Seducing Simon(2)

Think Toni, think. What could she say? Certainly not the truth. World War III would pale in comparison. She’d rather suffer through an entire hour’s worth of lecturing from the three of them rather than tell them why she had to move out.

Because of her own stupidity, her relationship with the three people she cared most about was going to be forfeit. They’d lived together for three years. But they had been friends for a lot longer.

It seemed logical to invite Simon and A.J. to move in when her parents had died. The four had been inseparable ever since the guys were in high school. The guys had gone on to become firefighters and work in the small town of Cypress, Texas they’d all grown up in.

“Toni?” Simon’s voice filtered into her thoughts.

She peeked up at him to see his concerned expression concentrated on her. Clearing her throat, she said, “I want to get my own place.

Nothing personal.”

“I don’t see how we can’t take it personally,” he began. “It seems as if you want to get away from us. Have we done something to piss you off?” With an inward groan, she buried her face in her hands. “Surely, you didn’t think we’d live together forever. I mean you guys will want to get married and have a family. I’ll want the same.” Her head came up at Simon’s uttered “oh.”

“I think I see what this is about.”

“Well, do enlighten me,” Matt complained. “Because I’m in the dark over here.”

“I think what Toni is trying to say is she’s ready to start looking for a serious relationship. Maybe get married and start a family. I guess it’s pretty hard for her to do that with us three breathing down the neck of any guy she brings home.”

“Is that true, Toni?” Matt asked.

“Uhm, well, yes, I suppose. I mean, I don’t plan on getting married tomorrow, but I suppose I’ll want to in the not so distant future.” Never mind that she couldn’t have the one man she wanted.

Matt didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t say anything more. Simon continued to study her until she was ready to fidget completely off her seat. Why did she get the impression he could see straight through her flimsily muttered excuses?

“Is there anything we can do to help?” he asked in a soft voice.

“Uh, no, not really. Well, I suppose you could help me move when the time comes.” She flashed him her best smile in an attempt to squelch the nervousness she felt.

“You know we’ll help.”

“Yes, I know,” she whispered.

She heard A.J shuffle back into the kitchen, and she turned in relief, thankful he was interrupting the tension. Her heart sank when she met with his expression. It was odd. He looked like he’d just eaten her attempt at meatloaf.

He stared at her with a deer-in-the-headlights look. Something akin to horror and confusion.

“What’s your problem, A.J.?” Matt called out.

He continued to stare at Toni as he walked slowly over. He held his hand out, and Toni’s stomach lurched, her heart jumping into her throat.

In his outstretched palm lay the early pregnancy test she’d taken the day before. The two lines were faded, but still very indicative of a positive result.

“What is this, Toni?” he finally asked.

Toni froze, but anger quickly surfaced in an effort to cover her dismay. “What the hell were you doing going through my trashcan?” She snatched the stick from him and clenched it in her fist.

A.J. blinked in surprise. “I wasn’t digging in it. I dropped my watch and had to fish it out. I couldn’t help but see the test.” Matt whose mouth was permanently rounded in an O of shock finally snapped his jaw shut. “Holy shit, Toni. Are you…are you pregnant?” Simon took her hand in his much larger one and gently pried the test from her fingers. Matt and A.J. crowded around him as he examined it.

“What does two lines mean?” Matt demanded.

“It means she’s pregnant,” Simon said quietly, leveling a stare at Toni.

“Jesus! Why didn’t you tell us, Toni?” Matt asked.

“Is this why you’re moving out?” Simon asked, lifting her chin with his fingers in a gentle gesture that nearly had her in tears.

She nodded miserably.

“What the hell are you talking about?” A.J. demanded. “Who’s moving out?”

“No one is,” Matt growled.

“Who the hell knocked you up, Toni?” A.J asked. “Tell me so I can go kick his ass.”

“Was it that geek who took you out a couple of months ago?” Matt asked.

Toni looked in bewilderment as the questions came from all directions. Then she did the only thing she knew would shut them up.

She burst into tears.

Warm, strong arms wrapped around her and pulled her against the solid wall of a well-muscled chest. “You guys shut the hell up,” Simon ordered. “You’re upsetting her. We won’t ever get any answers if you continue to interrogate her.”

“Jesus, Matt, you made her cry,” A.J. said in disgust.

“Me? I wasn’t the one asking who knocked her up.”

“Quiet!” Simon roared.

Toni closed her eyes and inhaled the comforting scent of Simon’s T-shirt. God, he was strong, and everything that was wonderful about a man. She said a silent prayer he wouldn’t let her go. Not just yet.