Chapter 30: Fun with Friends
POV: Gabby / Zac
Word Count: 4389
July 5, 2009
I was fully aware of when he got up, left, and returned. Mostly because I’d laid there awake until he was back beside me. I’d even heard him tell Carrick he couldn’t let him inside our room because I was naked, not that it was a lie. Yet I woke back up about eight and for once left him asleep! Knowing someone was here I just grabbed something and slipped it on, areas were covered that was all that mattered, good thing too!
“Carebear! Are you making me coffee?”
Clearly by the way he dropped the cup, plastic thankfully, and then cursed I’d scared him.
“I liked it better when you couldn’t creep up on me!”
“Sorry, you didn’t get burned did you?”
“No, this was just water for this crazy contraption you call a coffee pot.”
“Single cup dude, we rarely drink it.”
I shimmied him out of the way and fixed him a cup of coffee, without drowning him. I then fixed myself a cup of juice.
“Grizzley dude still asleep?”
“Yep, what do you expect? He had to get up at the ungodly hour of three.”
“I want to see your room.”
“He should be up soon.”
He leaned against the counter and he was just kind of staring at me, kind of crept me out a bit.
“Um, is there something wrong? You’ve been appraising me for like ten minutes.”
“I’m trying to decide if I want to risk life and limb.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Well, unless you plan to call me some whore pretty sure you’ll be safe.”
He moved down to the other end of the counter. “Never would call you that. But, it’s been a while since I saw you and well…you’ve gained weight and I swear I don’t recall your breast being that big.”
I glanced over the top of the rim, understood his reasons now and I contemplated telling him but I could see Zac and he couldn’t. He came up behind him and draped an arm over his shoulder, the look on Carrick’s face was pretty priceless, clearly terrified.
“She’s pregnant Carrick, it’s why I called for a boys day. So I can tell friends and we told family yesterday.”
He looked at me and then back to Zac. “Are you having twins because damn at a couple weeks she sure is showing.”
“She’s eighteen weeks, not a few.”
“Eighteen?!”
“Yeah.”
Again, he explained why we waited so long and I fixed us all breakfast, Abby was picking me up at 11 and I was told not to be stuffed, apparently we were having steak for lunch. I would get several days with Carrick to hang out, but for the moment it was just casual stuff. Apparently my clothes were super tight and it didn’t hit me until I was taking Carrick up-stairs to see our room that I didn’t have a bathing suit that would fit me on top.
“Damn, did you need two rooms in one?”
“Basically.” I said.
He stepped into the bathroom and smirked. “Glass shower stall, which ones usually watches from the tub?”
“That would be me since he can’t get in the tub at the moment.”
He smiled. “Best way to do it really.”
He headed down so I could change and I just stared at the closet, if I asked Abby to stop somewhere she’d question me on why.
“Baby?” Zac asked.
He was picking out clothes too apparently.
“My top is too small. It won’t cover barely anything.”
“You’ll be around women.”
I put my hands on my hips and stared at me a moment. “I’ll be around Sierra and Heather, to which I don’t need to be turning them on. Just you.”
“Not for two more weeks. Um, you don’t have anything that would work?”
“No. The new ones would probably bleach out by the chlorine. The bottom is fine for a bit longer.”
“Tell them before you get in and just wear a t-shirt or a sports bra.”
I did have like one sports bra that would fit and with assistance I got it on. I wore a pair of the maternity shorts over my bottom and then a long shirt of his, flip flops and I was ready. Glad too because Abby was walking in when I came downstairs.
“Damn Gabs, glad we didn’t plan to take you to some upscale fancy place.”
“This is as upscale and fancy as I’m getting.”
“I can’t believe I’ll be stuck here with a bunch of men…can I come with you?” Carrick asked.
“Haha, no. You are stuck here with us men.” Zac said.
“Speaking of, Andrew is on his way.”
“Sweet, I’ll prepare the grill.”
“Carrick, make his ass sit down, if he hurts himself now I’m going to kill him.”
He did a salute and aye eye captain and I just giggled and we left. She drove straight to the house where everyone else was already. Including Stella and Nicole, even if they already knew. Sierra appraised my choice of clothes.
“Did you run out of clothes or is Zac being rude and not letting you dress yourself?”
“I chose this! There is nothing wrong with this.”
“The shorts are too long, the shirts too big, are you even wearing a bathing suit?”
“I have it on.”
