Expecting the Playboy's Baby (11 page)

He returned home later that afternoon. She noticed he didn’t look at her or Linda. He glanced around the room, nodded his head, and moved on.

“You’re right. He’s acting differently. I wonder what crawled up his ass,” Linda said.

Jennifer stayed out of his way. When the doorbell rang she was with Linda in the spare room getting ready. Her bump was noticeable in many of the dresses he’d bought her. Jennifer decided to wear a dress that moulded to her breasts and flared out. There would be no noticeable stomach bump.

“I don’t know why you’re trying to hide it, Jen. You’re pregnant and glowing. Embrace what you’ve got.”

Linda finished putting her hair up. For a second Jennifer could pretend they were girls again preparing for the prom.

“Is there any prospective man in your life?” she asked.

“Nope, I’m more interested in my friend’s love life. She’s got one, and I live through her.”

The sound of laughter echoed up the stairs. Jennifer fisted her hands to try to stop them from shaking.

“Why are you nervous?”

“I hate parties. I hate everything to do with them. Why did he have to throw a party?”

Linda shrugged. “I’ve no idea. He’s your man.”

Licking her lips, Jennifer wondered if she’d be able to hide out upstairs.

“Come on, I’m here.” Linda took her arm and led her down stairs. There were at least thirty people milling around the house. The doorbell sounded. She watched Patrick let another bunch of people in.
 
“I guess this is not going to be a small gathering, huh?”

Feeling entirely out of her element, Jennifer stayed as far away from the crowds as possible. Linda stood by her side even when men asked her for a dance.

“Go on. Dance, have fun. I’m fine.”

Patrick had ignored her from the moment the party began. She stood in the dining room and gazed out of the doors to where the garden was highlighted with the many outdoor lights.

“Here is the woman of the hour,” Patrick said.

He sounded drunk, and she froze. Turning to face him, she plastered a smile on her face. His friends looked at her as if she was some kind of bug.

Rubbing a hand over her stomach, he pulled her in close. “How are you doing, baby?”

“I’m fine,” she said.

****

Patrick knew he was being an ass. He wasn’t even drunk. Pulling Jennifer close he felt his body harden at the feel of her against him.

“So, the news is true what they’re saying?” a blonde asked. He couldn’t remember her name, but from the look on her face, he figured he’d fucked her at some point.

“The news about her being pregnant with my baby?
Yes, that’s all true. I knocked her up first time we were together.”

Jennifer pulled away from him. She looked at his friends and then left. He heard his friends laugh as she stumbled up the stairs.

Why had he done this? Linda shot him a hateful look and then followed her up the stairs. When Jennifer was out of sight the blonde ran her hands up his chest. “Is that why you’ve been blowing us off? You’re on whale duty?”

He frowned. “What did you say?”

“Everyone knows you’re saddled with the
Dixon
girl. She’s huge, Patrick, and she ruins your image.”

She pressed her body against his. His cock deflated. She was all skin and bones. When had he found that a turn-on?

“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t call my wife names.”

“Future wife now?
I didn’t know it was getting to that stage.”

He looked back in the direction of the stairs and was shocked to see Linda and Jennifer walking down the stairs. Her eyes were red, and the make-up she’d been wearing was wiped clean. She looked refreshed and beautiful. Jennifer took his breath away.

Jennifer glanced over at them and then moved out to the garden. He pushed the blonde away from him and went in search of Jennifer.

You’ve fucked up. Why are you fucking it up with her? You love her, Patrick.

She was standing in the gazebo area. Linda stopped in front of him. “Why are you being a prick? She’s trying to make this work because you demanded it from her. You’re an asshole.” She shoved him as she walked past.

He moved up to the gazebo.

“What’s the matter, babe?” he asked.

She turned on him. Her arms folded over her chest. “What the hell are you doing?”

Patrick stood and lost the drunken persona. He hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol, and she saw through his act.

“You’re putting on a show?”

He didn’t say a word.

“If you wanted to be an actor why don’t you go out and try it?”

She spun turning her back on him. Patrick moved up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

“Don’t touch me. I don’t want you near me right now,” she said.

He kept his hold on her waist. “I don’t know what I’m doing,” he said.

“You’re a grown man, Patrick. Stop behaving like a teenager.” She pulled out of his hold. “I want you to remember that it was you that asked me to move here. You wanted to be part of this baby’s life. I was content to do it all myself. Don’t start treating me like I landed this in your lap and you’re trying to deal with it.”

She stormed away. Patrick took large gulps of fresh air. He needed to clear his mind. He stood overlooking the garden when he heard several girls laughing.

