Finding My Forever (Beaumont 3)

“I promised her the world when we were in high school. I knew she was my girl, but when I went to college, shit was bad and I freaked out. If Mason hadn’t died I wouldn’t know my son.”

“You shouldn’t think like that, man. I’m sure she would’ve found you.” I know he said that he and Josie are fine, but I’m starting to think otherwise. Why is he going on about him and Noah like this when they’re a family? When they seem to have everything going for them?

“Jenna’s pregnant and doesn’t want to tell the baby’s father even though I think she’s making a mistake. I told her that the dad has a right to know.”

I play a few chords, working out a melody. “I didn’t know she had a boyfriend. Why doesn’t she want to tell him?”

“I don’t know, something about him not being father material and they’re not together.”

I take my guitar off and put it on its stand. I rub my hands down my legs. “I’m sure she’ll come around.”

“I don’t think she will. She won’t even tell us who the dad is.”

“How many weeks is she?” I don’t know why I’m asking, but I need to know.

“She’s past her first trimester. I didn’t know what that meant so I looked it up before I came down here. She got pregnant sometime around the wedding. A one-night stand with a lasting memory.”

I swallow hard and stand up. I don’t have anything else to add to the conversation. I have no idea why women make the decisions they do, but I do understand why Liam is upset. He missed out on a lot where his son is concerned. No one should have to experience what he did, unless it’s by choice.

I sit outside, replaying Liam’s words over and over in my head. Jenna’s pregnant. The way he opened up about him and Noah really struck a chord with me. Liam always wanted to be a father. I know my mum wanted me, but my dad… he couldn’t have cared less.

I light a cigarette, blowing the smoke into the cool night air. I make smoke rings to entertain myself while I try to work out how to get Jenna outside. I should just go to her room and kidnap her. That would be exciting and slightly stalkerish, but she’d forgive me. Her father may shoot me though.

“You shouldn’t smoke.”

I turn sharply at the sound of her voice. She’s wearing a long white pyjama top and I’m unable to see her belly, not that I’m looking, but I’m definitely curious.

“Jesus, you put the shits right up me, Sweet Lips.” I stub my cigarette out. The last thing she needs is me blowing smoke in her direction and hurting her baby.

“I did what?”

“Ah sorry, I mean, you scared me.”

“You have an interesting way with words, Jimmy. What are you doing out here?” she asks, sitting down next to me. Her gown covers her legs, still making it impossible for me to see any evidence of a bump. I don’t know what my infatuation is with her, but I think she’s beautiful and this baby is going to be lucky if he’s staring at her all the time. She could be having a girl with the same dark red hair and green eyes.

“What are you looking at?”

“You,” I reply, smiling.

“Why?” she brushes her hair with her hand and looks away.

I reach over and pull her chin towards me. Her muscles are tense. Her eyes are downcast. I hate that she’s afraid of affection.

“I’m just counting your freckles.”

“Sprinkles,” she says. I look at her questioningly. “I called them sprinkles when I was younger and never stopped.”

I drop my hand, but let it rest on her leg. She doesn’t push it off or shift away. “Will you call them sprinkles for your baby too?”

She looks at me in surprise. I shrug in response not wanting to give up the source of my information. I try to smile at her, but it turns more into a flirty gesture. I rub my hand over my face, still unable to move my other hand from her leg.

“You know what, I promised you a holiday. What do you say we leave right now, get a flight to some tropical island and sit on hammocks for a week while waves crash onto the beach around us? You can go to the spa and get pampered and I’ll treat you to moonlight walks and dinner under the stars.”

“I don’t know, Jimmy, what will all your girls think of this treatment?”

I shake my head. “Only you get this side of me. I want to give you a week of pure bliss. It’s the least I can do seeing as you never look down on me.”

“Okay,” she says, not hesitating in the slightest. I thought she’d definitely put up a fight.