It was partially the truth, but Stella pulled her attention away, Heather had apparently hired a chef for this. Four star lunch of steaks that were literally melt in your mouth, baked potatoes, salad with all the fixings, dessert that was sure to send me straight to a sugar coma. But when the guy sat the glass of wine down I slide it away and opted for the water.
“Come on! You cannot be under the doctor’s orders again.” Sierra said.
“Trying to not get drunk before noon!” I said.
Heather laughed and so did Nicole and Stella. But Abby and Sierra didn’t seem to believe me. I knew a sip or two wouldn’t kill me, but I didn’t want to risk anything.
“Well, if she won’t I will.” Heather said.
She took my glass and the guy brought me a sweet tea. After lunch we sat here, not that I could move!
“Dawn is going to come by and show you what she has for your website.” Heather said.
“Perfect, I’ve been dying to see what she came up with.”
“Website?” Stella asked.
“I’m going to have a website where I can sell painting and drawings, something without the middle person. But, I’ll still do pieces for her as well. But this way I have a place and a established site so people can view the gallery and such.”
“I want to be the first commission.” Heather said.
“No nude Zac’s.” I said.
“Damnit!” She said.
The rest of us laughed. “Serious here! I want a Sierra on one side, Zac the other. It’s my goal.”
“Ain’t gonna happen, he won’t let me.”
“Who said he had to know? You don’t need him to pose.”
“Sure and when he does find out it’ll be my ass he chews out, not yours.”
“You may like that…” She said.
That stopped the giggling for a split second before full blown laughter took over.
“I totally walked into that one.”
She wiggled her brow. “Yes, you did. Head first, full steam ahead. Seriously though, you may like that.”
“Oh, I’m sure I would but he’s on no physical activity for two more weeks.”
“I don’t see how the fuck you made it that long.” Sierra said.
“Who said I did?”
“If he can’t do anything surely you aren’t being mean as fuck to him?” Nicole asked.
“He can’t physically have sex or receive. Not a damn thing wrong with his giving skills.”
Her face went red. “Shit, I didn’t expect that answer at all!”
“Poor guy.” Abby said.
“He’s not complaining, yet.”
“Seriousness, he is okay right?” Heather asked.
“Yeah, bullet didn’t get anything vital. Mostly muscle and tissue, it’s why I won’t let him screw up. He can’t play until he’s cleared and he won’t ever be cleared if I give in. I can’t have Taylor and Isaac being mad at me too.”
“Good lord, what the hell happened in the studio?” Stella asked.
“Stress and pressure got to them, I come back from lunch to near explosion level screaming. I was afraid they’d start swinging and then you’d hate me for the ass stomping I’d give the other two.”
“We’d probably thank you actually, they tend to get bad sometimes.”
“No kidding.”
“Thet’re not that bad.” Heather said.
“You haven’t seen them arguing like there’s no tomorrow, it gets violent after a while.”
“They seem to get along so well.”
“For the most part they do, but sometimes it just takes a bad mood or Zac telling Taylor how to drum.”
“Boy keeps dressing you I’m going to come over and rearrange his closet.”
“It’s not him Sierra, I’m choosing these myself.”
“Anyone up for a swim?” Heather asked.
“Choosing them? What the fuck is wrong with your sense of style? There is a picture of you in this hideous lime green thing. Sarah posted one of you and Zac in this pink thing.”
“I liked the pink dress, it was pretty.” Stella said.
“I’m not saying it wasn’t, but she doesn’t wear stuff like that.”
“I haven’t even seen you wear the overalls, they are so cute.” Abby pouted.
“They don’t fit, nothing in my closet fits.”
Stella and Nicole were the only ones that didn’t look at me as if I’d lost my mind. Only because they knew why.
“What do you mean?”
“They don’t fit right now because I’m pregnant. I can’t drink because I’m pregnant.”
The three that didn’t know gave me stunned looks.
“Pregnant?” Sierra asked.
“Yes.”
“You couldn’t drink the last time we were here in May, were you pregnant then?” She asked.
“Yeah. We found out in April after Abigail’s graduations.”
“When Zac and I made you see a doctor.”
“Yeah, April 20 th. I couldn’t be like him and rush and tell people, I didn’t believe I’d make it to twelve weeks.”
“Where are you now?” Heather asked.
“Eighteen. When I heard the heartbeat in April I just shut it down, I didn’t want to be attached when I lose it. But, I didn’t. The doctor is pretty sure that I won’t. We told family yesterday, which is why there not stunned. But, Zac’s parents, brothers, and Shawn knew in May before he was shot. He wouldn’t let me do anything and they thought he was being an asshole, so we told them. I thought I’d have someone on my side, no they vanished me to the seats.”
