Lasting Attraction (Cassie Series) (23 page)

             
This is also the same week that I started getting bitched at for not having picked out a name yet. I don't even have choices. I want to pick it out with Pierce, but also Avery, and honestly, I haven't thought much about the name. Honestly, I have over three months to decide on a name, I don't have to do it right now. Apparently not everyone agrees.

             
Weeks six, seven, and eight all dragged by, but eventually Pierce started becoming more himself and I started visiting even more. Thankfully tomorrow he gets to go home. Although he has limited mobility in his right arm, he can still move it, and he has lost some short term memory. It can eventually come back, but there isn't any exact time frame as to when. Thankfully he'll be absolutely nothing like in that movie,
Fifty First Dates.

             
He'll be staying with his brother Evan for the next few weeks, but the girl Miah that he apparently has been seeing has offered to do what she can to take care of him as well. I've talked to her a few times while going in and visiting, and although she isn't my favorite person, I don't mind her. All I ask is that if she is going to stay with Pierce, that she treat our baby with love and respect, and same to me.

             
Not that I've said that to her.

             
For tonight, Mason and Avery are going out to Austin's to play video games, while Aubrey comes over and hangs out with me. They both are kid free, and don't even want to spend their time together. I feel bless Aubrey is more than willing to come over and spend time with me though. It's much needed.

             
Its not less than twenty minutes after Avery leaves that Aubrey shows up. She holds a bag out to me, which I take and bring to the table. "My favorite ice cream," I saw out loud while pulling it out. "And movies!"

             
"Yeah, its been far too long. Let's get this slumber party rocking." She giggles as she makes her way to the cupboards for bowls.

             
Once we have our ice creams, the two of us sit on the couch and start in on some girl talk. The sad thing about our girl talk is its turned more into mommy and boyfriend talk, instead of about this and that around school or with other friends. Its a pretty big wakeup call in how much my life has changed, however, I wouldn't change much about how my life is right now. I'm finally happier than I've been in a long time, sans the whole Pierce being injured part.

             
For the first time in a long time, it seems like I don't have to come to Aubrey for advice about my life or my relationship. I still ask her personal questions about the pregnancy, or what to expect in the first few weeks home. I look at how happy and content Mason and she are, and how wonderful of parent's they both are, and I feel like I can be that. I can have exactly what she has, even if my situation is a little different.

             
During the second movie, the two us eventually pass out at some point. I'm awakened by Avery carrying me into our bedroom. "You're home already?" I ask groggily.

             
He grins down at me. "Already? It's after one in the morning." He kisses for my forehead and I snuggle into his chest. He lays me down once we're in the room, then he slides in beside me. "Did you have a good night with Aubrey?"

             
"Mm, very much," I answer half asleep.

             
He chuckles against my cheek as he goes to give me another small kiss. "Do you think this time you could pretend to stay asleep?"

             
I peek out of the corner of my eye. "What?"

             
His hand reaches down and dips into the front of my shorts. "Pretend to sleep. Remember?" It takes me a minute to remember, and when I do, I instantly dampen. He dips his fingers lower and moans against my ear. "I think someone does remember."

             
"Shh, I'm sleeping," I tell him with a smile. I close my eyes and feel as Avery dips inside of me and starts fucking me with his fingers. Trying to stay peaceful and quiet is hard but it makes for the sensation to increase. When Avery uses his thumb against my bud, I lose all control, including my faux sleep. My orgasm erupts and Avery presses his lips to mine to mute out the sound of my screaming.

             
When he pulls away and his hand stops the pleasuring torture, I slap at his arm. "Why did you kiss me while I was getting off?" I can feel my face blush immediately after, and I'm not even sure why.

             
He just laughs and pulls me close to him. "Because you were supposed to be sleeping, not screaming."

             
"You're so weird," I tell him. But of course, his weirdness is one of the many things I love him.

             
"So you get to go home today!"

             
Pierce looks towards me with no emotion at all. "Yay," he says dryly.

             
"What, would you rather stay here forever?" I plop down onto the mini sized couch next to his bed.

             
"I'd rather stop hurting. I want to feel better, I want to work, I want to help you with the nursery and picking things out, I want to do anything but what I'm doing. Which, by the way, is nothing."

