Page 23 of Inevitably Yours

“Oh, my God, that feels amazing.” Gus groaned with appreciation as Marco rubbed her lower back with a tennis ball. At first, it felt weird—squatting on the floor leaned against a giant exercise ball and having a couple of men fawn all over her—but she was starting to accept the strange as her new normal.

Jan was snapping pics for the baby’s book, and Andy and Marco were enjoying every minute of it. But there was a bit of guilt there for having woken everyone up. Although the guilt was lessening with every twist of the tennis ball.

“I’m sorry Jan panicked over Braxton-Hicks and ran next door like a crazy woman.”

“Hush your mouth.”

“Shut it, sis.”

Marco and Jan spoke at the same time. Andy cleared his throat and spoke next, “Nonsense, we’re happy Jan alerted us. We want to be a part of every moment you are comfortable with. You know that, right?”

Andy, ever the diplomatic one. Even in the face of this. He tried so hard to give her space he thought she wanted, even missing some key moments. He had no problem inserting himself in every other aspect of her life, but for some reason, he kept his distance where his child was concerned. Gus could tell he wanted more, but he had some inexplicable fear he would upset her and that would be bad for the baby.

“I know that, Andy, but do you? Let me be perfectly clear.” She leaned up from the ball just enough to consider his handsome and worried face. “There is no overstepping in this situation. This is your child, your pregnancy. Think of me as an incubator. Okay?”

Gus experienced that tingly sensation she always got when someone was completely emotionally open and real. Andy finally gets it. His face split with an enormous smile, and he dropped to the floor in front of her. After staring in her eyes and apparently finding what he needed to see, he grabbed her face in his tanned hands and kissed her full on the lips.

When he pulled back, he didn’t let go of her face, he just started as if he could see her soul and read her life story written there. “I love you, Pixie. John is an idiot for not recognizing how utterly unique you are, and he doesn’t deserve to bask in your presence if he can’t appreciate that by now.”

Wow, the most romantic thing anyone ever said to me, and it was said by a man in love with someone else.

“Thank you. It means the world to me to hear you say it.” And it truly did. It made her understand her situation with John even more. She was already salty with him since he didn’t bother to text when he landed. She heard from Erika and Walker the minute they got back. Just as she feared, they had shared too much, and John was running.

Well, I am done chasing a man. If he wants me, he better lace up his shoes instead. Yes, darn it, I am unique and amazing, and I would make a great partner, and any man would be freaking lucky to have me,she told herself, or at least she thought she did, until tennis balls stopped and everyone in the room applauded.

“Yesssss, that’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. Apparently, it doesn’t mean anything until you hear it in a lower register,” Jan snarked, but her eyes were glowing with love not sarcasm.

“Well, in that case, sis, your phone just dinged and you got a late-night text from the man himself.” Jan passed Gus her phone, and she read the message. Yep, running at top speed.

“I can admit to y’all that I love him. I know it’s ridiculous to say that when we haven’t even dated, but I was half in love with him when he helped me save Skynyrd. I fell the rest of the way slowly, between then and the time we announced this little miracle. Buuut, I am not going to sit around and wait. I can’t make someone love me or even look into their own heart. So, I am officially putting myself out there. Not that anyone will want to date a pregnant lady, but still, I can compartmentalize the love I have for him and understand what I need and want out of life, and the two things do not have to be a package deal.”

Not that she could fall for anyone else, but she didn’t have to be alone. Gus let her mind wander and explore all the possibilities when Andy interrupted her thoughts.

“If you are serious about putting yourself out there, I know someone who is dying to take you out. Has been since before he even knew you were pregnant. And he hasn’t stopped asking about you now that he knows.”

The twinkle in Andy’s eye bordered on sinful. Gus couldn’t decide his intent. “Really? And what is wrong with him that he needs to go out with a pregnant woman.”

“Nothing is wrong with him, and why do you think pregnant women are unattractive to men?” Andy inquired with a superior attitude.

Marco joked, “Of course, pregnant women are attractive to straight men, they know they put out.” His booming laughter filled the room.

“Ohhh.” Gus was trying to get up and act upset, but she was laughing too hard, and she was too pregnant. She settled back onto the ball. “More rubbing and less talking back there.”

Jan plopped onto the floor next to the ball, and they both stared at Andy. “Okay, tell us about this guy who is in lust with my sister?”

Both Andy and Gus turned to Jan with an, “Ew.”

“Well, it’s Jesse,” Andy said matter-of-factly.

“Who is Jesse?” Jan asked at the same time Marco added, “Ooooo, Jesse.”

The latter earned a stern look from Andy. “Calm down, cariño, it’s just an observation. We are married, not dead, remember?” Their exchange wasn’t heated, despite their words. Andy wasn’t mad, and Marco wasn’t defensive. Their relationship was a goal she wished she could achieve in her lifetime. A goal she wished for everyone in her life she cared about…but especially me.

“You mean clerk Jesse?”

“Yes. He asked me the first time he saw you if you were involved with anyone. Then he was devastated when he next saw you and it seemed obvious you were. When I explained the situation, he practically beamed and asked if Marco or I would be offended if he asked you out. He’s a good guy; I happen to be an excellent judge of character.” Typical Andy.

“Really? He has never acted like he wanted to go out with me, but then again, my flirt game is weak—”

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