Candy Apple Red-Book Two

Chapter 18 - Whoops!

TWO MONTHS LATER...

Seth's POV

Things are starting to get a bit easier lately. I haven't gotten out much, but at least I'm not riddled with heartache as before. Dylan and Mariah are headed out of town this evening for her brother's graduation tomorrow, so I'm just going to try to keep busy and find something to do around here. Lately, they have been inviting me over for dinner, I don't expect it, but I guess they have sensed something is up with me. I'm assuming they think it's over spending time with Dylan; they have no clue what happened between Brie and me. 

I pop open a beer and walk over to my dartboard to play some darts when I'm startled as someone enters my garage... f*****g Rachel! I throw my hands up in the air, "What in the heck are you doing here, Rachel?" 

"Well, we need to talk!"

I exhale audibly, "Rachel, I have told you so many times that we are not compatible! How many times do I..."

"I'm pregnant, you moron!" she cries out. 

I stand there, frozen in place. My entire body trembles, "What did you say?"

She crosses her arms in front of her chest, "I said I am pregnant, Seth."

I throw the darts to the floor and approach her with my finger pointed, "You told me that you were on the pill, Rachel!"

She snickers, "Well, I guess it didn't work this time."

"I don't believe you, Rachel!" 

She drops her arms to her side, "Well, believe whatever you want, but you are gonna be a daddy, like it or not!"

"God! Rachel! You are such a conniving woman!"

She begins to sob uncontrollably, "Is that any way to talk to the woman who is carrying your baby?"

"I want a paternity test!" I tell her. 

She wipes the tears from her eyes, "Fine by me. It's all yours. You are the only guy I've been with in over a year anyway."

I stalk back towards my workbench and throw a wrench across the room, "God damn it! This is a f*****g nightmare!"

"Well, it's not exactly good news for me, either, Seth! I was supposed to start nursing school in January.  I was trying to save up to buy a car; now I have to save up to buy baby clothes and a crib. I mean, I'm pregnant by a man who despises me; how do you think that makes me feel?"

I spin around and approach her, "If you just would have taken the hint, this never would have happened! Besides, if the test comes back, it's mine, you won't have to worry. I take care of what's mine!"

She sighs aloud, wiping the tears as they roll down her cheeks, "What do you need me to do?"

"Set up the paternity test, and I'll pay for it," I respond quietly. 

"If it's determined you are the father which it will, are you going to be an active participant in all this? Or should I just expect to tell you when the baby comes?" she asks with a snarky undertone.

"Christ, Rachel! Don't be ridiculous! I will be there for whatever I need to be there for, but you and I will never hook up again! Do you hear me?"

She moves in closer, her face inches from mine, "Loud and clear! I wouldn't want to hook up with you anymore anyway, considering how you just acted. I want you to realize one thing; I'm not the only one to blame here. So don't be bad mouthing me around town, do you understand?"

I nod my head, "I would never bad mouth you around town. I don't even talk to anyone outside of Dylan and Mariah, anyway."

She spins around and begins to walk out, "You will be hearing from me tomorrow on the paternity test, so don't be a dickhead to me! I'm only warning you."

I shake my head from side to side, "That's fine, I won't be a dickhead. No more surprise visits, though; you call before you come, got it?"

She glares at me as she turns the corner and walks towards her car. I can hear her squeal her tires as she pulls out of the driveway and down the road. 

I walk over and place my hands on my workbench, closing my eyes to contemplate what the f**k I'm going to do now. Christ! Now I'm stuck with this woman in my life for the next eighteen years. I walk over to pick up the darts off the floor and throw them across the room at the dartboard target. Why can't things just be normal in my life for once? Why does s**t constantly keep happening to me? Am I cursed or something?

Later that night, I realized I had drunk myself into a stupor. I figured it's 10:00 pm, surely Dylan made it to Mooresville, Tennessee by now, where they planned on staying overnight on the way to Cincinnati, Ohio, tomorrow afternoon.  I pick up the phone and dial his number. He answers on the second ring, "Hey Seth, what's up, buddy?" 

