Saved (15 page)

“Fuck, Ari, I don’t want you to just keep
brushing this off. I need you to know that you’re my world. You’re
my number one, baby. I only want to make you happy, Ari, and I feel
like you’re so damn sad. I don’t know what to do to make it better.
I don’t want this to hurt you, Ari.”

Oh shit, here came the tears. If I’m
pregnant…and Rebecca’s baby turns out to be his…what if mine
is.

“Jesus, Ari. Why are you crying? Baby, please
talk to me.”

I was able to get myself under control. As I
wiped the tears from eyes, I decided this was it. I needed to be
stronger.

“It’s okay, Jeff. I understand. Really, I do.
I’ll try to be more patient with everything. You’re going to the
doctor’s appointment, right? So, you will be able to find out if
August is her due date, right?”

“Yeah, I’m going with her in a week and a
half. You still think she’s lying about her due date, Ari? I mean
come on, that would be pretty hard to do.”

I shook my head at
him.
Stupid ass.
I
was so done talking about this.

“Well, I guess you’ll find out soon, won’t
you? Listen I need to run into Mason with Ellie and Heather. We
need to pick something up for Emma.”

“Do you want me to go with y’all?”

“No!”

Jeff let out laugh and pulled me onto his
lap. “I take it you want to spend some time with the girls.

“Yeah, something like that.”

“Ari, are you going to stay here at the ranch
with me this summer? Or are you going back to Austin? I really want
you to move out here with me. I know you still have school, but I
don’t want to be apart from you, especially with me starting up
this new business and all. I need you with me, baby. You know more
about horses than anyone else I know.”

I smiled at the idea of living in the little
ranch house on Jeff’s property. He wanted to tear it down and start
on a new house from scratch. I thought the house that was there was
perfect. It was a two-story white ranch house with a wraparound
porch on the first floor. The views from the porch were amazing.
Jeff had already remodeled the kitchen, and it was perfect.

“I want nothing more than to move out here
with you, Jeff. I already signed up for online classes, and I was
only planning on taking a few classes in Austin next semester. My
mom and dad are somewhat pissed, but at least I’m still going to
UT. I think I’ll only have to stay a few days a week in Austin, so
I can go to class, but other than that, I was planning on just
moving out here.”

Jeff smiled and pulled me in for a kiss. It
quickly turned into a much more passionate kiss, and I had to pull
away.

“Um, I’m not sure how Emma and Garrett would
feel about us making out on their bed.”

“You just made me so happy, Ari! I love you,
baby. Hey, don’t forget Mr. Reynolds is coming to take a look at
the stables this week. I have a few things I need to take care of,
but this guy’s visit is going to be big if hee agrees to breed with
us. Well, shit, it will be huge if it all works out.”

I smiled because I knew how much Jeff wanted
this. I knew that Jeff was already talking to Gunner about going
into a partnership with his ranch. Ellie and I overheard them
discussing it right before Gunner and Ellie left on their
honeymoon.

“Listen, we better get back out there, so we
can eat. I’m sure Ellie is wonders what the hell is wrong with me,
and Emma…well, um…she needs that thing from town,” I said.

Jeff gave me a funny look and pulled me in
for another kiss. I wasn’t sure why I did it, but I kissed him back
like it was our last kiss. I poured so much love into that kiss
that it left me breathless.

“Jesus, Ari….that was some fucking kiss,
baby.” Jeff said with a laugh.

We walked back out into the kitchen, and I
looked at Emma who was giving me a questioning look. I just shook
my head to her, and she looked down.

After we ate, we cleaned up and put away
everything.

Then, Ellie pulled me into the living
room.

“Ari, what the hell is going on? You’re pale
as a ghost. What’s with this we-have-to-run-into-town shit?”

“Can we talk about this when we get into the
car, Ellie? Please just go along with me. It’s a code blue.”

“Alright. Well then, let’s get going.”

I walked back out into the kitchen and
grabbed my purse. Heather was already outside on the porch with
everyone else. After she grabbed her purse, Ellie followed right
behind me.

