Alice 1.23: We Need to Talk

 

 

     I'm working on my acting skill when Mark surprises me. He'd come home and immediately stepped into the shower.

     "We need to talk," he says.

     I blink at him. "Okay?" Did Geoffrey get to him?

     We both have a seat on the bed.

 

     "Do you still like me, Alice? I mean, are you still attracted to me?"

     Oh no. Geoffrey DID somehow get to him. I decide to stall to see if I can get more information. I don't want to assume anymore. "Why do you ask that?"

     "Well, we haven't woohooed since that time right after Carlie was born."

     "Oh." Still not enough information. "I just haven't wanted to. New mom hormones."

     "You're blaming this on hormones," he states. "Are you depressed? Do you need to see a doctor?"

     I glare at him. "What do you mean, 'blaming this on hormones'? It's a thing! And no, I'm not depressed. I just don't want to, okay?"

     He backs his head up. "Well, I don't understand it. Is there something wrong with me?"

     "I'm just not in the mood."

     He slides over. "Okay. Let's fix that." He starts massaging my shoulders.

     "Mark..." I whine. Why do men always think this is the answer?

     "You're tense. You need this." He leans in and says low in my ear, "Just let Mark ease some of that tension." He reaches around for my robe's belt and unties it.

     "Mark!" I cry out as quietly as I can so that I don't wake the baby. He's placed one arm around my torso to hold me to him while his other hand moves between my legs.

      "Oh yeah, you need this. I can get you in the mood."

      No, I don't want this. "I'm not EMOTIONALLY in the mood, Mark." I'm panting. His hand stops, but it maintains its pressure.

     "Emotionally? What are you talking about?" he asks as he lets me fight him off me.

     "How can you ask that?"

     "Because whatever you mean by 'emotions,' I know you want me. Well, I'm right here, ready for the taking."

     Gah! He's right in that I want him. Desire pulses through my veins with all the power a purple prose romance novel can throw at it. Even though my mind knows it's just physical, my body doesn't care.

     While I sit here quietly staring at him, he reaches back over and grabs my knee before letting his hand travel north. His other hand pulls back a panel of my robe, and he leans in to kiss my chest.

     "Mark, please..." I'm losing this fight against the physical.

     "I want you, Alice. I've been going crazy trying to figure out what's been holding you back. Now I know: you want to be seduced." His hand gets going again, making me whine.

     "Mark, please. No." I gasp for air when he stops.

     "What is your PROBLEM?" He scowls.

     "What do you mean 'what is MY problem?'" I ask as I fix my robe.

     "I'm at my wit's end now, Alice. I don't know what to do. We used to woohoo all the time and now we don't. I just wanna know why." He pauses, thinking. "Is it that you're scared you'll get pregnant again? I'll get snipped: problem solved! Will that do it?"

     "Can't it be that I just don't WANT to?"

     He shakes his head. "No. There is always a reason. Why won't you tell me?"

     "Fine. You want to know?"

     "Yes, dammit. That's what this is all about."

     "I'm not in love with you. Okay?" I watch as he suddenly sits back as if slapped. "It would be so much easier if I were. And that's been preventing me from wanting to. I want more than just sex." The tears start falling.

     He takes several deep breaths. "Wow." More deep breaths. "Okay." More deep breaths. "I see. Then I'll just... spend the night at my place." He gets up and walks out, slamming the front door. Carlie starts screaming, and I get up to feed her, still crying.

     Days go by with no Mark, and Geoffrey is giving me the silent treatment. When my phone finally rings, I nearly jump out of my skin.

     It's Dale, one of the producers. He wants me to star as Rebecca in the film. When I mention my nervousness about my acting skill, he said they can work on that. He assures me no one understands the character better than I, and they want me on set Monday morning for wardrobe fittings.

     Mark has the part as Jarred. This will put us starring together. I tell Dale I'll be there. 

     Except for Carlie, my days turn into a quiet routine. I hear Mark come and go. I think I remembered him mentioning one night how he had some commercial gigs. However, it's eight in the evening right now, and he's headed out again. Probably to a club.

     Okay, so I told him I don't love him. I know that hurt, but that doesn't mean he gets to ignore his daughter too.

     I'm sick of this apartment. I have money. I don't need anything too big. I'm buying a house.

     I get a surprise when I see the option for a new neighborhood. Neat! Something I don't know yet. Perfect.

