Bet Me (Finding My Way) (16 page)

“I’m not hearing it sorry” I shake my head as I call into the mic and the male cheers go up over the female ones making Tucker chuckle and then strip out of his shirt leaving him in just a tight white tee. I actually have to cover my ears to try and block out the ringing in them from the shrieks that are drowning out everything else in the club.

I watch as Tucker turns to me smirking and raises an eyebrow at me in challenge, I smile sweetly at him and start unbuttoning my jeans. Both his eyebrows shoot up and Andrew’s voice comes over the speakers “Uhh … Brooke?” he tries for a warning tone but it comes out questioning and slightly, nervous? I ignore him and pull my jeans off leaving me in a black shirt and black hot pants with my stilettos.

The male cheers come out as a loud roar and I take a bow, I can hear the band laughing behind us making me giggle.

I watch as Tucker’s eyes lazily travel down my legs and back up again and he swallows noticeably. Shaking his head and grinning at me he loses his tee. I don’t know if we are doing this tease the crowd or each other anymore as I can feel myself grow more and more turned on by his strip tease. I know why he’s grinning he knows the only thing I have available to take off now is my shirt, he also knows I’m not wearing a bikini top underneath because from below the top three buttons that are undone you can see lace. He also knows I wouldn’t ever leave myself in just a bra. What he doesn’t know however is that what I am wearing underneath my shirt is not a bra.

I angle my body so only Tucker has a view of my front. “Are you sure you want to play this game with me?” I ask sweetly unbuttoning my shirt slowly to reveal the red with white lace corset top which laces up at the front that I’m wearing. Before I reach the bottom button of my shirt Tucker’s hands are moving mine out of the way and working the buttons back up so fast he misses one and has to start again. “What are you doing?” I ask laughing at his concentrated expression.

“I’m thinking we should play this game when we’re alone because I really want to know what you’re wearing under those shorts to match that” he replies titghtly, his mic resting between his legs so only I can hear.

I lower my mic and lean into his ear running my tongue along the outline of it teasingly “Nothing” I whisper in answer to his question. He stops fumbling with my buttons, in fact he freezes all together. A few shouts of ‘what’s going on?’ brings him out of his daze and he throws me over his shoulder. I leave the club exactly like I entered it, upside down and not bothering to fight it.

Luke returns early morning afternoon and
finds me going through some photos from uni, we sit and reminisce for a few hours before we begin the moving process.

I love my new house it’s a three bedroom, three story house, well four if you include the attic. The front door leads you into a hallway and it has three doors coming off it, the first one leads into the coat room, the second one into the kitchen and the third one into the front room. My front room is huge, it’s got enough room for my new L shaped sofa, it has a real fire and a curved staircase taking you to the second floor. On this floor there are two bedrooms and a family bathroom. I have taken the bedroom that faces onto my back yard. The third floor has only one room which is an ensuite. I have turned this room into my office and reading room. The only room that holds anything of my life before this moment is the spare bedroom. My university hooded jacket is in a big frame hung above the room and there are photos of my old group of friends placed all around the room as well as things from nights out at the club and photos of all my friends here. The rest of the house just has decoration and art that don’t mean anything to me, until I gather new things to hang on the walls and to put on the shelves. I’m sure it won’t take me long to fill this place with new memories. My favourite new purchase is my bed, it’s a black iron king size and sits below the huge window in my bedroom. My old bed is in the spare room and I don’t have any inclination to sleep in that bed ever again.

Saying goodbye to Luke we both leave the house but head in different directions promising to visit each other again soon.

“You look like crap Brooke” Lucy notes frowning at me.

This is the first thing anyone has said to me since I walked into the club minutes ago.  Looking down at myself, I realize I should have changed before I came in. I’m in old jeans and an oversized tee that’s tucked in at the front and my hair is piled in a messy bun on top of my head.

“Thanks, I love you too” I return dryly and head into the office to fix myself a coffee.

“I hear Brooke’s in the house, get on up here Brooke wherever you are” I hear Andrew’s voice come through the speakers as I make my way out of the office hugging my coffee to my chest. I look up and catch his eye from his position on the bar. “Shit, actually stay right there” he says worriedly but I’m already making my way onto the bar.

“Are you okay?” he asks grabbing my shoulders and searching my face.

“Guess I really do look like crap, huh?” I ask half joking.

“What’s happened?”

“Nothing, I’m fine” I snap, fed up of the comments about me looking like hell. I get the point. He seems to get the message because he leaves it at that.

