Enchanted and Desired (22 page)

Everything runs smoothly and I manage to keep my happy face firmly in place throughout the day. Lily asked me a few times if I was okay, but I just played it off as a little jet lag; nothing to be concerned about. I managed to slip away at one point when Brandon was being a naughty boy and chasing Lily around this gorgeous town. It worked in my favor though and I quickly found the nearest pharmacy, bought a pregnancy test, and shoved it to the bottom of my oversized bag.

I only have a half hour before the evenings events kick off. I rush to my room to find that Simon is already gone, and he’s left a sweet little note for me:

Tesoro

You know I love you more than words. I’ll be waiting for you downstairs with love in my heart, a smile on my face, and a hard on in my pants.

Sorry about this morning.

Simon xxx

I have no idea why he’s apologizing, but I love him for it. He can make me smile with the smallest gestures. I really don’t deserve him.

I quickly rummage in my bag for the test, ripping it open to pull out the instructions…DAMN IT. My hands are shaking so violently that I can’t even keep hold of the box. I drop it on the bathroom floor, the test stick falling out of the packet and onto the cold, hard tiles. I’m immediately transported back in time to when I last had to take a pregnancy test.

I break out in a cold sweat, unable to face the seemingly inconsequential task of peeing on a stick; the outcome of which could change my life forever.

I gather up the contents of the box and shove everything back into my handbag. I can’t deal with this right now, so I resolve to take the test first thing in the morning and concentrating on getting ready for a night of smiling and pretending that everything’s fine.

The rehearsal dinner is a complete success. Brandon and Lily are the picture of a happy couple, and it warms my heart to see Lily so in love. It was a difficult road for her to find Brandon, but she’s a tough cookie, and I love her more than I could ever express. When I found Simon he was his usual cocky self.

“Hi. Are you
my
Jess? She loves me so much it’s embarrassing at times. She practically worships the ground I walk on. She’s fucking adorable, but she has this crazy evil twin that appears sometimes and
she
acts like she wants to rip my head off and spit down my neck. Which one are you? You’re both smoking hot, so it’s hard to tell the difference.”

I can’t help but laugh and throw myself into his strong, safe arms. They feel like home, and I know this is where I want to be.

“There’s my girl. I missed you today Tesoro.” He cups my face, planting a gentle, reverent kiss on my lips. He tastes amazing – Simon and Scotch. “You ready to say hello to my parents now? They have been
dying
to meet you since we arrived. I can only hold my mother back for so long baby.”

I feel okay about meeting them. This is a major step forward for me, and considering my current predicament, I can only assume it’s a good thing. Simon has shown me time and time again how much he loves me, and would do anything for me. He didn’t judge me when I told him about what happened with Gavin; his opinion of me didn’t change; he just kept on loving me. When I take the test tomorrow, I’m just going to tell him. I think we can handle it. It’s not the way I would have planned it, but I love him, and I want to spend the rest of my life with him.

“Okay, let’s go meet your parents.”

“I’ve already met them baby. I’ve known them my whole life.” He thinks he’s so funny, and I know he’s doing it to ease my nerves.

“Ha-freaking-ha. You know what I mean.”

He leads me over to where I see Sofia talking with an older gentleman that bears a striking resemblance to Simon. Wow. If this is how he’s going to age, I am definitely sticking around. Next to him is a stunning, petite woman, with black hair, tanned skin, flawless complexion, and an air of sophistication that you just can’t fake. I love her instantly.

“Ciao mamma. I’d like you to meet my girlfriend Jessica Foster.” He kisses her on either cheek before presenting me to her. She looks me up and down before pulling me into a heartfelt hug.

“Ciao Bella. You are very beautiful Jess. I have heard so much about you from Simon and Sofia. It is a pleasure to finally meet the woman that has captured my son’s heart.” I blush at her words.

“The pleasure is all mine Mrs. Mantovani.” She’s shaking her head at me.

“Mrs. Mantovani is my mother-in-law. Please, call me Ria.”

Simon is already turning me in the direction of his father. “Ciao Babbo. This is Jess.”

He holds me firmly by the shoulders, kissing each cheek before he speaks. “It is wonderful to meet you Jess. We were beginning to think you were a figment of Simon’s imagination, but I don’t think even he could have dreamt of someone as beautiful as you.”

“Why thank you sir. I do believe I know where Simon gets his charm from.”

He turns to Simon, a wide grin on his face. “This one’s a keeper son. Don’t let her get away.”

“Don’t worry. I don’t plan on it.” He pulls me to his side, wrapping his arm around my shoulder.

I chat with Ria and Sofia for a while, catching up on what Sof has been up to on tour. I’ve missed seeing her, but we keep in touch and have become really good friends.