 

 

     I get a cute little bungalow. Two bedrooms. I love it. I quickly change around the second bedroom and fix it up for Carlie, putting her bassinet in the middle. That's when I see the cribs. Ah ha! They did something with the babies. That explains the dress... that Geoffrey got me.

     I don't have an office anymore, but that's okay. I just set up my laptop in the dining room/kitchen.

     And I get a serious case of writer's block.

     The last thing I want to do is stare at the walls, so I decide to be brave. With my heart doing a great imitation of the drum solo from "Wipeout," I call Geoffrey.

 

     He answers!

     "Geoffrey!" My stomach jumps up into my heart. "You answered!"

     His voice is calm. "Well, I said I would if you needed something."

     "I do need something." This is going to sound so lame.

     "Okay?"

     "I need to talk to you."

     "Fine. Talk," he replies in a guarded way.

     "I mean, um, in person. Is that okay?"

     "Is HE going to be there?" There's a touch of annoyance in his voice now.

     "Huh? Oh. No. And I moved."

     He acts surprised, and I give him my new address. Then he tells me he can't come by right now, but that he'll be by after work tomorrow. I guess if that's as good as I'm going to get, I'll take it.

     I don't sleep much, but the next day, I'm sure to look fabulous.

 

     I see him coming, and dash out the door before he can knock.

     "Hi," I say quickly.

     "Hello." He won't look at me. Why won't he look at me? This isn't a great start.

     "Thank you for coming over. I'll give you a tour later, but could we talk?" Wait. I have no idea how to say any of this that I need to say. 

     "Well, that's why I'm here."

     I motion to one of the benches on my front porch, and we go have a seat. 

----------------------------------------------------

Alice's house can be found HERE

Alicekai'd 1.22: Speaking to the Writer's Mind

 

      I need a friend. I need a friend I can talk to ABOUT Geoffrey.

     Duh! Yui! I sit up in bed and give her a call. She says she'll be right over.

 

     "Do you think I'm crazy?" I ask after telling her everything that's happened.

     "Crazy? No. Conflicted? Yes." Then she sits and ponders how to continue to answer me. I see the teacher persona come out in her.

     "Imagine that YOU are one of your characters. What would you have to say about yourself?"

     "Oh." I sit and think. "I would say that I'm utterly clueless."

     "Why do you say that?"

     "Ummm..." I think back to everything that's happened. "Because I don't see what's going on right in front of me. I, uh, make up my mind too quickly? Or I just flat-out ignore what I don't want to see?" Wow, she's good. "Is that right?"

     She smiles. "Well, 'right' is a bit relative, isn't it? This is the answer you just gave yourself." She pauses, letting that sink in. "Ask yourself why you came to that conclusion."

     "Oh, well, that's easy. I didn't, and probably sometimes refused to, see how Geoffrey felt even though the clues were right in front of my face. I form snap judgments without considering that they might be wrong." It's like she's a psychologist, getting me to think for myself in the proper directions.

     "What snap judgment in particular comes to mind?" she asks.

     "That Geoffrey hates me."

     "That's exactly what I'm thinking. Alice, from everything I've seen and everything you've told me, I have no idea how you came to that conclusion." She pauses. "Maybe because... it was safer?"

     "Safer to think that he hates me?" How?

     She shrugs. "It's just a guess. I mean, why else would you think that? Perhaps the idea of him being in love with you was too much."

 

     After all, didn't I once think how I'd miss him if I were ever to find a way out? He's the only one I thought of that way. Yui lets me think about everything.

     I was already putting myself out there by becoming best friends with him. I was determined to find a way out of this, so I didn't want to form any lasting attachments. I didn't want to be hurt later. Best friend is bad enough, but to admit to more would've been too much to bear.

     I wanted to leave. To admit I loved him would be a deterrent to leaving.

     Why do I love him? Sure, he's no supermodel hearthrob, but he's not bad-looking either. It's gotta be how he makes me feel: safe, listened to, respected, ...loved. It goes past the surface.

     Just like the love guru lady said.

     Oh, shut up. I'm sick of thinking back to that charlatan.

     But it's true. I love him for him.

     Yui interrupts my thoughts. "You finally see it now, don't you?"

 

     "How did you do that?" I ask her with a joking hint of suspicion.

     She giggles. "I merely spoke to your writer's mind."

     "I love him."

     She smiles. "I know."

     I'm glowing... but then reality comes crashing back. "What am I going to do?" She knows I mean about Mark.

     She shakes her head. "I don't know. That's gotta be your decision."

