Thank God Colton was not here to see this.
Women do not talk about how uncomfortable it is to pee on a stick. Seriously. After peeing on everything in sight. I set the stick on the bathroom counter, then hop in the shower.
At least the shower keeps me from waiting around for the test. When I turn off the shower, I realize I cannot change because Colton's still in my room. I hesitate but open the door. He was pacing but stops when he hears the door open, raising his eyebrow. "well?"
"I haven't looked," I say through the crack. "Could you turn around? I need to get to my closet."
He looks me up and down slowly, as if barely realizing that I only have a towel around me. I completely freeze. "yeah, sure." He says after a moment, then turns around. I walk out of the bathroom and hurry to my closet; I do not have much room, but I able to put on underwear and a bra before quickly grabbing a pair of shorts and blouse. Not bad.
Colton is standing in the bathroom doorway with the pregnancy stick in his hands and I wince. "Colton- "I want to tell him he should not touch that, but he looks up at me.
"it's positive." He says.
"What?" I ask, reaching for it. Sure enough, there's a plus sign on it. "Oh my God-I'm pregnant?"
"Are you alright?" he is concerned. "Emily, sit-you're pale." He leads me to the bed, and I sit. I was fine five seconds ago, but now that I know I am pregnant, I am suddenly feeling all the symptoms.
How ironic. It is his baby-he is the one that should be freaking out, not me.
"it's real now." I say slowly.
He smiles as he nods. "yes it is."
I nod, too, not knowing what to say. It is weird-I am pregnant, but I do not feel anything. Sure, the baby is nothing but a fertilized egg, but still.
"Are you okay?" should I call the doctor or…?"
"No." I smile. "I'm sorry. I think I... freaked out."
Colton chuckles. "it's okay, I think I…freaked out a little, too," he admits.
My eyes widen. "You still want the baby, right? Because now it is growing inside me and it is coming and I cannot be a mom, Colton- "
"Emily, calm down-of course I still want the baby. And like you said-it's real now."
"it is." I say, looking down at my flat stomach. Soon it will grow, and everyone will know I am pregnant. There will be no hiding it. There is a brief moment of silence until my stomach decides it is time to sound like a whale. Colton smiles.
"Let's go eat," he suggests.
I frown. "it's okay-you don't have to stick around. I mean, don't you have things to do at your club or something?"
"it wasn't a question," he says with a smirk.
"Are you going to keep using this contract against me? because that's not really fair."
"Put on your shoes," he orders.
I sigh, but still put on my shoes. "Is it cold outside?"
"No, it's actually quite nice."
"You're going out?" Peter asks as we pass the living room.
"What is it to you?" Colton retorts glaring at him.
Peter stands from the couch. "I wasn't talking to you." He turns to look at me. "Are you sure you want to go with him?"
I understand why Peter would think Colton is some crazy, controlling psycho-which he is-but it is not necessary. I sigh. "can you guys stop fighting?" I look at Colton. "Let's just go."
He is amused as he opens the door for me.
"what is your problem?" I demand when we get in the truck.
"My problem is your roommate." He says, starting the ignition.
"You don't even know Peter."
"Have you and him been together?"
"What?"
"Is he your boyfriend?" now he at least looks a little uncomfortable.
"no," I say, annoyed. "even if he were, it wouldn't be your business."
"It would," Colton counters. "You're carrying my child, Emily. For the next nine months, everything regarding you is my business whether you like it or not.
I do not say anything-because it does not matter what I say. He will mention the stupid contract. I sighed up for this…literally. Colton drives us to some fancy restaurant.
"Mr. Collins, nice to see you," the host says as he leads us to a table. Colton, of course, pulls out the chair for me. I am angry at him, so I do not say anything when I sit.
"Thank you." Colton tells the host, taking a seat in front of me.
"anything to drink?"
"I'll have some wine. Emily?" he looks at me, raising his eyebrows.
"Water, please."
"I'll be right back."
"You're mad at me," Colton says, studying me.
"I'm glad it's obvious.
"Why are you mad at me?" he looks at me like I am the funniest person on earth.
"Do you think everything is a joke or what?" I ask without thinking.
"Actually, I consider myself a very serious person."
"You're annoying."
He chuckles, then stops when he sees me glaring. "I'm sorry. Tell me what I can do."
"you want to control everything. Acting like I cannot live with Peter just because he is a guy? Seriously, Colton."
He leans over the table and whispers. "I should have mentioned-I can be very protective. Especially over the woman who's carrying my child."
I blink. I do not know how to respond to that. If we were married and expecting, it would be romantic, but we are not in that situation. "you can't control my life."
He leans back. "We can have this conversation as many times as you'd like, Emily. I'm always going to remind you that you signed a contract."
"Maybe I should have read it." I murmur, angry at myself.
"You should have. There is a reason I made the contract."
I open my mouth to say something but stop when the waiter comes with our drinks. I sip my water, realizing how thirsty I was. Colton asks for another glass.
"I want to talk to you about something."
"Why do I get the feeling I'm not going to like it?"
He smiles and stares at me for a moment. "I want you to move in with me."
"What?" my voice drops to a whisper.
"I think it'll make this much easier- especially now that you're pregnant. You can move in with me or you can deal with me coming to your apartment every day."
"I don't want either of those things."
I do not know why I am whispering-I am shocked. It is not every day I get asked to move in with a man…especially a man like Colton.
You will have your own room-your space. I will provide the food and all the necessities. You won't have to lift a finger."
"What, are you going to clean?" I ask sarcastically.
"I have a maid."
Of course, he does. I shake my head. "No."
"Why not?"
"What's going to happened after I have the baby? I'll be homeless." I sigh. "Colton, you want me to change my whole life for what…nine months? Then what? I'm homeless with no job and no money."
"When you signed that contract, you agreed to commit to me, and I agreed to take care of you. Emily, you will not end up homeless with no job and no money. I will not allow that. Will you please trust me on that?"
I bite my lower lip. "I still don't know, though."
"Well, you obviously don't have a problem living with men."
I roll my eyes. "I've known Peter for two years- It's different."
"I'm hardly there. I'm usually at the club at night." He tell me. "I won't always be around, if that's what you're worried about."
I do not know why that bothers me. He is hardly home? What does he do at the club? More like who does he do? I shake my head. That is none of my business. "you're going to make me yes eventually, aren't you?"
He smirks. "I will."
"Anything else you want to change? Switch schools? Prohibit me from having friends?"
"don't give me any ideas," Colton teases.
"Whatever. It's already done." I say, placing my hand on my stomach under the table. I am officially having a baby. It is so weird how easy it is to forget about it.
"You better start getting used to this, Emily, because it's only the beginning."