Surprisingly Perfect

No, Mister Hetcher

I went home and rested after eating lunch with Cler. I took some time to look up a few local adoption clinics and eat a few snacks that I thankfully didn't puke up, thanks to the ginger chews Mom ran out and got me.

I did SAT prep afterwards, threw in a load of laundry, and cooked an early dinner for Poppy and I. I made sure to eat slowly, but it wasn't enough. I had a few bites of chicken and mashed potatoes, but the nausea was overwhelming.

After getting changed from my comfy clothes to my work clothes, I put a water bottle and ginger chews into my backpack, then rode my bike to Jace's. The whole time, my mind was preoccupied with the heavy Saturday traffic and the cars getting way too close to me in the bike lane.

I wasn't just living for myself now. There was a tiny baby inside me, depending on me to take care of it. Was it even safe for me to be riding a bike? Would the baskets of laundry be too heavy? Would the cleaning products harm the baby?

Thankfully, my year with the Hetchers had me accustomed to my daily routines. Saturday night, I knew I'd only be sweeping and doing dishes.

I went up to the gate, pressed the buzzer, and got let in. I parked my bike by it's usual spot near the fountain, then went up to the door. Henry welcomed me in with another goofy gesture.

I walked straight into the kitchen, bracing myself for a huge mess. Of course, that's exactly what I got. Cereal boxes and crumbs were spread all over the massive, marble island. Dishes were piled high in the sink. I put on a pair of rubber gloves and got right to work.

I scrubbed the dishes full of jelly, bacon grease, and whatever else, then put them in the dishwasher. Next was the countertops, which there were a ton of.

The Hetcher's kitchen was bigger than the entire first floor of my house, and I only had thirty minutes to get this place spotless for Kyle, the dinner chef, so he could work.

"Well well, what do we have here?" I froze. Here we go again. What's he going to annoy me with this time? "What's the matter, maid? You've got nothing to say to your employer?"

Yeah, that I'm pregnant with your kid and I'm trying to work, so get lost. How about that?

Jace put his hands on my shoulders. I shivered. He smelled like weed and body spray. I really wanted to smack his hands away, but I didn't want to get myself worked up. The baby didn't need that.

"You almost look as good as you did the night I slept with you," he said, so close that his hot breath was hitting my neck.

Wait, he remembers that? He never brought it up since then, so I figured that maybe he was drunk or just forgot. He's probably slept with a zillion girls. There's no way he could remember all of them.

"I have a lot of work to get done," I said. 

"The more work you have, the more I can stick around and watch you do it."

His hands were tracing the curves of my body, making their way down to my hips. I always wanted to snap on him but I just couldn't. I needed this job, now more than ever.

Yet, my hormones were going crazy. Every once in a while I'd remember bits and pieces of that night with him. The way he made me feel—I'd never had any guy give me attention before.

Cler, and my other two friends Heather and Maddox all had different partners throughout school. I was always a third wheel at dances and could never get a date. Some days I felt like I was just unlovable.

And right now, I was feeling so, so alone. I just wanted to get my mind off things. Maybe I should give in? Just turn around and kiss him or something.

I went back to my dishes. I acted on impulse once. That was enough. Look at where it got me. Jace was one of the worst people I knew. He didn't care about me, even though I'd been busting my ass cleaning his house for all this time. All he wanted was to get in my pants. I could do better.

"You know, maid, the girl I was going to bang cancelled on me tonight...and I know you've got no other plans, except being here, of course."

He's got a point.

"No," I said.

"You should put those dishes down. I'll get someone else to do it." He pressed himself up against me. The dish fell out of my hands and nearly broke into pieces in their sink. "I know you want me too."

You must be terrible at reading people.

"Absolutely not, Jace!"

"Oh? If you're gonna reject me, you'd better do it politely. You know what I'll have my parents do if you start showing me disrespect."

"No thank you, Mister Hetcher," I said, my voice flat and cold.

Jace laughed and backed away. "Fine, suit yourself. I've got a million other girls I could call. You're really missing out."

"I'm here to do a job, not have...relations. J—Mister Hetcher," I said, placing the dish in the drying rack.

"Stupid bitch," he muttered under his breath as he left the room, sulking like a little kid because he didn't get what he wanted. 

I let out a big sigh of relief. If that went any further, I thought for sure I'd have to tell him I was pregnant...or end up giving in, just so he'd leave me alone and let me keep this job. Seriously, how on earth was I going to tell this guy he's going to be a father?