     "I mean, a kid's parents need to stay together, right?"

     "I suppose, but, is it worth it if one of the parents is miserable?" She pauses. "Maybe ask Geoff? From what you told me, he was probably over here to discuss just that."

     "Okay." I get out my phone and text him.

Could we meet somewhere later so that we could talk? 

     "I'm proud of you," Yui says.

     I hold up my hand. "Don't patronize me."

     She giggles.

No. I think it best if we stayed apart. 

     I whisper, "Oh no."

     "What is it?"

     I show her my phone. "He said no." Don't cry don't cry don't cry. These new-mom hormones are awful, and I try to maintain my composure.

    Yui brings in her lips, contemplating. When she releases them, she asks, "Well, are you going to give up?"

     "Humph. No." I start typing again.

 

No. I think there are things we need to clear up. I've been an idiot, and I want to know what to do going forward. 

 

     I wait. And wait.

 

This is a discussion to have with Mark. 

 

     I may as well have been slapped. I show it to Yui. She says that, yeah, maybe I should discuss things with Mark too. Then, she has to leave to go teach a class but asks that I call her if I need anything. 

 

     She's a good friend. Yes, I will have a talk with Mark. I also haven't given up on Geoffrey yet, though.

Alicekai'd 1.21: Ways to Beat the Real World

 

 

     Mark moves in, and he's real sweet about everything. He still has the lease on his place, so we decide to try out both apartments before fully committing to one.

     Then it's time.

     Of course, Mark has to do the daddy freak out dance. We go to the hospital.

     However, when we arrive, he leaves! Oh, he's in big trouble.

 

     My doc turns out to be Eliza Pancakes. I never played her house, so I have no idea what to expect.

     She tries to kill me. At least, that's how it feels to me. If I had to wager a guess, it's all part of the 'entertainment' of the birthing machine.

     Miraculously, it doesn't hurt. Huh. I guess that's one thing this world has over the real one.
     I have a baby girl.

     "Hello, little Carlie Dyer." I smile. "I'm sorry your daddy isn't here, and he'd better have a good explanation."

     I doubt little Carlie is bothered at all.

     When I get home, Mark is sitting in the apartment at the table, eating something. I glare, shake my head, and go to where Carlie magically appeared. (How do people not suspect their world isn't real when there is stuff like this?)

 

 

      I'm back in the hospital gown.

      Carlie has her first meal.

      So... Carlie's MY baby, and I'm from the real world. Does that mean... No, she's probably still bound to this one. It's where she was born anyway.

     Overall, I'm still not sure if I'm ready to be a mother. One thing I AM ready for, and that's to chew out Mark. 

 

     I put her back in her bassinet, and Mark finally has the guts to show up.

     "Hi." Yeah. He knows he's in trouble.

     "I'm not talking to you right now."

     "Alice, come on. I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. I just had this inexplicable urge to leave and go back home."

     I roll my eyes. Game bug? "Yeah right." I point to the baby. "And you're not even interested in meeting your own daughter? I named her Carlie."

     He smiles. "You chose the name I wanted." We'd discussed it last night.

     "Well... Yeah. It sorta grew on me."

     He starts walking stealthily towards me. "I can sorta grow on you too." His innuendo is kinda childish.

     "I'm not interested, Mark." I back up. It's, well, only a bit of a lie. I'm definitely upset with him, but... dayum he's hot, especially when he's in seduction mode.

     He cocks his head to the side. "Really?" His eyes rake over me. "I don't know why, but that hospital gown is really doing it for me."

     I crack up laughing. "You're so weird!" Then he grabs me. "Mark, wait!" I get free then dash into the living room, but he follows me.

 

      I growl at him while he kisses me. "I just had a baby, Mark."

     "Yeah. You just had MY baby." He reaches around for the gown ties. "That's so hot."

     "Mark..."

     "So you just had a baby. How about one of my special deep tissue massages?" He smirks.

     "No." I shake my head. Then I turn around, redoing the tie and leaving him standing in the living room. I go to the kitchen, thirsty, so I have a glass of water. When I look at him again, he's still smiling devilishly at me. "Damn you." I stomp over to him and kiss him hard.

     I guess this is another way this world beats the real one: woohoo right after childbirth.  

     If there's one thing Mark is REALLY good at, it's sex. The only problem is I have to be quieter. It's torture, and he enjoys it.

    The next few days are wonderful. Mark completely makes up for leaving me at the hospital like that. He takes over all the midnight feedings, even when he has to work the next day.