“How’s everyone doing tonight?” I ask into my mic but my voice sounds dead.

A few people murmur answers and some of my friends look up at me concerned.

“Fuck it” I mutter and pass the mic back to Andrew as I jump back down from the bar.

I head over to greet the rest of my friends and grab the band their drinks. They all ask if I’m okay and accept that I’m fine when I say I am. I only last another hour of serving drinks before I head into the office and curl up on the sofa in there, within a few minutes I’m fast asleep.

When I wake up an hour or two later, I do so feeling even more exhausted than before I fell asleep. I seriously don’t think I’m going to make it home; I’m going to have to spend the night here. Someone has thrown a blanket over me while I was sleeping and I wrap it around my shoulders as I head into the bar to get a glass of orange juice.

“You okay?” Lucy asks as I take a long drink of my juice.

I shake my head at her “I’m exhausted” I admit weakly.

“You look like your going to pass out Brooke” she says looking concerned as I sway and she grabs my shoulders frowning.

“I’m fine I just need to lie down, I think. I do feel a little dizzy but I’m sure it’s just because I’m tired”

“Stay here for two minutes for me please, just so I know you’re okay. I can’t keep an eye on you when you’re in there” she says putting down a stool for me that someone passes her over the bar.

“Have you eaten today?” she asks as she swaps my empty drink for a new one.

I’m about to answer her but my thoughts drift and the memory of Tucker pushing me up against the office door and bending me over in the stockroom flash in front of my mind.

We didn’t use protection…

I haven’t had a period since …

My stomach turns, nausea and dizziness flood me “Uh Luce, I need Jess!” I scream panicked and throw my hand over my mouth swaying on the stool slightly. I fight against the black spots clouding my vision and shut my eyes tightly.

“Shit” I hear her mutter and then she calls someone over. A few seconds later I’m being lifted off the stool onto my feet and steered towards the office I shake my head furiously “Bathroom!” I cry trying to hold the sick back that’s slowly building it’s way up. I’m guided into the staff bathroom and set down in front of the toilet where I throw up my Chinese from last night and my orange juice with a lot of coffee. I dry heave for a few minutes and then exhaustion settles over me once again.

“Not yet you don’t, let’s get you back in the office” A voice that I think belongs to Tucker but I’m not sure because I can’t hear it clearly says softly to me.

“I can’t” I croak before accepting the glass of water that comes out of nowhere. “I’m too tired” I  groan.

Two hands land softly on my cheeks and my face is turned. “Open your eyes Brooke” I obey and find myself looking into a pair of concerned light blue eyes. Tucker. “What’s wrong with you?” he asks softly.

“I’m fine. I stayed up last night watching TV and lost track of time going through some of my old things, deciding what to keep and what to throw away, the next thing I knew it was morning and I spent the day moving house and unpacking everything, I was so busy I guess I forgot to eat. That’s all there is to it. Honest” I lie and kick myself for being so careless, I should have just gone to bed but I did promise I would come in tonight. Maybe I should have just called in.

“Come on” he picks me up and carries me back through the bar into the office and lays me on the sofa then sits at the top and lifts my head onto his legs so they act as a pillow. For the next few hours I drift in and out of sleep hearing different conversations, I can’t make out who’s talking or what they are saying so I relax and fall back to sleep.

“Come on Brooke, wake up, we need to get you home” someone says shaking me softly.

“I don’t wanna” I mumble back sleepily.

“I know, but you have to and no one knows where you live anymore so you have to show me”

“Fine” I grumble and sit up rubbing my eyes. Tucker is still in the same position and I turn to the clock. “Oh my god … I’m so sorry, I was out for hours! You shouldn’t have stayed so long, sorry” I blink a few times to clear my vision a bit more and shakily stand up to test my legs.

“Don’t worry about it, I wanted to stay” he says sincerity ringing clearly in his voice as he throws an arm around my shoulders and leads me out to his car. I give him the address and fall straight back to sleep as the car starts moving.

I wake up in my bed, with a huge smile on my face as I stretch out completely relaxed. I frown down at myself when I realize I’m still fully dressed just without my shoes on, then shrug it off as being too tired to get undressed once Tucker dropped me off. I’m in such a good mood today that I know it’s going to be an amazing day. Plugging my IPod into the docking station I turn my music up to full volume and dance my way into the shower and sing along. Still dancing and singing I throw on a pair of jeans and a tank, I put my Ipod in my pocket and plug in my earphones. I twirl my way down the stairs shaking my head and flipping my hair, laughing through the lyrics.

