Seducing Simon(3)

A gentle hand stroked her hair, which caused her tears to flow even harder. “Come here, sweetheart,” Simon said, easing her off the stool and toward the living room.

He settled her on the couch and enfolded her in his arms. “Now, suppose you tell us what’s going on.”

She hiccupped and looked down. Matt and A.J crowded around the couch, looks of concern and confusion marring their handsome faces.

“You don’t have to say who it is,” he prompted.

“The hell she doesn’t,” A.J. began.

Simon silenced him with a look and turned back to Toni. “How about you start with why you want to move out, and why you didn’t want to tell us.”

“I wanted to move out because I didn’t want you to know,” she murmured.

“Why not?”

She looked at Simon in astonishment. “Why, so you could all badger me about who the father is? I’d rather forget the whole thing if you don’t mind.”

His expression became hard. “Did he hurt you, Toni?” She gulped. This was not a conversation she wanted to be having.

She glanced up at Mike and A.J. who looked like they were ready to go out and commit murder.

“Look. I made a mistake. I’d really rather not discuss it.”

“Fair enough, but I don’t think it’s a good idea to move out.” He cupped her chin and rubbed his thumb over her cheek. “You need us more now than ever. Moving into a place by yourself doesn’t make sense.

We’d all worry about you, and while it may be annoying, we all want to take care of you.”

“Toni, I’m sorry I found the test. Well, I’m not sorry I found it. I just wish you would have told us,” A.J. said.

“Have you been to the doctor yet?” Matt asked.

“No. I only found out yesterday.”

“How far along are you, do you know?” A.J. asked.

Oh she knew exactly how far along she was. But she wasn’t about to tell them that or how she knew. “I don’t know exactly, but I figure maybe two months or so. Look guys, I’m not in the mood to do this right now. I have a headache.”

“Take some Tylenol,” Matt advised. “Oh, wait, you can’t. Or can you?” He suddenly slapped his hand to his forehead. “Shit! I offered you a beer while ago.”

Despite the seriousness of the situation, she laughed. “But I didn’t accept it, silly. Listen. The best thing you can do for me is to chill out and quit acting like I sprouted a third head. This isn’t at all how I wanted this to go down.”

“No, you didn’t intend to tell us at all,” Simon spoke up beside her.

She turned her head to him, surprised to see a hint of hurt in his eyes. “That isn’t true.”

“It’s what you said.”

“Yes, but I wanted time to adjust to things on my own. Obviously I wouldn’t have been able to keep it from you forever. I was just…scared.” Once again she found herself in his embrace. “We’ve looked out for you since you were a little kid, Toni. We all care a lot about you. You don’t have to be afraid.”

“He’s right,” A.J. said with a nod.

“So what’s next?” Simon asked, stroking her hair comfortingly.

She sighed and pulled slightly away. “I suppose I need to make an appointment to see the doctor. Get a blood test. I mean there is a small possibility the first test is wrong.”

“Do you want one of us to go with you?” A.J. asked.

She smiled. “No, I think I can handle it. Besides you guys start a twenty-four tomorrow.”

“But you’ll come by the station and let us know,” Simon prompted.

“Yes, if you want me to, that is.”

They all gave her a look that suggested she was crazy.

“Okay, okay. I’ll come by as soon as I get out of the doctor’s office.

That is if I can even get an appointment that soon.”

“Are you staying?” A.J. asked. His question hung in the air and Simon and Matt looked intently at her.

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “I hadn’t thought beyond my initial panic.”

“You don’t need to worry about it now,” Simon said firmly. Besides, if anyone moves, it will be me and A.J.. This is your house.”

“No!” she exclaimed. “I wouldn’t hear of it. I mean you guys have been here forever.”

“We feel the same way about you moving,” A.J. said softly.

“Thanks,” she said warmly. “I love you guys.” Simon squeezed her to him. She got up awkwardly and headed back to the kitchen. “You guys are missing the second half. Go ahead and watch. I think I am going to go lie down for awhile.”

“You okay?” Simon asked in concern.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just got a lot of thinking to do.” She ignored the worry in their eyes and walked to her bedroom, shutting the door behind her.

She leaned heavily on the door, her knees sagging underneath her.

What a complete mess. She had the urge to dive under her covers and stay there for a week. Yeah, sure, she couldn’t hide her pregnancy forever, but she’d hoped to buy some time to get her life in order before she told them about the baby.

Baby. She smoothed her hands over her still flat stomach. Tears welled in her eyes. She loved it already. Almost as much as she loved its father. But telling Simon she loved him, much less that he was the father of her baby, was out of the question.