Page 22 of This Memory (Moose Village #3)

Gavin

The birds singing outside of Brystol’s bedroom window made me roll over and look at the time. Why were they so damn loud? It was winter, for crying out loud.

The bedside clock read five minutes until seven. I turned to see Brystol sleeping peacefully. I watched her for a few minutes until I couldn’t take it any longer—I had to kiss her.

Leaning in, I kissed the tip of her nose. She barely moved, so I did it again. Lifting her hand, she swatted and just missed hitting my face.

Clearly this was going to take something more.

She was lying on her back, so I carefully slipped under the covers and made my way between her legs. When I pushed them apart, she stirred, and before she could fully wake up, I spread her open and licked her like she was my favorite flavor of ice cream.

Brystol gasped as I covered her with my mouth.

“Holy shit!” she cried, her hands pushing into my hair and holding me close.

I worked her with my mouth until she was squirming. When she finally stopped crying out my name, I pulled away from her, pulled the sheet back, and smiled .

“My God,” she gasped. “That is my new favorite way to wake up.”

With a chuckle, I moved up her body and kissed her. She laughed and pulled me close to bridge the gap between us.

The kiss was soft and sweet, and Brystol moaned when our tongues touched. She moved her hand down and grabbed my hard length…and before anything more could happen, the doorbell rang.

We broke the kiss as Brystol asked, “Who in the world could that be? What time is it?”

“Seven.”

“Maybe they’ll go away.”

We waited in silence for a few minutes before the doorbell rang again, followed by loud knocking.

“I think someone wants to talk to you.”

She glanced over to the bedside table, then cursed. “I must have left my phone in my purse.”

I smiled. “We did kind of drop everything to get to your bedroom.”

Brystol giggled, and I felt my chest swell. I loved making her laugh…and intended to do it for the rest of our lives.

Someone pounded on the door again.

“It’s probably my mother, worried because she couldn’t get a hold of me,” she said, as she slipped out of bed and rushed over to her dresser. She pulled on sweats, a T-shirt, and a sweatshirt. “If you hear my mother, stay here.”

I watched with a smile on my face as she hurried out of her bedroom. Then I quickly gathered up my own clothes and headed to the bathroom.

I stopped when I heard Evelyn’s raised voice .

“Shit,” I said, as I quickly got dressed.

“I was worried, Brystol! I tried calling you last night, this morning, and nothing.”

“I was out to dinner on a date, and my phone was in my purse, Evelyn.”

“Great.” I heard Denny say, as I neared the living room. “Now that you know she’s okay, we can leave her alone.”

No one saw me enter the room, so I leaned against the wall and stayed silent.

“Don’t you have to be at the toy store?” Evelyn asked.

Brystol stared at her. “It’s seven in the morning, and we don’t even open until ten. Are you keeping tabs on me, Eve?”

“No, of course not, but it looks like you just woke up.”

Laughing, Brystol said, “Because I did .”

Denny looked over and saw me. He got a huge smile on his face—and then, as if he remembered something, a look of panic suddenly appeared.

“Evelyn, Brystol is fine, let’s head out.”

As Denny tried to block Evelyn’s view of me, I realized he didn’t want her to see me at Brystol’s house for some reason, so I turned and tried to leave the room…when I heard my name.

“Gavin? What are you doing here?”

Closing my eyes, I silently cursed.

Slowly, I turned and smiled. “Hey, Denny, Evelyn.”

Evelyn looked from me to Brystol, back to me, and finally to Brystol again. “Oh my God.”

“Evelyn,” Denny warned.

“Are you sleeping with him?” Evelyn asked her best friend .

Brystol’s mouth dropped open before she quickly snapped it shut. Then she folded her arms over her chest. “Why does it sound like you’re accusing me of something?”

Denny let out what sounded like a tired sigh.

“You’re pregnant with our baby!” Evelyn nearly shouted.

I quickly crossed over to Brystol. “Evelyn, I think you need to check yourself.”

“Gavin’s right, sweetheart, you’re tired and emotional.”

Evelyn pushed Denny’s hand away when he tried to grab hers. “You’re damn right I am, because I’ve been worried about her, and here she’s been having sex all night long with a guy she supposedly hates!”

“What?” Brystol and I said at the same time.

“You already know we moved on from that, Eve, I told you. You also know how I’ve always felt about Gavin.”

She closed her eyes briefly before saying, “And I’m happy you’re getting along so well with your high-school crush. But sleeping with him while you’re pregnant with my baby is a hard no.”

“Shit,” Denny said, as he sat down on the sofa and buried his head in his hands. He looked exhausted as well.

