Page 71 of The Betrayal
We all sit with our hats on for the duration of our meal and even take them home with us. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it, but I loved every second of it.
Saying our goodbyes, we slip into our room, and I feel exhausted suddenly.
“Let me draw you a bath,” Keaton says as he wraps his arms around me and pulls me close.
“That would be amazing,” he places a kiss on my forehead.
Stepping into the bathroom, the aromas fill my nose and I instantly feel relaxed. Lavender and eucalyptus wrap me in a warm blanket as I pull my dress from my body, and I let it fall to the floor. Once naked, I turn to face the mirror and look at my body, and I know it’s impossible, but I already feel like I have changed from this morning. It’s slowly sinking in that I am growing a baby, a little human who I am bringing into this world to love with everything I have. I have no idea how to be a mother, I have no idea how to love a child how a mother should, but I will do my very best. I had the best teacher in my dad, he was the best mom and dad there was, and I am so grateful. He was there for every cold, every tear, every bad dream and every fall out that I ever had. It was always him. Nate and Kaleb too. Keaton never really helped out when I was younger. He was only there if no one else could help, and now, being where we are, I am grateful for that.
Dipping my foot into the hot bath water, my skin breaks into goosebumps as I slip under the bubbles, and I hadn’t realized how much I needed it until now. I feel my muscles relax under the water and with the bath salts. My eyes are closed, and I enjoy the silence until I hear the bathroom door go and a knowing smile graces my lips. Keaton kneels next to the bath, his hand slipping into the hot water, and I can feel him looking at me. Slowly opening my eyes, his green eyes are settled on me, scanning over my face as if he is trying to remember every detail.
“Stop staring,” I say softly, my eyes falling heavy as I let them close once more.
“I can’t help it, you’re just too beautiful.”
Cheese ball.
And I feel the heat creep onto my cheeks.
“Are you drunk?” I tease, eyes still closed, lips pulling into a smirk.
“Drunk in lo…” and he pauses, my eyes slowly opening.
“Same,” I hum, not wanting him to think that he is the only one who is feeling something so much more than friendship.
“What’s happening to us?” He whispers, his hand moving back and forth through the bath water causing soft ripples.
“We’ve fallen, we crossed the line…” I pause, his fingertips brushing the silkiness of my wet skin on my thigh.
“The line wanted to be crossed.”
“It did…” I pause for a moment and my chest vibrates on my intake of breath. “Dad is going to be furious.”
“So, he will get over it. These things happen. You can’t help who you fall in lo…”
“I know,” I nod, slipping a little further under so now my lips are under the water, stopping myself from saying the words out loud, but doesn’t mean I can’t mouth I love you under water where only I can feel it, only I know I am speaking it. “I do need to talk to him, I don’t want to have this baby still being mad at him.”
“I agree, he will be okay.”
“I’m not so sure, I’m his baby.”
“You are, but you’re also a young woman who deserves to live her life and fall for whoever she wants. He will be madder at me, trust me. If I don’t return, then send out a search party. I’ll send my last location so it will give you a little hint of where he may have buried me. Plus, he has Xavier. There is no way I am getting out of this alive, Blossom,” he smirks at me and I splash him with a little bit of water.
“Stop it, he wouldn’t do that, he loves you too much.”
“He did. Not anymore.”
“That’s how I feel.”
And sadness blooms in my chest at my confession.
“Baby,” he pauses, his wet fingers gripping my chin and turning me to face him, “he will never not love you. He may be mad, fuck, he may be furious, but he will always love you. You’re his baby girl, he loves you so much Ari. He is worried but he knows you’re in good hands…” he trails off and tilts his head to the side, “well you were before I married you while drunk and let you get pregnant.”
I roll my lips.
“I want this baby to be yours Keaton, so bad.”
“Baby, I’ve told you, this baby is mine. Blood or not, this baby is mine.”