Chapter 45

“What about this one?”

I scrunch up my nose, shaking my head at the little baby dress with a million polka dots. Quinn looks at the dress, shrugging.

“Yeah, it’s not that cute,” she concludes before hanging it back on the rack.

This is the fourth dress she’s shown me with some kind of wild pattern on it. Every time I say no, she agrees and puts it back. At this point, she’s going to show me the whole store. I don’t mind, though. I’m enjoying her company and conversation. I’m still surprised that she agreed to come out with me to shop for baby stuff. I know things must be challenging, but she’s working just as hard on herself. I’m happy that she’s moving forward.

“So, are you going to breastfeed?” Quinn asks while I’m reading product labels for baby bath bombs.

“I am if I’m able. I’m not going to stress it if I can’t.” I shrug.

“Well, breast is best, ya know?”

“I’m well aware,” I laugh. “I don’t want to be one of those overly healthy moms who only wants to make their baby’s food in a cute little baby blender with all homegrown produce. It’s insane.”

“I’d totally be that mom. I’d want my baby to have the best.”

“Me too, but there’s a fine line between wanting the best and being obsessed.”

“I agree. I wouldn’t want to be a psycho mom and have my kid hate me for never giving them sugar.”

We both burst out laughing, and I think I even pee a little. That’s never happened before. My shock must be written all over my face because Quinn stops laughing.

“What’s wrong?” she asks.

“I think I just peed myself a little,” I whisper, and before I can finish my sentence, Quinn is nearly on the floor from laughing at me.

I press my hand over my mouth to muffle my own giggling. We spend the rest of the time in the shop making each other laugh until our stomachs are sore. I buy a handful of products and a few onesies. Quinn buys two dresses with adorable subtle designs on them. I feel bad for having her buy anything with everything she’s going through. It’s so nice of her to even consider my baby while she’s still grieving. However, I push all of that to the back of my mind because I don’t want to spoil the fun we’re having. It’s so different than the kind of fun we used to have, but that’s okay. It shows that we’re growing and becoming adults. I like it. It’s nice to know that we can still have a good time without alcohol or drugs in the mix. Hopefully, it reminds Quinn that there is more to life than the destructive path she used to be on.

After shopping, we get pizza and Quinn gives me the rundown on a few guys she’s swiped right on. They all sound like decent people and their profile pictures are great. Quinn says that she will take it slow and try dating instead of jumping into a relationship.

“I’m not ready for a boyfriend right now. Do you know that the asshole who got me pregnant never even texted me back after I told him that I lost the baby, but a week later, he wanted to hook up?”

“Disgusting. Please, tell me you gave him a piece of your mind.”

“You know I did, not that it mattered. He never cared what I had to say.” She rolls her eyes.

“Good riddance. Maybe one of these guys can make an honest woman out of you.”

“Or maybe I can get two like you.” She winks and I snort.

“It is a great package deal. I highly recommend it unless you decide to get married. The success rate drops tremendously from there.”

“Well, shit, I never liked weddings anyway. Problem solved.” Her big smile makes me smile as I sip my drink.

“Heck, at this rate, Jasper and I won’t officially get married until after the baby is born. We haven’t even talked about a date. Our whole world revolves around this one.” I point to my belly.

“Then the baby can be in the wedding!” Quinn claps and I realize that she’s right.

“Oh my God, she can be a flower girl!”

Now, I’m as excited as ever to plan my wedding.

By the time we finish eating, I need a nap. I hug Quinn before she leaves, and we hold each other for a few minutes, soaking up the moment.

“Thank you for coming out with me. I’ve missed this,” I say, smelling the vanilla-scented shampoo on her hair.

“Me too. I’m glad I can hang with you again. You’ll never know how hard it was for me without you around. I missed you so much.”

“I’m here now.”

“I’m glad.” When she pulls back, she smiles and there is a hint of sadness in her eyes. I wonder if there is something she isn’t telling me.

I don’t fret about it because she has a lot to be sad about, so there’s no need to read too deep into it. Whatever it is, I’m going to be here for her. The last thing I’d ever want Quinn to feel right now is alone.

I get home, and both of the guys are sitting in the backyard with the grill going. Even though I just had a grilled chicken salad, I’m suddenly starving for the burgers they're grilling.

Harper sees me first and smiles.

“There’s our sweet girl.”

I walk over to him, kissing him, tasting beer on his lips. That’s as close as I’m getting to having a drink until I drop this baby.

I sit sideways on Harper’s lap, kicking my shoes from my aching feet. I’m flexing my toes when Jaspers walks over from the grill. He leans over, planting a firm kiss on me. I taste beer on his lips as well. Lucky bastards.

“How was shopping with Quinn?”

“It was good. We had fun. There was so much walking, though. I’m so tired.” I shift in Harper’s lap, and I hear him grunt softly.

I look at him with a concerned glare, but he shakes his head.

“I’m fine. It’s not pain.” He smirks, and it takes me a second to realize what he’s talking about. When I finally do, I raise my eyebrow, turning my head back to Jasper. After a few seconds, I shift in Harper’s lap again, and this time, I feel his bulge pressing against me.

Harper’s arms wrap around me, hanging by my hip, while his head rests against my arm. He seems calm, but the hardness under me tells me a different story. Teasing Harper causes tension between my own legs, and suddenly, I’m not so tired anymore. Harper’s fingers dig into my hip, and it turns me on even more. Jasper doesn’t immediately realize the tug-of-war Harper and I are playing, but when he does, all he can do is laugh.

“You two are horrible. You can’t even have Eden on your lap without turning into a teenage boy.”

When Jasper says that, a question comes to mind.

“How did you two lose your virginities?”

“Oh man, that’s a memory I wish I could forget,” Harper chuckles, burying his face in my arm.

“Eh, my first time was great.” Jasper shrugs with a proud grin.

“Yeah, because it was with our history teacher,” Harper spills.

“What?!” My eyes widen, and I gawk at Jasper.

“It’s not how it sounds. I was 18, and technically, she wasn’t my history teacher anymore.”

“Okay, now I’m confused.”

Harper clears his throat as if he’s been waiting to tell this story for years.

“Jasper had a thing for the senior-year history teacher since he was a freshman. She was young and had the most amazing legs. She always wore shirts that would show off her tits a little. The first time he saw her, he nearly burst in his pants right in front of her.”

“Overexaggerating,” Jasper mumbles.

“Yeah, right,” Harper continues, “He made a vow right then that she was going to be his first. This man stayed a virgin all of high school just to fuck this teacher. The crazy part is, she knew Jasper had a crush on her and never said a thing.”

“No way!”

“Yes way,” Harper confirms.

“It’s not as dramatic as Harper makes it seem. Yeah, I saved my virginity for her, but that didn’t stop me from working my way through half the girls in our grade. I didn’t have to fuck them to make them fall in love with me.” Jasper sticks out his tongue a bit, and my panties dampen a bit.

“Wow. The power of fourplay.” I nod.

“Exactly. By the time I was 18, I knew what I was doing for the most part. Right after graduation, I went to the school and saw her alone in her classroom. I told her that I saved my first time for her. She thought that because she was older, she was going to teach me a thing or two. I don’t think she was prepared to get fucked on her desk and come 5 times.” Jasper lets out the most nonchalant laugh as he flips the burgers. Meanwhile, I’m shocked as hell that this transpired.

“Well, what happened after that?” I press.

“Eh, we hooked up for the summer and she moved away. Something about her husband catching her fucking a former student in their bed.”

“Wow.”

Thank heavens we aren’t having a boy.