“Which is where you should have been.” Heather said.
“Do you know what you’re having yet?” Sierra asked.
“No. But, Zac is legit sure it’s a boy. He’s dead set on that.”
“Anyone doing the baby shower yet?” Abby asked.
I giggled. “No, because I knew you’d want to do it. But, anyone can help.”
“Damn straight I’m doing it. I’m pulling rank here, I’ve known you longer.”
Sierra snorted. “I got a lot closer than you did honey.”
“I was eight! I wasn’t thinking about getting in her pants. I just wanted someone to play barbies with.”
I laughed. “All I wanted to do was draw, you poor thing.”
“I don’t mind the help though but if we do it next month maybe a gender reveal party instead of traditional baby shower? Considering this is like all the women you really know.”
“I know a few more and hey I could open invite the fans!”
“NO!” They all said. Perfect harmony.
“Speaking of them…are you tell them?” Stella asked.
“He’s posting tomorrow so might want to silence notification for a bit.”
“Okay, damnit I’m hot and the water is cold.” Heather said.
She got up and within seconds was in her suit and moments later jumping in, Stella and Nicole ran but the other two stared at me.
“What?”
“Does this explain the two cup sizes you gained?” Sierra asked.
“Yep.”
“The frumpy clothes because you’re showing already?” Abby asked.
“Not much.”
“Movement?” She asked.
“I’ve felt some movement but not like a lot and it’s hard to figure out if it’s him or gas. But there is a pool.”
“I’m not sure I can handle a bathing suit.” Sierra said.
I smiled and got up. “It’s why I wore a sports bra and well, I don’t have a top that fits.”
I took his shirt off and it was Abby that had to just feel. “I’m not a petting zoo.”
“Bitch please, you’ll be my personal little pet until he or she is here.”
“And you say you never wanted in her pants, bullshit.” Sierra said.
She jumped in and Abby was a little stunned and I giggled. I shimmied the shorts off and even Heather agreed I was showing already. I didn’t jump in though, I used the steps like a civil person.
-Zac-
It was a weird feeling to just have the guys here and for once Andrew didn’t ask me where she was and when Jack mentioned it he had smiled and said he knew where she was, having steak with Abby. I was certain the steaks I bought to fix weren’t going to top theirs, Heather had mentioned hiring a cook. Jack and I got the grill nice and hot and tossed them on. Lucas was talking to Carrick about California. Andrew had tuned it to the baseball game today, so I’d get to catch up some. Jack was far better at the grill than I was, so I let him do that while I fixed some sides.
“Did they win yesterday?”
“Nope. Lost two to five.” He said.
“Can’t win them all.”
“Aren’t you suppose to be sitting?” Carrick asked.
“Someone has to feed you all. Jack has grill duty because well, unless you want raw carbon steak he’s probably better.”
“Burnt and raw, that’s a combination.”
“Not a good taste either.” I added.
He got up and took the knife from me. “Sit.”
I went around and sat, he did let me at least mix the slaw up. We sat down at the table when Jack brought in the steaks and potatoes, perfect temperatures all around. We had beer with ours and I just took one because I was still on some medications, if needed.
“Jack, you need to come to Cali, I could use steaks this good year round.”
He laughed. “Dad taught Andrew and I both, just he liked to be like Zac, drown everything in the grill with lighter fluid.”
“Hey, it gets me out of cooking.”
“No shit.”
“I thought Gabby was suppose to be here?” Lucas asked.
“Nope. She’s hanging with the girls at the pool, remind me again Zac why you had to do this here instead of there with them?!” Andrew said.
“It wasn’t my idea to go there, Heather suggested it and she rolled with it.”
“Is that the big house with the pool?” he asked.
“Yeah, Heather’s family owns it, so they use it whenever. Abby picked her up so there is no telling when they’ll be back.”
“Before dinner, Abby promised me a date tonight.” Andrew said.
Jack and Carrick laughed. “Good luck, bunch of women start talking and it’ll be nine before they realize it’s past dinner time.” Carrick said.
Jack agreed and I even did too. “I shall remind her.”
“Doubt she has the phone in the pool.” I said.
“Ugh, I’m trying to be hopeful.”
“Well, Gabby probably will be back before it gets dark.” I said.