“Okay, so come on, Heather. We need to run
into town to pick up that thing for Emma,” I said as I gave Heather
a pleading look. She wasn’t catching on, so I mouthed code blue to
her.

“Oh! Oh yeah, um…let me grab my purse.”
Heather jumped up and ran into the house.

I noticed Josh was watching her every move.
After she came back out, Josh stood up.

“Do y’all want me to drive? I don’t mind
taking you in. It’s getting kind of late,” Josh said.

“No!”

All three of us said at the
same time.
Shit.

Jeff started to laugh along with Gunner.

“Dude, they want their girl time. What do you
need to get?” Jeff said. He looked at me first and then back at
Emma.

I snapped my head at Emma, and she glanced at
me with the most relaxed look on her face. “I need some mason jars
for pickling in the morning.”

Garrett looked confused. He was about to say
something, but then Emma gave him a smile that just made him no
even open his mouth.

Fuck, I need to learn how she did that!

Jeff stood up and handed me his truck keys.
“At least take my truck. It’s dark, and the deer will be out.”

I grabbed his keys and kissed him on the
cheek.

“I love you, Jeff.”

He tilted his head and looked at me
funny.

“I love you, too Ari. Be careful, okay?”

***

Once we got in Jeff’s truck, I let out the
breath I had been holding.

“What the hell is going on, Ari? You’re
starting to scare me. I could even tell Emma was covering for you.
Spill it,” Ellie said.

I looked at Ellie, who was sitting next to
me, and then I turned to Heather, who was in the back seat.

I started the truck and
almost had to laugh when “Truck Yeah” began playing.
Damn it, Jeff.

Ellie reached over and turned it off. “Shit,
I thought Gunner deleted that damn song!”

I pulled out and headed down the long
driveway. My hands started to shake, and I felt like I was going to
cry again. I glanced over at Ellie as her mouth fell open.

“Why are we going to town, Ari?”

“Um…well.” I let out a small laugh as I shook
my head. “Emma seems to think that I might be pregnant, and she
wants me to get a test…like tonight.”

Heather and Ellie let out a gasp at the same
time.

“Fuck me!” Heather said in almost a
whisper.

With wide eyes, I stared at Heather through
the rearview mirror. “Wow, Heather, one road trip with Josh, and
you’re dropping the F-bomb.”

Ellie looked confused. “Wait…what road trip?
Oh my god! Are you and Josh.”

“No!” Heather yelled. “It’s a long story and
one I don’t feel like talking about. Okay, so back to you, Ari. You
told me you missed a pill last weekend. How can you know that
fast?”

I took a deep breath and prepared myself for
a really big lecture.

“Well, um I kind of might have missed a pill
or two about a month and a half ago.”

“What?”
Ellie and Heather shouted at the same time.

“Ari, how could you be so stupid?” Ellie
asked.

I glanced at Ellie.
Why is she being so mean?
I felt my eyes burning from trying to hold back the
tears.

“It’s not like I did it on purpose, Ellie!
What the fuck?”

“Stop it, both of you!” Heather cried out.
“Let’s just go to the store, buy a test, and find out once and for
all. We’ll deal with the what-ifs later.”

I looked at Ellie, and we both tried to smile
at each other.

“Ari, sweets, I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine
how hard the last week has been on you with this whole Rebecca
shit,” Ellie said.

I cleared my throat getting ready to pitch my
idea. I might as well get it over with.

“Um, yeah…speaking of that…I’m gonna need to
call another code blue for Monday. I have a doctor’s appointment
with my gynecologist. I need y’all to be there with me.”

“Of course, we’ll be there with you. I don’t
have anything going on. Shit, I’m supposed to still be on my
honeymoon,” Ellie said.

Heather added, “I’m free, too. Count me in.
Wait…is something wrong? I thought you just went in for your yearly
a few months ago.”

My hands started to shake again. I told them
my original reason for going in, and then I explained my plan.

By the time I pulled up to the small grocery
store in town, Ellie and Heather were just sitting there silently
staring at me.