"Hey Dylan, I got some surprising news... It turns out I'm going to be a daddy."

He remains silent for a moment. I'm sure he's as surprised as I am right now, "Wow, dude. Congratulations, I guess."

"Yeah, f*****g Rachel stopped by this evening and broke the news to me."

He snickers, "Dude, welcome to the club, daddy."

"Yep, well, I just wanted to tell you the news; I know it's late, so I'll let you go."

"Alright, buddy, I will call you back when I get back into town Monday afternoon," He says.

I disconnect the call and lace my fingers behind my head. Now, what in the f**k am I going to do? If I ever had a chance to get back with Brie, that chance is long gone now. She's definitely not going to want me now that Rachel is in my life permanently. I plop down on the fold-out chair and hang my head in my hands, wallowing in my own self-pity. 

Brie's POV

Patrick and I have seen each other exclusively since the first night we went out. I've been hanging out a lot more at his place now that we have been together. He's gotten a little bit better in bed. Definitely not a stallion like Seth, but he's improving. 

He started me on a workout regimen with a strict diet. This guy is dedicated; I can tell you that much. I didn't mind; my body has more definition than ever before. 

I park my car in the guest parking spot at his apartment complex. I walk up the sidewalk and through the front entrance to his apartment. Once I arrive at his apartment, I reach up to knock on the door. After a minute, he answers, "Hey, sweetie, you ready to go?"

"Yeah, I'm ready. Can I leave my keys here while we run?"

"Oh sure, baby, come on in," he responds. 

I walk past him and lay my keys on the counter, "Did you stretch?" he asks. 

"No, not yet." 

"Baby girl, you have to listen to me when I tell you that stretching is crucial to do before work out; it reduces muscle soreness. Come on, let's get you loosened up first before we jog." 

I chuckle, "Sorry, I forgot." 

"Come over here and lay down on the ground." He orders. 

I walk over and lay myself down on the ground. He takes my right leg and stretches it over my head, then my left leg, "Alright, now sit up and spread your legs and reach for the right, then the left." he directs me. 

I do exactly what he tells me, "Alright, baby, stand up and reach for your toes." he says. 

I stand up and lean over to reach for my toes. He walks behind me and gently pats my ass, "Look at that tight little ass." he says under his breath. 

I chuckle, "Glad you like it." 

"Like it? I love it! I can't get enough of it." he says as he leans over to wrap his arms around me. 

"Hey, you won't hear me complain," I respond as I stand up straight. 

He kisses the top of my head, "Now that you are loosened up, we can go. When we get back, I want you all to myself."

The two of us walk out of the apartment complex and begin jogging down the sidewalk. Once we make it to the stop sign, a pretty little brunette jogs by and flashes an adoring smile at Patrick, "Hey Patrick." she says as she passes. 

He waves, "Hey, Anita." 

I turn around in shock that she blatantly ignored me as I jogged alongside him. She spins around and jogs backward, "See you in chemistry class." she calls out in a flirtatious voice. 

He chuckles, "Okay, see ya."

Once we turn the corner and jog down the road, I prod him for answers, "Who was that, Patrick?" 

"Oh, that was just Anita Phillips in my Chemistry class."

"Well, it didn't look like just Anita Phillips in your Chemistry class to me. It looked like a lot more than that." I respond with a snarky undertone. 

He snickers, "Are you jealous, baby?"

"Umm... yeah, I am. She blatantly ignored the fact that you were jogging with your girlfriend and got flirtatious with you. That's some bull s**t!"

 He laughs out loud, "Nah... she's just friendly." 

I snort, "Yeah, well, she can keep her friendly self away from you before she gets a serious beat down. What a b***h!"

He laughs aloud, "You are such a cutie pie. I love it when you get mad." 

I shake my head from side to side and stew a bit as we finish our jog. When we are finished, we go sprint back to his place and cuddle for the remainder of the night. I tried to rid the negative thoughts of Anita from my brain after that. She was just a jealous old cunt who wanted my man anyway. There are lots of girls out there who are conniving like that. Regardless, Patrick didn't seem too interested in anyone but me, so what do I have to worry about, right?