“Yeah, you said there was some insane dude following her or something?” Carrick asked.
“There is someone but I don’t think he’s really following her, just he keeps sending little figurines and shit. She doesn’t even want them back, but there evidence right now anyway.”
“Why doesn’t she want them back? Did she hate them?” Lucas asked.
“Well, she liked them at first but when she realized it wasn’t Max or Simon sending them they became like symbols of negativity. She doesn’t want them back because she doesn’t know who sent them. It could be her ex-father because he’s out now too.”
“He’s out?” Carrick asked.
“He was in jail for molestation, confessed to the shitty things he did to her too. But he did serve his time but if he’s sending that stuff or having it sent then he can answer to me. No way in hell I’m letting him around her now.”
“I wouldn’t either.” Jack said.
“Any news at all on that front?” Andrew asked.
“No. Simon’s prints were on the first one set, the note. But the rest were clean. We think the guy who sent them, killed Simon too, which scared her more than anything.”
“Why?” Lucas asked.
“Dismembered him and sent her pictures along with a typed confession. They’ll send her the confession to verify the authenticity of the story but not until they’ve had time to process it and such.”
“Maybe he just wanted to but he can’t really do the other part.”
“Yeah, there was no body either so it’s like double mystery.”
They stopped asking questions and we finished eating them retired to the living room.
“So…I get the feeling since you called Carrick out from his summer beach babes, that you had some form of news.” Jack said.
“Hey, I don’t mind the break from the heat.”
“Bullshit, it’s just as hot here.” Andrew said.
“Well, actually there was some news.”
They turned to look at me, kind of like being the center of attention!
“Well, I’m sure you’ve all noticed that she kind of altered her closet a bit?”
“You won’t kill us?” Andrew asked.
“No.”
“I’ve noticed that and other things, even Abby has.”
“Things?” Jack asked.
“Please, like you didn’t noticed the extra cleavage.”
“I’m not trying to risk my life with admitting that.”
“It’s okay, really. She’s pregnant, eighteen weeks.”
“Pregnant?” Andrew asked.
“Yeah, no fear she’s telling Abby and the girls today. We told the family yesterday but Taylor and Isaac knew in May. Um, I was being an ass and not letting her do anything. Had to justify myself.”
“Why wait so long?” Lucas asked.
“Well, back when she was painting for the Brooks she kept having headaches and then she passed out at Abby’s graduation. They told us the 20 th of April and that’s the same day we miscarried last year. She was terrified it would happen again. So, we waited until after 12 weeks and she still felt iffy, so we kept waiting. But, really, as Carrick noticed this morning she’s beginning to show.”
“Not my fault she wore tight clothes.”
“Well, we also wanted to tell the family first and my parents knew in May too. It’s just been crazy since then with Simon shooting me and then she’s just been afraid.”
“How is she now?” Andrew asked.
“She’s come to terms that she’s not going to miscarry, but I still worry because Mom carried Elizabeth for a long time, six months before the heartbeat stopped. I just hope that never happens.”
“Well, no offense your mom was a little bit older, history of miscarriages. I don’t think Gabby will have any problems.”
“I hope not.”
“Boy or girl?” Jack asked.
“I’m going with boy. The last sonogram we weren’t looking but I clearly saw a penis.”
“Leave it to you.”
“Hey, boy or girl it doesn’t ultimately matter but I want a son.”
A son… that was the first time I’d said son. I liked the sound of it.
“Do you have the sonogram pictures?” Lucas asked.
“She has them put up. I have no idea where. I think she still sees them as proof and if something happens she doesn’t want that.”
“Need to encourage her to see them, special moments shouldn’t be lost.” Jack said.
“I agree. So, I’m sure Abby will do the baby shower, I apologize in advance.”
“Fuck. Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“I guess I can handle baby talk for a month, but I swear to god Zac if she gives Abby baby fever I’m going to come after you, as soon as she won’t kill me for it.”
I laughed and then cringed. “Two weeks, maybe three.”
“So, if she’s eighteen weeks, when is the due date?”
“December 5 th, but the doctor warned us that he could be early or late. So, end of November, start of December.”
Jack leaned back and pondered. “You little asshole.”
“What?” I asked.
“You got her pregnant at Taylor’s party or around then?”
“Well, it was probably that night actually. Doctor said it could be anytime around there.”
“Asshole.”
“Hey, Taylor hasn’t figured that out yet, let’s not tell him.”
“He will if Stella gets pregnant around then too.”
