Page 2 of Saving Emily
“I want to talk to you… alone.”
“Okay.” He sounds apprehensive. From the stories I’ve heard about his past, I understand why. Trust isn’t a strong point of his right now. “What do you want?”
I breathe out my nerves before whispering, “I need your help organizing Noah’s bachelor party—”
“You’re getting married?” Before I can answer him, he adds, “Noah doesn’t know, does he?”
Slater’s laughter increases when I answer, “No, he doesn’t… and neither does Delilah.”
I bite my bottom lip, fearful he’ll try and talk me out of my surprise.
I have no reason for concern. “Noah hates surprises, Em, but I think he’ll love this one. As for Delilah, she can get fucked as far as I’m concerned.” I hear him rub his hands together, his excitement palpable even with our conversation occurring over the phone. “What do you need me to do?”
“Jacob will arrive there Monday, but I need a venue…” I stop talking when Slater’s snickering laugh rumbles down the line. “Please don’t take him to every strip club in town.”
When he laughs again, but fails to settle my worry, regret weighs heavily on my shoulders. I should have sought Nick's help, but since he's liaising with Cormack to ensure Noah has his birthday off, I didn't want to overload his plate.Silly me.
Slater settles his boisterous chuckles before saying, “Don’t worry, Em, I won’t take him toeverystrip club in town… Maybe just every second one?”
I’d give anything to be able to reach down the phone and choke him. Since I can’t, I use words. “Ha-ha, very funny. If this is above your—”
“No, I’ve got this. I was joking. I’m glad things are looking up for Noah. I’d never do anything to fuck up what he’s fought for. He deserves to be happy.”
The honesty in his reply burns my eyes with tears. “Yeah, he does.”
He deserves all the happiness in the world. . .
After a few more minutes of back and forth, in a matter of a week, I had organized everything. Noah was to attend his bachelor party Monday night. I would travel to him on Thursday, and on Sunday, we would wed at the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas. It was all set and planned… until Noah arrived here unexpectedly last night.
Oh well, I guess he’ll have to attend his bachelor party after our wedding.
2
While snuggling into my pillow, I re-read the note Noah left me. My eyes linger on key words longer than others. Most notably, the part that says, 'my wife and the mother of my children.'I love that he can't wait for us to have children of our own. I've become super clucky since Jasper was born.
I asked Noah last night if he wanted children. He replied, "yes," without a snippet of hesitation. That’s surprising considering how much heartache he endured when he was a child. Usually, that type of upbringing would have you wary on starting your own family. That isn’t the case with Noah.
I guess fear isn’t felt when you’re fearless.
As my thumb hovers over the word 'children,' a queasy sensation hits my stomach. I want to say it's the only time I've been hit with a severe bout of nausea the past few weeks, but unfortunately, that isn't the case. I haven't felt like myself in months…
My inner monologue trails off when I fail to recall the last time I had my period. With the craziness of my life the past few months, I got slack on tracking my cycle. Only six months ago, I could have told you the exact date the Wicked Witch was due for a visit. Now, I don’t have the faintest clue.
With my heart beeping in my throat, I yank my iPhone off the bedside table to open my iPeriod app. The instant it logs in, my phone dings with a reminder that my period is eighty-nine days late.
Holy shit!
My emotions are all over the shop when I lift my nightie to peer down at my stomach. It appears as it did months ago… until I become one with the mattress. The smallest curve is protruding from the lower half of my usually flat stomach. I could blame the pudge on the greasy pizza I gorged last night, but my intuition is telling me not to be stupid. I have a baby growing inside of me—a baby I created with Noah.
When a brilliant idea pops into my head, I dart my eyes to the clock on my bedside table. It's just turned 5:16 AM. If I hurry, I could reach Noah before he boards his plane, then, not only will I return his surprise from yesterday, I’ll be awarded the farewell kiss I missed this morning.
After leaping out of bed, I snag the clothes I was wearing yesterday off the floor. When I shove my legs into my tight jeans, I notice they're more snug than usual—especially near the three-button fastener.
I’m throwing my arms into my Van Halen shirt when someone knocks on my dorm. “Come in.”
My shirt falls over my white cotton bra a mere second before Crystal saunters into my room, looking fresh despite the early hour. "Morning, Em. Did Noah get out of here okay? People went crazy searching for him last night."
Nodding, I grab my boots from under my desk. "Yes, as far as I'm aware, he took a taxi to the airport." Luckily, I'm Noah's fiancé, or I'd sound like a hussy right now. “Thank you so much for keeping the hounds away from my room last night.”