“Someone’s damn happy this morning”

I spin at the sound of Tucker’s voice and come to a complete stop.

“Jesus you scared the shit out of me!” I complain clutching my chest.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt” he says waving a hand for me to continue looking amused.

“I hope you made a pot” I warn watching him drink his coffee.

“Of course” he hands me a mug that’s warm enough to drink without waiting for it to cool a bit.

“Umm … you stayed the night?” I guess, not remembering much past getting in his car last night, I just assumed he dropped me off.

“Yeah, I stayed in the spare room, which is like a time capsule for your life by the way” he notes.

“Oh … umm why did you stay?” I ask not trying to be rude but just curious.

“You asked me too” he frowns at me.

“Oh … I don’t really remember anything past getting in your car after the club” I admit “Anyway I don’t care, I’m in such a good mood today that nothing else matters” I grin at him making him smile.

“Can I ask why you are in such a good mood?”

“I don’t really know to be honest, I just feel relaxed, happy, rested and sort of free” I explain as best that I can.

“Well I’m happy you’re happy” he grins at me “What’s your plans for today?”

“I have some paperwork to do for the office that I’m going to do upstairs, then I’m having dinner with Andrew and then I’ll be at the club tonight. What about you?”

“I have a few things I need to do this morning but I’ll be at the club tonight”

“Okay well I guess I’ll see you later then” I walk him to the door.

“Be good” he kisses my cheek and leaves.

My good mood doesn’t last long when I remember my discovery last night, with a quick text to Jess I leave my house praying for a miracle, what that miracle is though, I don’t know.

***

Ten hours ago I found out I’m pregnant.

I’m with child.

I have a bun in the oven.

There is a baby growing inside me.

I’m knocked up.

I took six tests, then I sent Jess out for another ten.

They were all positive. Then we went to the doctors, where I discovered I’m not just pregnant, I’m
sixteen weeks
pregnant.

I think I could possibly be in shock.

Never the less, Jess was relentless; she wouldn’t let me call in and sign the club over to Will, she wouldn’t let me sell my house, she also wouldn’t let me pack my bag and run away. Trust me. I tried.

After promising me she wouldn’t tell a soul, she helped me get ready for work and now we’re walking through the club, her arm wrapped tightly around my waist, this I think, is her way of stopping me turning around and running away, not that I would. At least not right away.

A few people send us curious looks as we get closer to the bar and Jess squeezes me tightly when we stop opposite it.

“You’re going to have to snap out of it Brooke. People will start asking questions otherwise” she whispers.

I open my mouth tell her I agree but no words come out, instead I swallow and nod.

“Uh .. maybe we should go around the bar, you probably shouldn’t be climbing over it” she frowns at the bar.

I glare at her “I’m not disabled” I snap.

“Jeeze” she mutters but then a loud cheer further down the bar distracts us both.

A few feet down the bar a group of students are doing shots. Anger washes over me suddenly.

“Great. I can’t even drink anymore!” I throw my head back.

“No coffee either” Jess reminds me, unhelpfully.

“So tell me, oh great one, what can I fucking do?” I demand, losing the hold on my emotions completely.

Jess backs up a step and watches me wearily, I guess  a pissed off pregnant woman is more than she can handle. I push past her and walk around the bar, storming straight into Wills office.

“Hey Brooke ...” he trails off and his smile fades when he see’s my expression.

“I’m pregnant. I can’t drink. I can’t carry anything heavy. I can’t drink coffee. I can’t do ANYTHING!!!” I scream the last part.

“You’re pregnant?” he asks breaking out into a smile.

“Don’t you fucking dare!” I shout at him, pointing a finger and taking a step back when he stands from his desk. “I only found out today, I’m
four
months pregnant! What the fuck am I supposed to do?!”

“Uh ... calm your language?” he smirks at me.

“It’s not funny!” I start pacing “I don’t want anyone to know, hell, I don’t even want to know. I can’t handle this, I can’t take care of a baby. I have no idea-”

“Brooke!”

I spin around, stopping my pacing mid step at his shout.

“Calm down. Stress is not good for the baby. I can see why you’d freak out, you’re young but... you have so many people to help you through this that you can’t go wrong.”

“It can go wrong” I mutter and then leave the office.

I climb up onto the bar and grab a mic, the DJ lowers the music when he notices me. I take a few minutes to look at everyone in the crowd and I’m struck with the memory of when I returned and how happy everyone was to have me back.