Chapter 10

So it was today. Not the interview. Today was the day Ana went to hospital to confirm the pregnancy. It was honestly just a formality at this point because with all the changes her body had gone through, and the tests she had taken, it was obvious that there was another life growing in her. But it was better to be one hundred percent sure. Plus, she had to listen to the doctor’s advice. No matter how helpful the Internet was, it was never completely accurate, it was not a professional and it was not going to ease all the irrational fears she was having.

Landon was going with her. If he didn’t, who else was going to anyways? Landon was a constant in her life and she was honestly happy she had him. She had no other person she considered family, not even her own mother. So his support was greatly appreciated.

Ana knew she didn’t want to be alone. She was so scared. Confirming this pregnancy was making it even more real, and even though she had already come to terms with it, Ana felt she would burst into tears when the doctor announced the news to her. Maybe Landon being there was going to curb it.

Ana woke up from the couch and walked to the kitchen to take a glass of water. Also, the walking was part of her exercise. She had literally no time to herself, so she had taken to walking around her apartment when she was doing literally anything. It had helped. She was still tired, but at least she didn’t feel like falling asleep in the middle of important briefings.

She was so glad Fitz had believed her lie and given her the day off. She had told him that she needed to make more research on ground so that she could ask all the right questions and make the interview one nobody would want to miss. She felt bad lying, but Ana knew that if she told Fitz about her pregnancy in the moment, he was going to give the interview to someone else. He was a fair man but he didn’t joke when it came to the content they put out.

Ana kept the glass down and went to the bathroom, preparing to take a long bath. The baby had been waking her up earlier than usual and today she was happy about that. It just meant she would have the opportunity to relax before Landon came in. She had roughly two and a half hours before her 9:30 appointment so she could indulge in a bath that was going to be at least forty five minutes long.

After getting out of the bathroom, Ana walked to her bedroom naked, not bothering to get a towel since she knew she was all alone home. But she spotted Landon leaning against the wall next to her bedroom door, and it was obvious that he had been waiting for her.

They froze and stared for each other for a few seconds before Ana ran into the bathroom, took the biggest towel she could find and wrapped it around her entire body. Then came out and headed into her bedroom, unable to even meet Landon’s eyes. That had been the most awkward encounter they had ever had.

She knew it wasn’t going to change anything in their relationship because damn it was just them looking. But it was so awkward she hoped it never happen. The last thing Ana wanted to do was see Landon naked and she was sure that he thought the same of her. They were probably going to laugh it off later.

She dressed up quickly, not bothering with makeup and came out of the bedroom. Landon was still standing where she had left him. He had a small smile that he quickly wiped off as soon as he spotted her. Ana didn’t know what to say to him for a moment because she couldn’t find her voice.

But then she said after a while, “Let’s pretend that never happened, alright? Just wipe it from out memories.”

“Agreed,” Landon replied, but he knew in his mind that he would not be able to let go of the image. It was the first time he had seen Ana naked since they were preteens and it had been weird. He had tried never to overly sexualize her because their relationship was not like that. But with this image floating around in his mind, it was going to be hard to do.

“Let’s go then?” Landon asked, taking her arm and taking a discreet sniff. She smelled so good. And he told her as much.

Ana gave him a bright smile—he lived for her smiles—then said, “Thank you love. And yes, you know there’s always traffic around this time. Let’s go so I won’t be late. Too broke to be paying fees,” she joked and both of them laughed.

They walked out of the apartment and after Ana locked it, they got into the elevator. She kept throwing looks at her best friend, wondering what was wrong with him. He was unusually quiet, and he had not even teased her, not since he had reached. Normally, Landon was going on and on about something, making her laugh or just them discussing a topic they either both enjoyed or both disliked.

But today the energy was weird. The air felt heavy.

“Are you okay?” Ana asked, looking up at him.

Landon looked lost in thought and when she asked her question he looked down at her and shook a little. “Huh?” he asked, then after taking a hold of himself, said, “Yeah I’m good. Why?”

“I don’t know…” Ana said dubiously. She didn’t believe his response but she was not going to push for the sake of peace. “You’re just quiet.”

“Just thinking,” was Landon’s response.

Ana wanted for Landon to tell her what he was thinking about but he didn’t say a word. So she let it go. The last thing she wanted to do was push him. He would tell her eventually anyways.