    They're finishing out his character in All My Sims, he tells me. At least they're not killing the character. He's just going 'overseas.' This means he could possibly come back. That's good.

     "I'll miss you," he says sweetly, hugging me before heading out.

     I laugh. He's doing the sweet thing to be funny, and I smack his butt. "Get to work, hot stuff."

     He grins, kisses me, and leaves.

     As for my acting career, I'm taking a leave of absence. It's no big deal. Thanks to my books, I'm still the major breadwinner in our little family. Family? Are we a family? I scowl as I ponder this, getting dressed in something besides my pajamas.

     There's a knock at the door. My jaw drops when I see who it is. Sure, I'd texted him to let him know about Carlie, still maintaining a strained sort-of friendship. I didn't expect him to show up at my apartment.

      "Geoffrey?"

     I watch him as he launches into a kind of apology.

     "I'm sorry for just showing up like this. I would've called, but my car just sorta got me over here like it had a mind of its own." He holds up a bag. "Oh, and uh, I got you something." To my expression, he quickly explains, "For the baby!"

     "Geoff, why are you apologizing? I'm just surprised to see you." I can't decide if it's good surprise or bad surprise. You hate me, don't you? Why are you here? 

 

     "Heh heh. Of course you are. I mean, I just randomly show up at your door. I know I could've called, but... Well, I wanted to SEE how you were doing." He gives me a strained smile.

     Ah. So that's it. That's the reason. He feels guilty, and his conscience was bothering him. Sure, he may hate me, but we used to be best friends. And his past best friend had a baby. ... Yeah. That's the reason, right? I honestly don't believe my reasoning, but what else could it be?

     I motion toward the door. "Would you like to come inside?"

     "Yes." He sighs in relief.

     "So, Carlie is...?"

     "Taking a nap," I finish for him.

     "Ah. Okay."

     We have a seat on the sofa, and he hands me the present. It's some baby clothes. "I never got to shop for a girl. I hope you like it." It's a cute pink dress that won't fit her for a few more months. Or... days?

     "Thanks. I love it." I look at the dress. It's too small for toddler wear and too big for her right now. What am I supposed to do with it?

     "I'm sorry I didn't call you. If this is too awkward, I'll just go." He honestly looks like he wants to bolt out the door. Does he hate me that much?

     I close my eyes, trying to fight tears. Damn hormones. "If you don't want to stay, you don't have to."

     His head pops over to me. "I was just wondering whether or not you wanted me here. I mean, we haven't actually spoken since..." He lets his voice trail off. Then he kind of snaps out of it. "Anyway, how are you? How was the delivery?"

     I debate for a moment how to answer that. Then, I decide to tell him what someone would tell their best friend. "The delivery itself was okay. Dr. Pancakes tried to kill me-"

     "WHAT? How is that okay?"

     "It's fine, Geoffrey. That machine is nuts, but that's not the big thing that happened."

     "How is you almost DYING not the big thing?" He looks like he wants to shake me.

     "It was only a temporary machine malfunction." I watch him hyperventilate. "What really made me mad was that Mark ditched the whole scene."

     His voice is deadly. "So not only did you almost die, but Mark wasn't even there." Mark has definitely made Geoffrey's shit list.

     "The way he explained it, I think it was a..." I blush. "...game bug."

     "I'm calling bullshit, Alice. I'm calling him a heartless, spineless coward." His voice is icy now. "I can't believe he left you there by yourself. Of course you wouldn't think of it, but if you'd called me, I'd have been there at light speed."

     For someone he hates? 'Alice, would you shut the fuck up about that? Do you honestly believe he still hates you or ever did?' I can't think about this right now. "I was FINE." I pause. "Besides, he's been doing nothing but make it up to me."

     "How?" Again with the ice.

     "Well, for one, he's been taking over the midnight feedings."

     "He's... living here?" He caught on fast.

     "Y-yes." I nod. "We've decided to co-parent, and we're trying to decide where the best place to live would be."

     Geoff gets quiet, and he looks around. The next thing I know, he stands up and starts gathering dirty dishes.

     He's upset. He's trying to hide his reaction to finding out Mark and I are living together, and he's using dirty dishes as an excuse to step away for a minute.

     Maybe it's just residual feelings coming to the surface from how he felt before he found out I was pregnant with another man's child. That changed everything. 

      Nope, I can't make sense of it. Not really. My first guess is probably the correct one, but how can that be still true?

