Jake had wanted to spend the whole weekend with me, but after practically running away from him so I could get home, I was a little worried to see him again. I hesitated to call him, but when he didn’t try to call me either, I got worried enough to call him first.I didn’t get a reply. Even when I sent texts, there was still nothing. I figured he was annoyed at my behavior.Dammit, Klara. He must have realized something was wrong. You were too damn obvious!That evening, since I didn’t get any form of communication from him, I stayed at home. It turned out Dad and my siblings had gone out so the kids could have some fun.Mom took Dad aside to talk, and when they came back, the expression on his face was strange. She must have told him about the one night stand. I was glad that she’d told him so I wouldn’t have to, but I had a feeling Dad wouldn’t be looking at his little girl the same way again. It would be impossible not to realize I was an adult when I came back pregnant, but neithe
It was easy enough to figure out.Klara was hiding something, and there was no way I could meet her, or try to talk to her, while I doubted her. It might have been easier to just ask her, but I hadn't been sure if she would have told me, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to hear what it was, if it was what I’d been thinking.What I found out was so far out of my expectations, though, that it took a while to process.Brian, my old college friend and current PI, had worked faster than I expected. He’d told me who Ben was within a day, and the moment he told me the dates that aligned with his birth, it was easy enough to count back roughly nine months to when Klara and I met.She’d told me herself that she hadn't been with anyone besides me for the past two years, and even in the middle of my doubts and suspicions, I was still inclined to believe her. Going by her character, in that time, there wouldn’t have been anyone else before me.The conclusion I came to, was that the child was mine. C
I slammed back my drink, then put the glass back down on the counter. I took a moment to catch my breath, before raising my hand to call for the bartender. “Another one, please,” I said. He frowned. “Um, do you think you’ve had too much, maybe?” I shook my head quickly, but stopped when it made me feel a bit dizzy. “Not at all. Another, please.” He continued to look concerned, which I thought I was sweet, but as I waited expectantly, he just sighed and went to get my drink. His concern wasn’t going to do me much good, after all. Also, despite playing the good girl all my life, I knew how to hold my liquor. I was a little tipsy, but I was nowhere near drunk. A while later, I was sure I’d had a little too much to drink. Still not drunk, but fed up. I was leaning against a wall feeling both sorry for and angry at myself. I felt stupid for using my last dime on that drink. I need to head back to my room. Soon, I would have to go home, too, since nearly all my funds had gone down
I was irritated. It wasn’t the kind of emotion that took one to a club, but I couldn’t say I was entirely there because I wanted to be there. Even worse, my older brother, Trent was me the designated driver to teach me a lesson. I got into an argument with him as a result of it, and he was looking at me with that look. It was this irritating, exasperating look that made me wonder if my Trent was seeing an adult or a teenager? I’d be the first to admit that I wasn’t quite the smartest person in that period of my life. I did all the things good boys weren’t supposed to go, I joined the wrong crowds, had my first drink when I was sixteen and never looked back, I’d skip school and sneak out of the house often.My brother was nothing like me. He was the straight kid that always did his homework, always did what our parents wanted, he made everyone proud.I hated the way he’d treated me when he found out, looking at me like I was a kid that didn’t deserve to decide because no matter what, i
When I woke up the next morning, I regretted everything. Fuck! My head hurt like hell before I was even fully awake. The pain was likely what woke me up, and it felt even worse when I moved to roll over. “Ugh.” It wasn’t just the headache, either. The inside of my mouth tasted like shit. I’d been waking up like this the past week, and every time I got over the hangover, I forgot just how bad it was. I had never been hung-over before in my life, at least before this trip. If I drank alcohol, it was single glass champagne that was never full, at family parties, and I didn’t get to have that until I was nineteen. Now that I knew how bad hangovers were, not to mention the bitter taste of beer, I wondered why people loved the stuff so much. Since I was going back home soon, I was done with it shortly. Wait. I’m forgetting something, aren’t I? How did I get back to my room last night? I opened my eyes, only to wince and squint. There was light coming in from a set of open curtains,
I looked up when the door to the bedroom opened. Klara stepped out, fully dressed, with her purse in hand, and her hair was looking a little wet.“So, you finally decided to join me, huh?”Immediately, she frowned. I wondered if she knew, but every time she did that, her lower lip looked like it was sticking out in a pout, making me think she was cute again.“I used your shower,” she muttered. “It took a few minutes. Sorry I didn’t ask first.”I waved the apology away. “No need to say sorry for that. Say sorry for making me wait until the food went cold.”Last night, while she took my bed, I slept on the couch. It was damn uncomfortable, and I woke up early with a crick in my neck. I felt like I didn’t get enough sleep, actually, but it was better than bothering her.Still, I had to wonder when I started turning into a saint.The tray had been set on the coffee table, and I lifted the covers off the dishes. I’d ordered all the stuff that was good for hangovers. Some eggs, toast, slice
He let me go change, but he made me wait for him to finish his breakfast, then as I dumped the plates outside the room for room service, then he followed me back to my room. It was a smaller suite, but it at least had two rooms and a bathroom, and I had him wait in the front room as I changed. I didn’t have time to wash my underwear, so I just folded it and put it far away in my suitcase. I’d have to remember it later. Then, we headed out. “How are we getting there?” I asked. “Do you have a car?” I’d wasted money to get a flight, thinking I’d have to make my way back by bus, since I didn’t think the cash I had would be enough for much, and in the end didn’t last nearly as long as I’d hoped, anyway. It was just about everything I’d been saving up since I got my first job when I was sixteen, but until I finished high school, I used up more than I saved, so while it wasn’t little, it wasn’t a lot, either. When I realized there was not much point in continuing to save it, since I h
Klara was trembling. I’d only kissed her, and I thought she would shake apart in my arms.Damn.What happened to all those innocent intentions I had earlier? I was starting to wonder if I’d had any from the moment she fell into me at the club. Sure, I didn’t try coming onto her before, but that would’ve been in poor taste.She was, however, a beautiful woman that I was spending the day with, and it was obvious the attraction wasn’t just on my part.The first time, she didn’t seem to have any reaction, but that could have been because she was nervous for her first time on a helicopter. Every time after that, though, she’d kept blushing and fidgeting. More than once, I’d caught her staring at me when she thought I wasn’t looking.Honestly, I wasn’t going to try anything. It wasn’t the reason I asked her to go out with me to the Grand Canyon. I did want to see it, and it meant time away from my brother, which was a good thing. But seeing her sweet reactions, I couldn’t help touching her