“I’m not sure what their time frame is. Isaac and Nicole are house hunting and he said they wanted to be married close to a year before they start trying, but if they’re not using anything could be earlier. I don’t know what Tay’s time frame is.”
“Shocked he doesn’t have any now.”
“I agree.”
“Same goes for you.” Lucas said.
“I am 100% sure that the only baby I have is being baked in my wife’s body.”
“That sounded so…awkward.” Jack said.
“Well, I am certain that I don’t have any.”
“What about the one in New York? She swears her son is yours.”
“She’s delusional. I didn’t sleep with anyone in New York. I was with her and then my brothers.”
“You do have delusional fans.” Jack said.
“I know.”
Carrick steered us away from the topic, more to sports which was nice because he and Andrew had a long debate about the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Yankees. I got caught up in the world of baseball, soccer, and even football!
Abby and Gabby came in about six, by then all but Andrew and Carrick had left.
“Did she tell you?” Abby asked.
“Yes I know.” He said.
“So, we’re thinking instead of a normal baby shower with a bunch of girls, doing a gender reveal.”
“Gender reveal?” I asked.
“Yeah. We’re thinking August is a good time and she said the anatomy scan is soon, so they’ll try to determine the sex then. If they can, they’ll just seal the envelope.”
“But, how can we plan?” I asked.
“You’ll have August, September, October and Most of November.”
“Tour occurs in October, we have two months.”
“Still plenty of time, besides she said most of the items she picked for the registry was either sex.”
“Yeah, she wouldn’t let me put the basketball stuff down.”
She rolled her eyes. “It won’t hurt you to wait a little longer.”
“Wait, what do you mean wait? I’ve been waiting for twenty weeks!”
“A gender reveal is a reveal to you two also. No one would know but me.”
“Why you?” Carrick asked.
“I’d have to tell the baker. We’d do like a cake. Inside would be pink or blue. Color determines sex. The doctor would find out, print the picture, and put it in a dark envelope. I’d open it alone and plan from there.”
“Gabby?” I asked.
“I like the idea, I mean we’ve waited this long a few extra weeks won’t matter. Plus, everyone can find out at once. I’ll even say that if someone wants to wait until they know before buying anything that’s fine or that gift cards are appreciated too. Except from Abby, you better find something good.”
She smiled. “I will.”
“I don’t want to wait.” I whined.
“Zac, it won’t be that bad and think, you find out when everyone else does.”
“I think that’s the problem, what if it’s not what he thinks?” Andrew asked.
“It’s a boy. Do your gender reveal but I guarantee you that cake is blue.”
Abby just shook her head. “We shall see.”
They left about 7 headed to their date and we fixed a quick dinner and settle in for a movie. Back to the grind tomorrow but the weekend had gone well. Carrick looked over at us.
“How do you think the fans would react?”
“I’m not sure, probably some mixture of happy, sad, pissed, vindictive.”
“They’ll hate me all over again.” Gabby said.
“I doubt they’ll hate you.”
She shrugged. “Oh hey! Dawn came by and showed me the website, it’s super simple and clean like I wanted. She told me to write the about me section and find what I wanted in the gallery and she’ll come over Friday and we’ll fix it and she’ll publish it.”
“Sounds like you got work to do too.”
“You three do also, I’d like to use some of the drawings I’ve done of the three of you, but I want you and them to pick, singles to. No nudes.”
“I’m sure they won’t care.”
“Still, I wouldn’t want to post anything you haven’t seen or haven’t all seen. Carrick that goes for you too.”
“Me?”
“What? You think you escaped my tablet? Haha, don’t think so.”
“So…what are the plans this week?”
“They’re going to be busy and if you don’t mind, I’d like to stay home a bit. I need to set up the art room before I get to a point where I can’t. I just don’t want to be alone all the time with this crazy asshole around.”
“We can do whatever you want, I came today for him but the rest of the week I’m with you. Until my flight Thursday morning.”
“I won’t worry as much if she’s with you this week then, we might not kill each other.”
“Don’t do that until next week after you’ve been cleared, your appointment is Monday.”
“Deal.”
“Okay, I’m tired as fuck, my nap this morning wasn’t enough. You two be good, but I am calling it a night.”
“We’re about to also. Sleep well Carebear!” Gabby said.
“Sleep well.” I said.
“You also.”
He vanished into the front room and we cut the TV off and headed up-stairs too. I was tired and she was also, which means we actually got settled and asleep pretty quick.