     I watch him by using the reflection on the television screen. He splashes some water on his face then gets a towel from the ether itself and dries it. Then the towel disappears. Again, how do people NOT see their life is a simulation when stuff like that happens?

     I decide to test it. "Are you okay?"

     He turns around to answer, but at that moment, Carlie starts screaming.

     "Well, she's awake now. Come meet my daughter."

     He nods silently and follows me into the bedroom.

 

     I hold her up. She'd stopped crying the moment I picked her up. "Meet Carlie Dyer." I notice the second I said 'Dyer,' his face broke into a smile. Yes, I gave her my last name. I was too mad at Mark to name her Carlie James when I was filling out the birth certificate.

     "I think," he says carefully, "she's going to be as beautiful as her mother."

     I look at him dubiously. I just can't figure the man out. "That was a nice thing to say."

     He lightly shrugs and looks at the floor. "Well, I'm full of nice things to say if you just give me a chance." His eyes pop back up to me as my heart beats faster.

     Maybe I'm imagining things. I slowly rock Carlie, and he waits in tense silence. The baby falls asleep. "I don't know what you mean by that." Again, I think I'm testing him. "I mean, you always say nice things, but..." I don't know how to finish it, so I put Carlie in her bassinet.

     He rubs the back of his head before quietly asking, "Alice, did you READ the letter?"

     I have to take my turn looking down. "Yes, but you also said you wrote it before you knew about," I gesture to Carlie, "her."

     His foot takes a step back. "That's true. I did. But..." He gets quiet. When I glance up at him, I see he has his hand on his forehead. "You're right. This is a different situation. A-and you're living with Mark, so... Forgive me, Alice. Y-you're trying to do the right thing. That's... that's good. As for me, well, I've... I've got to go get Bruno at school in a little while." He takes a shaky breath. "It was great seeing you again." He starts for the door, but I reach out and grab his shirt.

     "Geoffrey, wait." I don't know what to say, though.

     "No. I'm sorry. I can't. Everything is just too raw right now, and I don't want to do or say something I'll regret." He pauses. "Please call me if you need help with something, but for now, I'll just go." He wrests my hand from his shirt and rapidly walks out the door. I then hear the front door open and close.

     And I fall onto the bed crying.

Alicekai'd 1.20: Unexpected

 

     I may as well buy a crib.

 

     I don't remember this crib, but then, I've seen (and experienced) things that weren't in my game. At any rate, I like it.

     What I DON'T like is being pregnant. My back is killing me.

     I hear a knock at my door. Geoffrey? I haven't spoken to him since I read the letter.

     "Who is it?" I call through the door. It's not Geoffrey.

     It's my friend Yui. She and I have only spoken on the phone since the mixer party. I've mostly not told her everything that's gone on, but I did tell her about my pregnancy.

     "Wow, Alice! I didn't realize you were this far along already!"

     "Well, time flies, right?" And sim pregnancies are way too short--not that I want this to last much longer anyway.

     She nods, and we head inside.

     "Nice place. I love the wooden-looking tile on the walls. It's like a cabin in the city."

     I smile. "Huh. I never thought of it that way." I shrug. "I needed a place to go, and this was available."

     She motions to the sofa. "So you lived with Geoffrey Landgraab?" I'd only started telling her that when she had to end the phone call when something came up.

     "Yeah. I needed a safe place to stay during that social media debacle." Please don't ask for details.

     "So is he, um..." She points to my huge belly.

     I let out a little laugh. "No, he's not the father." I wish. "It's, um, Mark James."

     Her mouth drops. "You're still seeing him? I thought after the video..."

     "He lives right next door. After I moved in here, we reconnected."

     "And what a re-connection that must've been." She smirks. Yeah, the whole world knows how much chemistry he and I have.

     "Well, it's certainly how I ended up with this lump in my belly." I sigh.

     "So are you two still together?"

     "Well... I'd say he's avoiding me, but I'm also avoiding him.

     "He had the nerve to ask if it was his," I finish.

     "Oh... because of Geoffrey."

     "Huh? No. Because he's an ass." I pause. "I never slept with Geoffrey." Where did she get that idea?

     "Oh," she says again. "Okay, but... Well, I just wondered because... You get this look every time he's mentioned."

     "What look?"

     "Well, I first noticed it at the party. You two hardly stopped watching the other one, and after he followed you out, I assumed... Yeah."