             
I was told more than once his attitude with be this way because of the alteration in life. Of course he is depressed, who wouldn't be. He lived though, which is the most important thing. His arm is the only thing giving him trouble and even so, he still has feeling in it. They're giving him a three month time frame to be back to normal. Perfect timing for our little one.

             
"I'm not hanging out with a sourpuss today," I tell him, trying to lighten the mood. I even give him a big smile and bat my lashes for effect.

             
One side of his mouth lifts a little but you can still tell he is very sad. "When is your next appointment?"

             
He hasn't asked me much about appointments or the baby in general, but I know it has a lot to do with his being medicated and such. Either way, it still surprises me to hear him ask. It makes me happy as well. "Tuesday actually, at ten. You, um, want to go?"

             
"Nah, its fine, I don't want to interrupt the pattern you and Avery have going on."

             
"The pattern? What?"

             
He sighs and shakes his head. "I don't know. So what is the baby’s name?"

             
"I haven't picked one out yet."

             
"Really? I thought girls had their weddings planned and baby names picked out by the time they're eight?"

             
I can't help but laugh. "Well, if that is the case, I would have married to Vin Diesel and our son's name would probably be Brad."

             
"Brad?"

             
"Brad Pitt, duh. My two celebrity crushes around that age."

             
That causes Pierce to laugh. "Well, you could still name him Brad. That isn't too bad."

             
"No, it's not too bad, but I want a name that has meaning for the both of us."

             
He takes a minute to think about the conversation. "Us?"

             
"You are his father." I look down as I rub my belly with both hands. "I'd love if you helped name him." I look back up to him as he swallows hard. He looks away for a second and when he glances back in my direction, his eyes start to water.

             
"I really thought you and Avery would have done all the decision making together."

             
I get up from the couch and join Pierce on his bed, grabbing his hand and holding onto it tight. "Pierce, we may not be together, and I don't think we ever will be again, but you're this child's father. You. Avery wants to be his dad too, and I'm grateful for that, but you are biologically his father. I want you to be involved, that is, if you want to be. I'd love nothing more than to see you be the father I know you can be."

             
His eyes just take mine in for a few moments while he actually smiles softly at me. A few moments of this, he whispers, "thank you, Cassie."

             
"I should thank you for not making this difficult on me or our child."

             
He looks down and uses his free hand to place it on my belly. "Our child. I like the sound of that. I think this is the first time its really sunk in that we're having an actual baby together."

             
I can't help but giggle some. "Oppose to?"

             
"You know what I mean."

             
"I do," I say with a smile. Its good seeing him loosen up some finally.

             
He lays back and looks over at the clock. We have twenty minutes left until his nurse comes in to start the discharge process. I only came to see how he was doing and to pass some time for the both of us. Evan is coming to get him and is bringing him back to his place.

             
"Names," he mumbles. "Damn, I don't know, Cass."

             
"See, not so easy."

             
As he think as a little to himself, I take in his features. These last nine weeks have done a real number on him. His face is paled, his cheeks are sunken, he has more hair on his face than I've ever seen. The memories of Avery being hospitalized take part in my mind, and then the pain I put Pierce through at that place in time. I was horrible and selfish.

             
"I'm sorry I ever hurt you, Pierce." It just sort of slips out as I think about how its gone since I've met him.

             
He looks at me like I've grown an extra head. "For?" he drags the word out.

             
"For everything. I've really hurt you a lot in the past."

             
He actually smiles bigger and rubs his hand through his hair, pulling up at the ends of it, where its grown out quite a bit. "Honestly Cassie, I don't think I regret I one thing since I've met you. Yeah, at times shit got a little... interesting," he puts mildly, "but then we wouldn't have a little Danielson on his way."

             
"And I wouldn't have you as a friend."

             
"Friend you say?"

             
"I hope so," I admit. "I want to be friends with you forever, Pierce."

             
He laughs lightly. "Yeah, well, we do need to set a good example."

             
We sit and talk a little more, and I find myself smiling quite a bit. I watch as Pierce smiles and laughs as well, and the weight from the stress and worrisome over the last several weeks finally lifts from my shoulders. The nurse comes in and does the last of what needs to be done for Pierce to be able to finally go home. She claims the doctor is going to be here in a few moments, so I prepare myself to leave as well.

             
As I'm getting ready to leave, I give Pierce a large hug. "Will you go with me Tuesday?"

             
He grins at me and nods his head. "If you can pick me up at Evan's."

             
"Of course, I'll see you then."