Page 54 of Cherish

“Hey! Let’s have cake,” Mellie yells from the dining room. The entire group ends up in the kitchen with us. Sandy pulls the cake she brought out of the fridge, while Jake grabs another beer.

“Carrot cake like the birthday girl requested,” Sandy proclaims, opening the box and removing a huge cake with white frosting.

“Carrot? How did I end up with a girl who likes carrot cake? Are you serious?” The entire room boos and reminds me that it’s not my cake.

My girl has her arms wrapped around me as I pour more wine, and Sandy puts candles on the cake.

My phone buzzes again. I ignore it again.

Just as Alex blows out the candles to her cake, the doorbell rings.

“I’ll get it.” Before I can tell Sandy not to worry about it, she runs for the door. I swipe some frosting with my index finger and put it on Alex’s nose. She pulls my hand from her face and turns the table on me when she slowly licks the frosting from my fingertip, all the while keeping her eyes on mine.

“You two are so inappropriate,” Mellie says.

“Some people just have no tact, Mellie,” Jake says, shaking his head at us in mock disbelief.

The kitchen fills with laughter, and I ignore Mellie’s gags as I kiss Alex deeply in the kitchen. It doesn’t even dawn on me that the kitchen has gone quiet until someone clears their throat.

It’s Mellie’s angry voice that finally forces me to pull away from Alex. “What the fuck is this bitch doing here?”

“Classy as always, Melanie. Nice to see you too, Ty. Is anyone going to offer me cake?”

It’s like an out-of-body experience seeing Natalie standing in the middle of my kitchen. For a room that was so full of talk and laughter, you can now hear a pin drop. Mellie takes a step closer to Natalie, but I step between them. Sandy and Ananda look around the room, trying to make sense of what they’re seeing. Jake whispers something in Sandy’s ear and I see her eyes widen.

“So, no cake then? Fine,” Natalie says with a fake pout. “Will someone at least take my coat?”

“Who is this, Jason?” Alex looks from me to the intruder. When I reach for her, she steps back.

“Natalie Song.” She looks directly at Alex as she continues to unbutton her large, black raincoat.

I don’t know why, but I hold my breath as she slides the coat off, handing it to the person closest to her. Like a zombie, Jake takes the coat from her, his eyes nearly popping out of his head at the sight of her swollen belly.

For once, Mellie is speechless and covers her mouth with both hands. Natalie struts through the kitchen, sits on one of my chairs, and lays a hand on her belly.

“Jason,” Alex says, getting my attention, “who is this woman to you?”

In two quick steps, I grab Natalie by her elbow and pull her off the chair.

“We need to talk,” I hiss.

“I’ve been trying to talk to you for months. The one time you picked up the phone, you wouldn’t let me get a word in. We’ll talk, but we’re doing this here. Alex, is it?” she asks, turning her sharp gaze on my angel. “I’m Natalie. The woman who is carrying your boyfriend’s baby.”

The glass slipping from Alex’s hand and shattering on the floor is the only sound in the room. I pull away from Natalie and pick Alex up in one instant.

“Put me down.” The words are whispered but filled with venom. I walk her away from the broken glass and set her down.

“She’s lying, Alex. I ended things with her months before we met.”

“Come on, Ty? We were together six months ago, and I’m due in two and a half months. You were always good at math, so I’m sure you can figure it out. February sex equals November baby.”

Everything turns to slow motion as everyone looks around the room trying to make sense of Natalie’s words. I think back to when we were together last. It was rushed. We had drinks with mutual friends. She had too much to drink and convinced me to escort her home. When the Uber pulled up, she kissed me outside of her parents’ old house, and she invited me in. It was frenzied and rushed as usual, but one thing I know for sure is that we used a condom.

“Another one of your games, Natalie. This is extreme even for you, not to mention pathetic. Get out of my house.” I grab her elbow again and yank her off the chair and shove her jacket back at her, shielding her stomach.

Jake steps between us and pulls my hand from her elbow.

“I’ll walk you out, Natalie,” he says. She pulls away from him and practically hisses at us like a cornered raccoon. She looks around, her eyes narrowing as they land on Alex. She takes her in, and as a precaution, I step in front of Natalie, blocking her view.

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