“Oh. My. God. You must be pregnant because
you’ve lost your damn mind, Ari!” Ellie finally said as she jumped
out of the truck.

“Wait. Why do
I
have to wear a low-cut
blouse?” Heather said as she shut the door to the truck.

“Jesus, I’ll explain it all later. Let’s just
get this shit over with.” I sighed.

***

After we got back into the truck, I looked at
the six tests that I had in the bag. I looked at Ellie and then
Heather. We were all just staring at each other.

“So, should I do it now?” I asked.

“Do you want to go back in to the restroom or
wait until we get back to the ranch?” Heather asked.

I let out the breath that I didn’t even
realize I’d been holding in. “Now…we better do it now.”

***

I handed the Heather the last test and
stepped out of the stall. Ellie had lined up all the tests on the
little counter.

“I didn’t look at any of them, so I don’t
know.” Ellie’s voice was shaking.

I stood between Ellie and Heather and grabbed
each of their hands.

“Together?” I asked.

They both nodded their heads. We started to
walk up to the counter, and then I glanced at both of them.

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Y’all have your
damn eyes closed!” I said.

“Oh shit, sorry! I didn’t even realize I had
closed my eyes,” Ellie said with a giggle.

We walked up to the row of tests, and we all
looked down at them. My heart just about stopped when every single
test read the same result.

“Holy hell.” All three of us said at the same
time.

Ellie and Heather both slid their arms around
my waist. I looked over at Ellie, and she smiled.

“Do you want me to say congratulations or
should I start preparing to hold your hair while you puke?” Ellie
asked.

I felt a tear slide down my cheek.

“Both.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

JEFF

Gunner, Josh and I were all
sitting on the front porch, waiting on the girls to get back. I was
starting to get worried.
What the fuck is
taking them so long?

Just then, I saw the headlights of my truck,
and I let out a breath of air.

“It’s about damn time. I was starting to get
worried,” Josh said as he stood up, running his hands through his
hair.

Gunner looked at Josh and let out a
laugh.

“Is there something I should know about,
dude?”

Josh looked at Gunner, confused, and then he
realized what Gunner was getting at.

“I wish. I can’t figure Heather out for the
life of me. One minute, she acts like there might be something
between us, and the next, she’s trying to get as far away from me
as she can. I really don’t know whether I’m coming or going.”

“Ask her to be your date for the dance here
in town this Friday,” Gunner suggested.

“Gunner, if I ask her out one more time and
she turns me down, I’m really afraid that I won’t want to ask her
again,” Josh admitted.

Gunner stood up as Ari parked the truck. He
gave Josh a slap on the back and laughed. “Dude, there’s only one
way to find out, and I’m afraid that means you’ll have to ask
her.”

Ellie jumped out of the
truck and ran over to Gunner before she jumped into his arms. I had
to smile at how happy they both were. Gunner kissed the shit out of
her, and then he picked her and swung her around.
Gesh, they act like they haven’t seen each other
in days instead of just a few hours.

Heather was walking up with a case of mason
jars, which Josh promptly took out of her hands. He turned to take
them into the house. Heather gave him the sweetest smile as she
followed him.

Ari was still sitting in the
truck.
That’s weird.

“Ellie, is Ari feeling okay?” I asked,
looking at her.

Ellie’s face went from a smile to a panicked
look within a second.

“Um…I think she’s feeling a bit, um…under the
weather.”

I walked over to the driver’s side of the
truck and opened it to find Ari with her head leaned up against the
steering wheel.

“Baby, are you alright?” I asked as I reached
in to her out of the truck.

She was completely limp in my arms while she
just buried her head into my neck. Normally, her hot breath on my
neck would have turned me on, but this time it was actually
starting to scare me.

“Take me home, Jeff…please,” she
whispered.

Home? What the hell?

“Ari, that’s a few hours’ drive back to
Austin, baby. Maybe you should just.”

“Not Austin, Jeff…our home. Please just take
me to our house,” Ari said.

My heart soared when she
called the ranch house
our
home.