“Did you see the way she looked? I can’t believe the bitch has snagged him.”

“Snagged him? The only thing appealing about her is the bank balance she comes with. Her brother is one hot guy. I’d fuck him if the chance ever arose.”

Patrick looked toward the sound.

“Do you really think Patrick will marry her?”

“Who knows? I never thought he’d get a girl pregnant. I sure tried to make him forget a condom. The fucker never did.”

He felt sick to his stomach that he’d ever touched one of the girls. Shaking his head, he made his way inside. Looking at his space and seeing Jennifer sitting on the sofa with her feet curled up underneath her made him lose what little control he had.

“Get the fuck out of my house.” He yelled the words for everyone to hear.

They froze, and the music stopped as he cursed.

“What’s going on?” one person asked.

“Get out. This party was a mistake. Get the fuck out.”

All of his guests started to filter out of the front door. He didn’t care if the news hit the morning papers. The only thing on his mind was getting them out of his door. He was losing his mind where Jennifer was concerned.

When they all filed out he stared at Jennifer. She didn’t look at him.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

She turned in her seat to look at him.

“Do you want me to go?” she asked.

Linda left them alone. He sat down where her friend had been seated seconds before. Reaching for her hand, Patrick was startled when she pulled away.

“I’ve been an asshole,” he said. “I don’t want you to go.”

Jennifer stood without speaking to him.

“Don’t walk away.” He took her hand in his. Her palm was sweaty. He stood, cupping her cheek and staring down into her eyes. “I’m not used to this. I lost control.”

“I didn’t force this on you, Patrick. You don’t have to start being different because of me. I’m having this baby because I want to. You need to decide what you want to do.”

She brushed past him and walked up the stairs. He watched her go and knew she was right. With his head in his hands Patrick cursed. He didn’t know what was wrong with him. That morning after going with her to the doctor’s appointment he’d seen a caricature of him and Jennifer in the newspaper. They had been surrounded by three screaming kids, and he’d snapped. The paper had talked about her taming him in some freakish kind of way. After seeing it he’d wanted to convince himself nothing had changed. He wanted to think he was the same old Patrick when the truth was he was not. He’d fucked up, and he didn’t have a clue what to do.

Chapter Nine

After the party there was a tenseness that surrounded them. Jennifer no longer felt free with him and knew he was wishing for other things. He didn’t reach for her, and their sex life had all but fizzled out. There were times he looked at her, and she was sure he wanted to say or do something, but then he’d simply turn away. She didn’t understand. What was holding him back? Linda visited her as much as she could. Jennifer knew the visits were hard for her friend. Patrick wasn’t the most welcoming of men. He seemed to hate Linda with a passion. She’d never understand why he looked angry all the time. The newspapers had been filled with his disaster of a party. The gossip had turned it around and made it her fault.

Her mother had shocked her with several phone calls offering to support and help her. She’d never known her mother cared so much about her.

The furniture arrived for the nursery. She asked the delivery men to store it in the room. Jennifer hadn’t gone back in the room for several days. Patrick stayed out a lot of the time.

When a week had passed and nothing felt like it was going right, she walked into the nursery and started going through the furniture. She wasn’t stupid, and she tore open a box and began to read the instructions. Assembling the crib looked easy enough. The tools had come with the stuff. Pushing the other furniture out of the way, she began to organise the space.

Every now and then tears would grip her. She rubbed them away and winced as she started to get lower back pain. Jennifer moved around the room trying to get comfortable. The pain would disappear as quickly as it reappeared. She continued to ignore the pain as she worked. Her mind filled with other worries that were mostly directed to the father of the baby.

She cringed when she heard the sound of the door opening and closing. When she’d first started living with him she’d have called out. In the last week she hadn’t bothered to call to him. Once the baby was born if she still felt like this then she was moving back into her old apartment. She read through the instructions as Patrick opened the door to the room. Jennifer didn’t look up and continued to assemble the crib.

“What are you doing?” he asked. His voice was soft as he spoke.

“Assembling a crib.
It looks easy enough.”

She grabbed a piece of wood and aligned it up before getting the screws to fit into place.

“You shouldn’t be doing this, Jennifer.”

“Someone has to, and I’ve got a lot of free time.”

She heard him sigh and ignored it.

“Is this the way it’s going to be between us?” he asked.

“I don’t know. You seem determined to put distance between us. I’m merely carrying on with what you have planned. Could you pass me that pole?” She glanced up at him. He glared down at her.

“I didn’t plan for this, Jennifer. I’m trying to deal with it.” He pointed at her stomach and then at her.