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Present Time
Amy couldn't help but feel down as she woke up that morning. It was a really strange feeling, considering the fact that she was with the man she truly loved, waking up in his arms, and she was carrying his baby. It was a time when she should have been sailing on top of the world.
But she felt downright awful about Jay. She'd hurt him immeasurably, broken his heart so badly. She had made a terrible mistake. She didn't regret falling in love with Adam and being with him... But if there was any way she could physically go back in time and redo things in a different fashion, she would do so.
She simply laid there in the bed, on her side. It was perfectly quiet except for her and Adam's breathing.
"You awake?" the blond man suddenly asked. His strong arms tightened ever so slightly around her as he continued to spoon her.
"Yeah," she replied in a soft voice. She turned over onto her back.
Adam met her sleepy hazel eyes, knowing full well what she was thinking. It was the same exact thing that had been in his mind all night, causing him to have a very fitful sleep. He raised one hand to gently stroke some stray strands of her red hair.
"Are you okay?"
Amy gazed at him, her eyes filling with tears. She couldn't even find her voice as she shook her head, sniffling. Then, "I feel so bad."
The blond man sighed deeply, his expression growing darker.
"I know," he agreed with a slight nod. "So do I." He pressed a soft, lingering kiss to her brow, smoothing away her hair again. On top of the situation with Jay, and the revelation that there was a baby on the way, the Canadian was also still plagued by his actions with his ex-wife. Damn Torrie for blackmailing him... What he'd allowed her to do, what he'd done with her, was not going to leave his subconsciou alone anytime soon. What a big, huge fucking mess.
Amy faced him, her expression grim. She looked into his eyes balefully, her chin quivering ever so slightly as she spoke.
"I just wish we could have gone about things differently... Seriously, the last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt him. And what about you guys?" she said, feeling even worse. "Your friendship... I hope it's not irreperable because of me."
The blond man caressed her cheek, hating the way his stomach was suddenly lurching. He wanted to comfort her, but yet, at the same time, he couldn't rid his mind of what the redhead didn't know. What about Torrie? Would she do something rash? Obviously, it no longer mattered if she told Jay, but what about Amy? What if she tried to tell her? It was unimaginable... The world would completely come crashing down on them if that happened.
"Shh..." he said. "... Put it out of your mind for now." In truth, he wasn't quite sure he was saying that for her benefit or for his own. He held her, and she clung onto him. There was a deep silence between them before she finally broke it.
"I guess I'll have to go home when Jay isn't there to get my things." She looked into his eyes almost pleadingly as she continued. "Will you... help me?"
His heart seemed to just completely melt at her uncertain tone and facial expression.
"Of course I will, baby." He kissed her as tenderly as he could manage. "You can count on me, no matter what."
Somehow, and much to Adam's surprise, the redhead managed a small, even genuined, smile.
"Thank you."
He smiled and rubbed his cheek against her long auburn hair.
"You don't ever have to thank me, sweetheart... You know that."
She held him a bit more tightly and burrowed against him more.
"I know," she breathed. "Just..." She sighed, letting her voice trail off.
As the couple grew silent once again, Adam couldn't help but let his overactive mind get the better of him. What was going through Jay's mind right about now? He knew the answer to that already... Perhaps even more importantly, what was going through Torrie's? He hated to acknowledge that he was downright terrified of it. His ex-wife yielded such incredible power over him at the moment. She could literally destroy his happiness, his life right now if she so chose. He wondered if he should just tell Amy...
Upon those thoughts, the blond man suddenly realized that his pregnant girlfriend had fallen back asleep in his arms. Her breathing was slow, deep and regular, and he could feel tiny, involuntary movements in her that told him she was dreaming.
Should he just get it over with and tell Amy the truth? It would certainly unburden him. But it was insane to believe that all would be right in the world if he did that. The redhead was pretty fragile at the moment, and he knew she would be crushed if he told her. Maybe, instead, he should have a little talk with Torrie.
Yes... He would do that. He decided at the first opportunity, he would pay his ex-wife a visit and have a little
chat with her. Somehow, some way, there had to be a way to iron this whole thing out. There just had to be.