      "Oh my god, Yui. You don't think he's too old?" Not that it matters. Geoff hates me now. Still, it's nice to pretend for a few minutes.

      She giggles. "No. Besides, he's loaded. I'd go for him if I didn't already know you're interested." Her giggle continues. "It's not a very good secret that he's going for the title of 'most eligible bachelor.'"

     I'm an idiot.

     I let out a nervous laugh. "Oh. I s-suppose he deserves it." I can't think about that right now. I'm liable to burst into tears again. Stupid hormones.

     Most eligible bachelor, huh? I secretly wonder how many women are after him. Yeah. Fat cow me doesn't stand a chance. Even still... I sigh.

     "So, are you going to give Mark another chance?"

     "I don't know." Don't cry.

     She says she thinks I should, to at least try since it's his baby I'm carrying. We chat for a little while longer, eat some lunch I made, and she leaves to go home.

     I don't have any gigs, and I don't have much inspiration to write, so I take my friend's advice and invite Mark over.

     He walks in with a strange look on his face.

 

     "Hi," he says and keeping it at that. No apologies, no 'how are you's, nothing.

     I sigh. "Sit down, Mark, and let's talk."

     "Sure."

     We sit, and I assume I'm going to have to be the one to get this awkward conversation started. However, he surprises me.

      "I have something I'd like to say first," he says.

      "Okay?"

      "I'm sorry I asked if the baby was mine." He closes his eyes, and I relax and smile. "I'm just... scared."

      "You think I'm not?" I watch him open his eyes.

      "So what are we going to do?"

      "Well, that's what I invited you over here to talk about." This might be easier than I thought.

      He sniffs. "Is that grilled cheese?"

      "Yes, my friend Yui was over, and..." I look at him then smile. "Help yourself."

     He grins, and we move to the table.

     "I like your kitchen better than mine," he states out of the blue. "In fact, with the exception of my balcony, this is the better apartment on this floor. It's so open."

     "You have more square footage," I tell him.

     "Yeah, I guess, but I LIKE this place more. Everything is within reach, and I just don't like a kitchen separated from the living room. I like the idea of a great room better."

      "Are you saying you want to live here?" Did I ask that too quickly?

     He looks surprised I'm surprised I asked. "Well, doesn't it make sense for us to live together? Sorry if I'm jumping the gun, but Alice, we know each other. I don't want you to have to do this alone. You didn't MAKE this baby alone, so you shouldn't have to raise it alone."

     This is entirely unexpected! I just sit here with my mouth open.

      "I can't believe you're shocked!" he says and laughs. "You know, though, it's kinda fun. You're fun to shock." A devilish gleam shoots through his eyes.

     "You're saying you want to co-parent?" This is unreal. Hm. Really. I'd expected to have to ask him to come help me out once in a while.

     "You're saying you don't?" he asks back. His face falls.

 

     "I want to be a part of the child's life. I want to be a part of YOUR life, Alice. I've done some soul-searching, and although it's a little soon and pretty damn fast, I want us to be a... family."

     Whoa. "It's just... unexpected. I thought I was going to have to coerce you into helping me sometimes."

     He shakes his head no. "Cut me a little slack, Alice. When you told me, I was shocked and scared. Pretty much was a total dick."

     "And maybe I overreacted to that. I'm sorry for slapping you."

     He chuckles. "I deserved it." Pause. "So how about it, Alice? Live together? At least for now?"

     "What do you mean 'at least for now'?"

     I get more devilish grin from him. "Now, you can't expect me to reveal ALL my secrets, can you?" He chuckles.

     Damn him for being adorable.

     I shake my head, trying to clear it. Then I decide to clear the table. Washing his dish will give me a moment to consider.

     As I wash the dish, I hear, "Pregnancy becomes you, Alice."

     "Tuh. Right," I reply sarcastically.

     "No, seriously." I hear the chair scoot back on the floor as he gets up, and then I hear it move under the table. I don't hear him as he crosses the floor, so I don't expect it when he turns me around.

 

     I look down.

     "I've missed you, Alice. I want us to be together."

     What do I say? Do I WANT to live with him? What's the best course of action? "Then you move in."

     He lets out a happy sigh, and his fingers that were once on my chin travel down my neck to finally land cupping my breast. "You're definitely the hottest pregnant woman I've ever seen." He takes a deep breath. "I'm in the mood for a shower. Wanna come?" He grins.

     I get his double meaning. "You're insatiable."

     "When it comes to you, yes." And he pulls me into the shower.