You better be naked in my bed by the time I arrive at my house.

I swallow. My cheeks flushed.

Where are you?

Where could he be at this time of night?