Landon on his side was feeling guilty as fuck. He felt heavy knowing that he carried the one secret Ana would never forgive if she discovered he had been hiding from her. But he couldn’t bring himself to tell her and destroy what little chances of having a relationship with her still existed.

It was for her own good, he convinced himself, then he placed a hand on the small of Ana’s back to lead her out of the building towards his car. He had to smile at the squeal she let out when they stopped in front of his car. It was one of the latest Maserati editions and she had told him how much she had been dying to get into it.

“Finally,” she said, then she hugged Landon impulsively. “Open it, open it.” She was just like a little kid. And it was so adorable, Landon couldn’t lie.

Landon smiled, a fond smile. He couldn't find it in himself to be mad at Ana for not returning his feelings. She just was too adorable. And beautiful. She was everything he desired and more. Besides, he had never confessed anything to her. So why would he even get mad at her? If anything, he should be mad at himself. Maybe if he had come to her early enough, the relationship they had would not have settled on the platonic basis.

"You're not going to start the car?" Ana asked, confused when both of them had out their seatbelts on and Landon hadn't left yet. This was that weirdness she was talking about. Coupled with the fact that he told her he was thinking about something and didn’t bother expatriating? Something was bothering her best friend and if she was being honest, Ana was getting worried...

"Oh!" he exclaimed weirdly then started the car and went towards the hospital. The hospital was a twenty minute ride from Ana's house and the traffic wasn't going to be a lot at that time. So maybe they were going to reach earlier than they thought.

"Landon, guess what?" Ana exclaimed exuberantly. Landon was one of her only and true friends. So she told him practically everything. Everything.

"What? You fought Tasha? Fitz fired her?" Landon asked with a teasing smile and Ana frowned playfully.

"I'm asking a real question," Ana growled playfully, slapping Landon's thigh lightly. Landon's eyes lingered on the place she had touched then he took them back to the road, a small smile crossing his lips then disappearing as soon as it had appeared.

"Tell me," Landon ordered and Ana raised a brow. She knew she was the one to be anxious about telling him whatever tea she had to spill. But she loved bothering Landon. He was her best friend anyways. If she didn't bother him, who was going to.

"Please," he added when Ana's glare turned sharp and she laughed out loud, proud that she had gotten her way once again.

"So, I told you bout my promotion, right?" she asked, then didn't even wait for his answer and continued. "I have to interview someone so great, oh my God. I almost died when they told me who I was going to interview"

"Who's that?" Landon asked hesitantly, praying it wasn't who he thought he was.

"Jack Knight."

Landon groaned and Ana frowned. What was wrong? Wasn't he happy for her?

"So that's the only reaction you can give me? After the bomb I just dropped on you," Ana said, looking at Landon and folding her arms expectantly. He was being so weird today. She couldn’t even pinpoint what was wrong.

"I'm sorry.. I'm happy for you Ana. I'm so happy. You're accomplishing your dreams. Finally," Landon said honestly and Ana smiled.

"Thank you so much baby. And you've helped a lot. If I didn't rant to you, I don't know who else I would rant to. I love you Landon," Ana said and laughed when she saw the tint of blush on Landon's chicks.

"I love you too princess," Landon replied. Soon enough, they had arrived their destination. Landon parked the car carefully and they got out and walked towards the reception.

About thirty minutes later, the doctor was ready to receive them.

"Ma'am, what did you say was your problem again?" the doctor asked again, staring at the people she presumed was a couple.

"I took pregnancy tests. Four out of five and I'm here to confirm," Ana said, smiling at the doctor, who was a woman thankfully.

"Okay miss. Please lay down. And I'll set everything up," she said the walked out of the room.

Ana stared at Landon who was far way in his thoughts.

"Hey. What are you thinking about?" Ana asked, shaking Landon out of his reverie.

Landon shook his head at her and smiled. He definitely couldn't tell her what was bothering him. If he did, perhaps she might go to the extent of not talking to him. And that was going to kill him. So for now, he was going to keep it to himself

Ana on the other hand was staring at the ceiling. She was thinking if how she was going to raise the child alone, how she was going to be the mother and the father at the same time.

She sighed and waited for the doctor to come back in. Now was the time to conclude, a conclusion she was already even aware of. And hopefully, after this, she was going to bug her best friend and get to know what had been on his mind for some time now.

Ana looked up at him and smiled. He returned the smile and placed his hand on hers. Ana didn’t know how much he loved her, truly. And she didn’t know that he would do virtually anything she told him, no matter what it was…