I looked at Brystol, who appeared to be counting to herself. She drew in a long breath and let it go.

“Nowhere in the contract I signed does it say I cannot be in a relationship with someone. Nothing I am doing with Gavin is causing, or will cause, any harm to your child. You cannot expect me to go through nine months completely alone and on my own.”

Evelyn looked unapologetic. “Of course I don’t. But you have us. ”

When she pointed at herself and Denny, Brystol let out a bark of laughter. “You’re kidding, right? Please tell me you’re kidding, Evelyn. I’m…” Brystol’s words faded when it became clear Evelyn was dead serious.

“I just think it’s wrong. You’re pregnant with my baby, and you’re sleeping with someone.”

“So if I had been married, you wouldn’t have asked me?”

Evelyn frowned, not responding.

Denny stood. “I think it just caught Evelyn off guard. But we are very happy for you and Gavin. You mentioned a date last night, so I’m assuming you guys are dating?”

Brystol reached for my hand, and I gently squeezed it. “We are, and I’m not going to apologize for having a personal life. I agreed to carry a baby for you, but I didn’t agree to not living my own life.”

Evelyn seemed to snap out of the crazy she was currently in…somewhat. She nodded, looking away. “You’re right, and…I’m sorry. Denny’s right too. I’m just…I’m tired and not myself.”

Brystol didn’t say anything.

When the silence grew too long for Evelyn to take, she added, “I really am happy for you guys, and I’m glad to see you both finally woke up and…well…” She paused a moment, thinking. “I’m just happy for you both.”

“Thank you,” I said, squeezing Brystol’s hand again.

She nodded and said, “Thanks. Now, if that’s it, I need to change and go for a run. It’s my last chance to get one in before the turkey trot tomorrow.”

“What do you mean, run the turkey trot?” Evelyn asked.

Frowning, Brystol replied, “The Turkey Trot run. I participate yearly.”

I held my breath as Evelyn’s face turned red.

“Oh shit,” I whispered, and I swore I heard Denny say the same thing.

“You can’t run the turkey trot, Brystol!” Evelyn barked, her hands going to her waist.

Brystol slowly shook her head. “I’m sorry, what ?”

“No, I am putting my foot down! You cannot run the marathon.”

I watched as Brystol’s facial expression changed from shock to anger to something I couldn’t pinpoint. She looked down at the floor for a long moment, then back at Evelyn.

“I knew this was going to be tough, being a surrogate. The counselor I had to see before the procedure told me that you might be clingy, or overly worried, or upset because you weren’t able to experience the things I would while carrying the baby.

I told myself all of those things would be okay and work themselves out.

That you’d have your moments…but you’re my best friend, and there wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you, that I wouldn’t endure for you.

After all, I was carrying your baby before even having a child of my own .

But of all the feelings I thought I’d experience, I never thought I’d feel the way I do now. ”

Evelyn dropped her hands to her sides. “What do you feel now?”

“Regret. I honestly regret doing this for you.”

Evelyn gasped.

I touched Brystol’s arm. “Bry…don’t say something you’re going to wish you hadn’t.”

Brystol took a deep breath and blew it out loudly.

“I know I shouldn’t say it, but that’s how I feel.

You’ve been pushing the limits with me over and over the last month, and I get it; you’re worried about your child.

But I cannot walk around in a bubble, living a nonexistent life so you can feel at ease.

I spoke to Dr. Lark about my running. I’ve been running nearly every day since the implantation was done, Evelyn. I’ve been running since high school.

“You don’t get to tell me what I can and cannot do with my life unless it directly impacts your child.

I’m not drinking, doing drugs, or starting up new hobbies just for the hell of it.

I’m living my life. And I will keep living my life whether you agree with what I choose to do or not.

The last thing I want is for this process to ruin our friendship.

So, I will say this for the last time—you need to stay out of my personal business.

I will protect this child with everything I have, but I won’t allow you to control my life in the process.

“If you don’t mind, you can show yourselves out.”

Turning on her heels, Brystol walked away, heading upstairs, and leaving Evelyn staring after her.

She turned to Denny. “Did she really say she regrets the surrogacy?”

He glanced at me before he slowly nodded. “Yes. That’s what she said.”

Evelyn put a hand over her mouth and slowly sat on the sofa. “I…I didn’t mean to make her mad.”

“All due respect, Evelyn, what did you think would happen? You’ve been pushing her for the last month to follow your rules for how you think this pregnancy should go. You’re her best friend; you know how she is. Did you really think she’d just roll over and let you run her life?”