Ria watches as we laugh and joke and swap funny stories. “It is lovely to see how easily you have become a part of both of my children’s lives. When you have children of your own you will understand just how much that warms a mother’s heart.”

Simon butts in on our conversation at this point. “Calm it down mamma. There will be NO children in the near future, if at all. Just let us be. We’re happy just the two of us.”

My heart sinks…drowns…as the words fall from his lips. The lips I love, the ones I thought would welcome a child that is a part of me and a part of him into the world. I never even considered the fact that he wouldn’t want kids. The room starts to spin around me, my legs giving way underneath me. Simon catches me before I fall. “Jess...are you okay? What’s wrong?”

I steel myself to answer him, unable to tell him the real reason for my collapse. “Just feeling a little lightheaded. It’s really hot in here, and I think I may have had a glass of wine too many.” He helps me over to one of the tables and kneels down in front of me as I sit, trying to stop the spinning in my head. “Could you get me a glass of water please? And don’t let Lily see me. She’ll worry over nothing.”

He does as I ask, returning quickly with a concerned look on his face. “You haven’t been right since we got here. Maybe we should get you seen by a doctor.”

“NO. I’m fine…honestly.” I’m silently begging him as I stare up into his eyes. “I’m still a bit run down after the travel sickness, that’s all. I’ll get a good sleep and be fine tomorrow. Stop worrying.”

He bends down, kisses my head and looks deep into my eyes. “I will ALWAYS worry about you Tesoro. I love you. You’re all that matters to me.”

I close my eyes, savoring his words; the knowledge that my time with him may be limited. He doesn’t want kids, and if this test comes back positive tomorrow, I
know
I can’t get rid of the baby, our baby. I can only pray that I’m wrong; that the test will be negative, and that I won’t lose the only man I have ever truly loved.

SIMON

I can’t believe Brandon is getting married today. We’ve been best friends all our lives, literally, since birth. He’s not just my friend, he’s my brother. Life couldn’t be better. He’s marrying the girl of his dreams, who happens to be best friends with the girl of my dreams. Although, if my girl doesn’t get her ass out of the bathroom sometime soon, this day is not going to happen at all. I’ve already had Brandon texting me asking where I am, and Lily has been texting Jess’s phone, which is sitting next to the bed while she hogs the bathroom. It’s not like her to lock the door, but I figure she’s a little stressed today with the whole maid of honor gig.

“Jess, are you ever coming out of there or do I need to tell the bride and groom that we need to change the location of the wedding to the executive suite bathroom?”

“Fuck off Simon. I’ll be out when I’m goddamn ready.”

“Open the fucking door Jess. NOW.” I wait, ready to kick the fucking thing in if I have to, but I hear the click as she unlocks the door and brushes past me. “What the fuck is going on? Wait…have you been crying?”

“Leave me alone Captain Obvious.”

What the fuck have I done now? “What’s wrong Jess?”

“Nothing. My best friend is getting married today. I’m allowed to be a little emotional for crying out loud.”

“Yeah I understand that Jess. But you’ve not been yourself since we got here, and you’re starting to piss me off.” That was the wrong fucking thing to say.

“PISS YOU OFF?! Well why don’t you save us both the trouble of wasting our time and just leave me already. We’ll call it quits and be done with it.”

“Have I just walked into the fucking twilight zone? Where the FUCK did that come from? I’m not going anywhere. This…what we have…is not a fucking waste of time. I’m NOT quitting on you…because I LOVE YOU. Get it into that thick skull of yours already will you!?”

She breaks down in front of my eyes, crumpling to the floor like I have never seen her before. So fragile, and I don’t even know why. All I can do is try to offer her some comfort. “I’m not going anywhere Tesoro. It’s just you and me. Okay? No one and nothing will come between us. It took me this long to find you, I’m not about to let anything get in the way of us being together. Will you please believe me when I tell you that you are IT for me? ALL I WANT…IS YOU.”

She sobs into my chest as I rock her body back and forth in my lap, trying to sooth whatever it is that has her spooked. The rocking turns into kissing, the kissing turns into caressing, and before I know it, Jess is the one begging me to make love to her. I don’t hesitate. I can see the need in her eyes, and I want to reassure her that I’m here, and I will give her anything she needs; that I would do anything for her. I lift her off the floor, take her to our bed, and make love to her; my eyes never leaving hers; the connection between us, a physical presence in the room. It’s the first time that we have ever come together in quiet moans of appreciation; the intensity of our joint release held tight between us, inside us, around us.

When Jess and I finally went our separate ways to get the bride and groom ready to tie the knot, I had a knot of my own, deep down in my gut; a feeling of dread that I just can’t shake.