All Of Me

13

I woke up Saturday morning feeling better than I had in a while in the two weeks since Tripp's graduation.

The night sickness was starting to ease off as I approached my third month of pregnancy. It was easier to accept the fact that I was indeed pregnant, and didn't know by whom, or even how it happened.

I took a quick shower, got dressed in my usual; jeans and a t-shirt. These jeans were more snug than I remembered, and the t-shirt, too. I had a pooch that was probably only big enough for me to notice, but a pooch nonetheless.

I stared for a second, letting it sink in that a tiny baby was causing that little bulge. It was an overwhelming thought, but I wasn't filled with sadness like I was the night I found out two and a half months ago.

I brushed my hair into a ponytail and walked out of the bathroom and straight into Tripp that was already dressed and ready to go. I squeaked in surprise and we both laughed, "Stop looking at your feet when you walk." He teased and walked past me into the bathroom.

I gathered my purse and reached for one of my favorite granola bars while Tripp brushed his teeth. And I do mean reached. It's like everything in this house was built for tall people. Tripp was six foot even, and his mother was 5'10, leaving me standing on my tip-toes for everything I needed at 5'3.

"Ready?" He smiled and I couldn't help but smile back, it was contagious. I nodded and snatched his keys from his hand when I ran past him and out the door. He yelled something I was too far way to hear and laughed as he chased me out to his truck.

He pinned me on the driver's door and we both tried to catch our breaths as he chased my hand for the keys. "I wanna drive!" I giggled and he grabbed my hand holding the keys. Our breathing was quick and it wasn't long before we realized we had been standing like that for an uncomfortable amount of time.

I looked away and he cleared his throat, backing away from me and handing me the keys with a smile. "Don't wreck my truck." and walked around to the passenger side of the baby blue Ranger.

Tripp's POV

My heart was hammering against my chest the whole time her hand was in mine. I didn't even realize I was still holding it that long until she looked away and I was sure my face turned ten different shades of red when I backed away and handed her my keys.

If it did, she didn't say anything about it. Probably being merciful.

She smiled and bounced into the driver's seat. No one drives my truck. But I couldn't help but smile at the way she tapped her fingers on the wheel the same way I do when her favorite song came on the radio. How cute she looked in my seat.

She pulled up at Greasy Tom's Automotive Shop and parked. She handed me my keys and ran to see her car. The little white Escort was parked outside the shop. She cupped her hands on the windows and looked inside it. Some of her things still laid across the back seat, and some beaded necklaces hung over the mirror. Even though she'd never been to Mardi Gras.

She went to pay for the work done, and I got in the driver's seat to make sure it would start. It cranked right up and I looked up to see her walking toward me with a confused look on her face. "They said someone already paid for the work." Her eyebrows drew together. I smiled up at her and her mouth opened slightly, then her face turned to a frown. "You shouldn't have done that." She looked away and folded her arms over her torso like she always does. Even though it's 90 degrees outside.

I shook my head, "You don't need to worry about stuff like this right now." I stood up and gave her shoulders a squeeze. "Now say thank you." I smiled and she finally cracked a smile and looked up at me. "Thank you." She stuck her tongue out and I laughed, moving out of her way so she could get into her car.

I was probably just imagining things, but her tummy had a small pooch. Right above the band of her low-riding jeans.

I didn't want to point it out and make her self-conscious, so I just smiled and closed her door once she pulled her legs inside. She rolled down her window and thanked me again. "You're welcome. You've got some freedom now." I winked. It always amazes me how chill I act, when I'm always going crazy inside around her.

She sighed dramatically. "It feels good. I've got an appointment to go look at some apartments tomorrow." She said, and I was a little shocked. She would live by herself? Who would help her when she was sick or needed help with the baby? Her mother was still being childish about the whole ordeal, and Paige was too occupied with the crowd she was mingling with...

I need to talk to Brooke about the cocaine I found outside her mother's door. It slipped my mind with everything going on lately, and I didn't want to worry her and risk something happening to the baby.

The baby, holy cow.

"You okay?" She waved her hand in front of my face.

I smiled and nodded and decided I would ask her any of my questions later and let her enjoy having some freedom for now. It wasn't like she owed me an explanation, she was an adult, but for some reason I've felt responsible for her since that party. If I had been more responsible for her at that party, she wouldn't have gotten drunk, and taken advantage of. I backed away and watched as she backed out, and I headed for my truck.

Josh said no one saw anything out of the ordinary when he called me last week. She didn't seem too upset when I told her, she's doing better now. Although Brooke has always been good at accepting road blocks and going on. This was one heck of a road block though.