Chapter Twenty-Four

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Val

A fter the stress of the last week, we all need to let our hair down a little. "Are you coming with us tonight?" I ask Gabby as we finish up closing. "We're going to Monroe's."

"Barrett said something about it yesterday, but I'm so tired." She yawns, as she says the words. "I told him he was welcome to go without me, but this is the reality of dating an older woman." She smirks.

I laugh loudly, rolling my eyes. "What did he say to you?"

"Said something about me being an idiot, and he knows I'm not that old." She looks around to see if anyone is listening to us, or if there's any stragglers in the building. When she sees that we're alone, she leans in. "I have a secret, you have to promise you won't say anything to anyone. I haven't told Barrett yet."

My stomach is shaky as I listen to her. People have never trusted me with their secrets, more than likely because I've never trusted anyone with mine. "My loyalty is to you, not Barrett, so you don't have to worry about me saying anything to anyone."

Her eyes meet mine, and relief is apparent. "I think I'm pregnant."

"What?" I blink twice. I don't want to be super excited for her if she's not. "How are we feeling about this?"

She runs a hand through her hair. "Barrett and I haven't discussed it, and I honestly didn't think I'd be here at my age. I figured I'd have been there as a young twenty-something, but not now."

She hasn't answered my question, at least not in a way that gives a definite idea of how she's feeling, so I ask again. "Are you happy?"

"I think so." She swallows hard, her eyes shining. "I wasn't sure I'd ever be ready for it, but at the same time I think this is one of those things where if you want until you're ready, you're never going to be."

"I understand what you're saying in the grand scheme of things, but babies are used as a tool from where I come from. It's almost as if they're a piece of currency. People look at you if you have a bunch of kids, and they see you as abundant, and fulfilling your duty. It's hard for me to look at a child as anything else, but I know normal people aren't like that."

"No." She rubs at her stomach. "We aren't like that at all. I'm terrified and worried about how I'm going to afford a kid."

I give her a smile. "You'll figure it out. Good parents always do. Are you going to take a test?"

She holds one up from where she's been hiding it behind her back. "I just need to get the guts."

"Do it, then at least you'll know the answer." I would want to know for sure.

"Isn't it better to be ignorant?" She pulls her bottom lip in between her teeth.

"No, not when it comes to being pregnant, Gabs. Go do it."

When she comes out of the bathroom, she's holding the test. "Look at it." She shoves it in front of me so I can read it. "Are you happy?"

She nods slowly. "Yeah, but keep this between us?"

"Always.

------

We've been at Monroe's for an hour, and we've all had a few drinks, when I curl my finger for Vaughn to lean in closer. "I have to go to the restroom."

"Alright." He taps my hip, because I'm sitting on his knee. "Want me to go with you? It's crazy in here tonight, and there's still some linemen that came in to help with the cleanup. They're always looking for either a good time, or to cause some trouble."

The live band playing gets louder at that moment, so I have to lean in, my lips touching the outline of his ear. I've never touched him freely in front of our friends, but I let my tongue sneak out and circle the edge.

"Sure, if you don't care." I give him a smile.

"I never care to. I want you to always feel safe." He always makes me feel safe, no matter where we are, or what we're doing. I'm allowed to try new things, to express anything I'm feeling, and he never makes me question letting him in.

I go to the bathroom, and after I wash my hands, I walk out to the hallway.

Vaughn is in the corner, talking to a friend. He puts up a finger, and I take a moment to catch my breath and hang out in the coolness of the hallway. It's much less crowded here, and you can actually take a few breaths without inhaling the heat of the dancefloor.

"Hey honey, you're looking awful sweet." A man's voice breaks my thoughts.

"No thanks." I move away from him, making myself smaller against the wall. "Just waiting on my boyfriend."

"Where is he?" He looks around. "Probably making that up."

"No. I'm not. If you'll excuse me." I try to walk past him, but he crowds into my personal space, blocking my way. "Move." I tilt my head to the side, but I have to look up because he's so tall.

He reaches out, grabbing hold of my arm. "C'mon baby, you don't really want me to leave you alone." He leans in, and I press my lips together, hoping to block him from taking the kiss he's angling for.

That's when he pulled away, and pushed back toward the table we came from. Vaughn is pushing him toward our crew, talking to him. I can't hear what's being said, but the guy holds his hands up as if he's surrendering. Before we can get back to our table, the man says a few words that appear to piss Vaughn off.

Vaughn reaches out, grabbing hold of the guy's shirt, and lifting him off the ground. I finally get to where they are, and I know I have to do something.

"Vaughn..." I reach forward, putting my fingers around his bicep. "Thank you for wanting to, but you don't have to protect me."

"Yes I do." He doesn't look at me, his eyes stay on the man in front of us. His muscles are tense and ready to defend. "No one else ever would, and I made a promise that you'd never have to wonder if someone would again."

Tears pool in my eyes, because this man - the one that everyone always talks about having fun with life - is the only person who has ever made me feel safe. "You don't have to." I shake my head, reaching up to cup his jaw. I turn his face to me. "I will never wonder with you, Vaughn. You made me feel safe, and I never have to worry that you won't. I don't need you to use your fists with this man in front of you. Just your presence makes me feel like nothing will touch me. Let's go back to our table."

His eyes, the color of coal tonight, are looking into mine for permission. "Okay." His tongue reaches out, licking cracked lips. "If you're good with this, then I will be too."

"Thank you." He respects me in ways no one else ever has, although he's seen me at my weakest, most vulnerable, and moments that would embarrass me with anyone else. He's played my body like an instrument, taught me how to touch him, and forced me to come to grips with things that my family made me feel were wrong. Those things aren't wrong. I know that now because of him. "Let's go." I reach for his hand, leading him back to the table that our crew is using for the night.

When we get there, the girls are looking at him with wide eyes. I don't think any of us were prepared for him to go after this man the way he did, but I'm not scared. I'm thankful, and I can't wait to get him alone to show him exactly how much.