The Baby They Bonded Over

She stood outside of the airport as cops harassed her about loitering and if she was going to leave she needed to do so immediately. They were trying to clear the area so fast that she didn’t have time to wait for a taxi, so she called her sister first. Sylvia couldn’t leave work so she sent Jeremy instead.

Jeremy smiled as they thought about that long and treacherous day she had at the airport.

“Why are you smiling at my misery?” Nadia poked him playfully in the shoulder.

“Because I remember that day, and as angry as you were, you still had a smile on your face when I showed up. Big head jokes and all, you always get yourself out of that funky space. I like that about you. You were wearing this bright orange sundress, with all these flowers, and it fit you so perfect. After you told me what happened, I wanted to change everything and take you to Jamaica myself. But, that damn boyfriend of yours weaseled his way back into your heart one last time after that,” Jeremy sighed.

“Wow,” Nadia started to look at Jeremy differently. Their relationship was definitely changing but she wasn’t sure if it was the plan or if it was happening naturally on its own. She pulled his face to hers so she could stare him straight in the eyes when she said, “Thank you for being you. Even in my stupidity, and when I was being unnecessarily mean to you, you always come through for me.”

Jeremy could see the tear in her eye. He didn’t let it fall. He pulled her in closer. Their lips met passionately.

He backed off her immediately. The both of them gasped for air.

“What’s the matter?” he asked her.

“I don’t know. I liked it but I wasn’t expecting to like it, like it. It feels too real,” Nadia fumbled over her words.

“I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean. I thought this is what you wanted. It happened naturally, but isn’t this still a part of the plan?” Jeremy was left confused and wondering how they were supposed to move on pass this point. “I can leave if you want me to.”

“No,” Nadia protested. “I still want you here. I just don’t think I’m ready to make a baby tonight.”

 Jeremy nodded his head, “I get that. I didn’t mean to push you. I guess I just got caught up in the moment.”

“You weren’t the only one,” Nadia admitted. “You would have messed around and gave me twins or something on this couch.”

Jeremy laughed so hard he nearly choked, “Yeah, I was about to put it down on you. Show you how these square dudes make love.”

This time, Nadia exploded in laughter. If they could keep their jokes and sense of humor for the rest of this process, Nadia knew things would go smoothly. She told Jeremy he could stay in her guest bedroom upstairs while she went into her own room for the night. Things were getting crazy and she knew the lunacy would only escalate more before she got her peace and sanity back.

Jeremy lay in the bed wondering about what Nadia said. He could tell she was joking, but what if they actually do get pregnant with twins? And the kissing was amazing. He began to wonder why they had never tried to make something work between them before. He knew … It was Paul. That creep had always figured out a way to get back into Nadia’s good graces. A part of him knew that it wasn’t entirely that, but it was a Paul bashing kind of night. He laughed at himself before he silenced his thoughts, turned over, and went to sleep.

Nadia stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror stumped. She didn’t know why she stopped Jeremy when he probably would have gotten her pregnant right then and there. She knew … It felt real and she didn’t want to get caught up. How could she have feelings for Jeremy? He was only a billionaire that she’d known for years, who was a perfect gentleman, and was always there to help her out. She shook her head at herself for the emotions running through her heart. Real feelings were not a part of this plan. Sylvia was right. As much as she hated admitting that, and she would never tell her sister, they were playing around in an arena they weren’t prepared for. 

Nadia decided to refocus on the task at hand. She needed to get her head out of her heart and back into the game. Paul had already shown his ass twice while Jeremy was around. He’s the reason Jeremy even stayed and then they had that passionate moment on the couch. This is all Paul’s fault. Yes! That’s what she was going to keep telling herself to make it to the end of this game. She finished tying her hair up for the night and turned the light out in the bathroom.

Nadia plopped down onto her queen sized mattress and suddenly felt alone. Jeremy was right down the hall. Maybe he felt the same way she did. Maybe they should have tried this out a long time ago. But, Nadia knew she wasn’t ready for a real man like Jeremy. Even now, she was playing games with Paul just to get him to leave her alone. Jeremy couldn’t think very highly of her. But if he didn’t then why was he going along with this madness? And he was never one to hold his tongue; wouldn’t he tell her if he felt a kind of way? Nadia was about to drive herself crazy with questions about what her true feelings were versus Jeremy’s. There was so much she wanted to discuss now about this potential pregnancy, and maybe even a future with them together. But not knowing how Jeremy actually felt was making her irrational. The last idea to pop into her head before she closed her eyes was if Jeremy was able to make her lust and want after him after a simple kiss, what was going to happen when they tried to make a baby? What if they had to try over and over and over again? Nadia laughed to herself as she kind of enjoyed that part of it. S*x was definitely coming between them. She just hoped she was ready.