“Can’t kidnap what’s already yours.”
I laughed, closing my eyes. Impatiently waiting for what was to come. I heard the front door open as he took my hand, guiding me to walk forward. Following as close as I could to his warm body. Overthinking the possibilities of what he had planned in my mind when I suddenly felt him shift. He let go of my hand, moving to stand behind me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders, and pulling me close to his chest.
“Open them,” he whispered close to my ear.
My eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the bright light. We were outside, the fresh air and cold breeze hit all my senses. It had been months since I felt the outdoors. The sun on my face. The grass beneath my feet. Creed had made a picnic outside of the safe house, in the woods. Overlooking the gorgeous sun and riverbank situated out in front of us. The breathtaking greenery, the autumn colors, and leaves that were now falling from the trees. The view looked like a postcard.
“I can’t believe you did all this,” I said, trying to hold back the tears.
“Consider this our first date.” He kissed my neck, leaving me in shock to go sit on the blanket.
I stood there dumbfounded for I don’t know how long, taking in my surroundings before sitting down next to him. Noticing all my favorite foods, desserts and even my favorite thing to drink, lined the center of our blanket. My guitar leaning up against a tree. I had mentioned I missed playing it.
“I have no words, Creed. You have officially outdone yourself.”
“You can thank me later.” He winked, throwing a chocolate covered strawberry in his mouth. “It’s a nice fall day. Didn’t want to waste it.”
“It feels amazing to be outside. God, it feels like forever since I felt the sun on my skin.”
“When this all blows over, you can lay out naked by the pool at our house, for as long as you want. It can be my new favorite thing.”
I chuckled, resisting the urge to ask him how much longer he planned to keep me captive. I didn’t want to ruin the moment. He had put a lot of thought and effort into this date, and I couldn’t have been more grateful.
We spent the next few hours eating, laughing, talking about anything and everything. Learning all sorts of new things about each other. At one point he handed me my guitar. He asked me to play for him, he knew that I never played for people, blame it on stage fright, he said he wanted a part of me that nobody had before. I grabbed it and started to strum the strings to the melody of “Foolish Games,” by Jewel. A song that made me thing of him through the years. He sat there watching me with a fascinated look in his eyes, as I poured my heart out to him through the lyrics. Knowing I had never played for anyone before.
Time just flew by, and before I knew it, I was leaning against his chest, watching the sunset behind the trees.
“I talked to Mason,” he said out of nowhere.
I abruptly turned around to face him. “What do you mean? When? He’s alright then?”
“Yeah, Pippin, he’s fine. He was just sent on a mission off the grid. Ain’t too fuckin’ happy with me, though,” he scoffed, taking a swig of his beer.
“Why? You didn’t do anything.”
“Didn’t watch out for you.”
I jerked back. “What?”
“Promised him I’d watch out for you, after I was discharged.”
“You did?”
He nodded, drinking again.
“But I... Noah and I... I mean... you were still in the military.”
“Ain’t got shit to do with you and Noah, but he ain’t too fuckin’ thrilled about that situation either.” He looked me over. “You forget you’re missin’, Mia?”
“Oh... So, he knows I’m pregnant?”
“Yes. It’s aiight. I can handle Mason. Just wanted you to know he’s safe.”
“And... my parents’? Did he say anything about them? How are they doing?” I coaxed in a gentle tone.
“How you think? Hmm?” he countered, tugging on the ends of my hair.
“Yeah...” I breathed out, finally mustering up the courage to ask, “What’s going to happen when I go home, Creed? What am I supposed to tell my family? The cops? Everyone is going to want to know where I’ve been for the last... however long I end up staying here.”
“You don’t think I know that? What did you want me to do? Leave ya there. Back in Oak Island, let you be a sittin’ fuckin’ duck? An easy fuckin’ target? Couldn’t do it, babe. Against my fuckin’ nature, ta not protect the ones I love. It’s who I am. Knowin’ that your family could fuckin’ hate me cuz of this, well it was a risk I was more than willin’ to fuckin’ take. In fact, I’d do it again if I had to.”
“They won’t hate you.”
“Yeah? You sure about that? They already think I’m fuckin’ biker trash. A low life piece of shit from the wrong side of the tracks. Don’t blame them either. Like I said before, I wouldn’t want my baby girl with the likes of me either. But can’t let you go, Mia. As you know... I’ve already fuckin’ tried,” he reminded me, taking another swig of his beer.
I smiled, sitting up on my knees in front of him, grabbing the beer out of his hand and placing it on the ground beside us. Throwing my arms around his neck for support as I straddled his waist. His legs went lax under me to allow more room for my belly. I snuggled my face close to his for a few seconds, resting my forehead against his when I was done.
“No one is going to hate you, because I won’t let them. And you know how persuasive I can be. I always get what I want, or else you wouldn’t be mine now.”
He smiled, wrapping his arms around me. Pulling me closer. “See... that’s where you’re fuckin’ wrong, Pippin, cuz I’ve always been yours.”
And for the first time since I met him.
I knew his words were true.
“Baby girl is measurin’ right at thirty-two weeks. She’s approximately three and a half pounds right now,” Doc informed, measuring from the top of my belly to my pelvic area. Then proceeded to push all around, making the baby wiggle inside me. “She’s completely flipped, head’s down going into your birth canal.”
“Oh! That’s why her feet are always in my ribs,” I replied, looking over at Noah.
Creed was leaning against the doorframe to his room, allowing Noah to stand beside me. I was lying on the bed, while Doc examined my growing belly. I knew Creed wanted to be the one by my side, but he was respecting Noah and our situation. Noah had been coming around more often, now that I was closer to my due date. Acting as if nothing had happened between us, all the tension magically disappearing. We went back to being friends, talking about how we were going to make this work. Wanting to be the best parents we could to our child.