Tides Of Fate

Chapter Eighteen

I woke up startled when something hard bumped in my belly. I pressed my hand against my stomach and rubbed it. It didn’t hurt, it felt uncomfortable, and I’d never felt anything like that before. I sat still on the bed waiting for another nudge. When nothing happened I stood up and walked to the bathroom. I must be hungry again.

After the long shower I put on a loose green top I’d bought the day we ran away. The new extension on my belly made all the clothes I had too tight. I pulled my hair up in a ponytail and walked out of my room. I knew my dad would be waiting for me, annoyed by the fact we’d broken one of his sacred rules. But I didn’t mind what was coming next, I had spent the night in the arms of the man I love and I’d gladly take what was coming to me.

I walked through the living room and into the kitchen expecting my dad to ambush me in one of those places but he was nowhere to be seen. The rest were in the kitchen having breakfast. Ash was standing by the stove, and Billy and Joe were seated at the island with the girls.

“Morning everyone.” I walked up to Ash and gave him a kiss. “You’re still alive so is it safe to say he didn’t find out?”

Ash laughed. He placed a plate of bacon and sausages on the island and pulled out a stool for me. “He found out, but he didn’t fuss about it after I told him about our discussion last night.”

Of course, that must be worrying him a lot more than it did me. Being a parent must be the toughest job ever. I’m glad I have a few more years before I even begin considering being a mother. That is if I still could be being a wolf.

“Where is he?”

“He’s taking a look at your jeep. Eat.” 

I raised a piece of bacon to my lips, meeting Maria’s shocked gaze. “What?”

“You are certainly not going to school with that green thing on.”

I looked down at my shirt. I didn’t see anything wrong with it. “Why not?”

“It looks two sizes too big.”

“If you hadn’t noticed, I have an alien belly to hide.” I tossed the bacon in my mouth and picked up another one.

“That doesn’t mean you should dress up like a hippie!” She stood up and moved towards me.

“I’m not changing, Maria.” I stood up and moved away from her.

“You need to start looking like a girl and not some tomboy, High School is over.” She took another step closer. I moved back, bumping into Ash. He reached up and placed a hand at the side of my belly.

“She’s right, Maria, she needs to hide that,” he said with a chuckle. I pulled away from him to stare at him, feeling offended. The moment I did that, I felt the bump again where his hand had been. This wasn’t hunger. Before I had a chance to react, Maria was pulling me backwards out of the kitchen and upstairs to her room.

I sat on her bed confused, not paying attention to a word she was saying as she rummaged through her closet. What the hell was going on inside me? Was my body starting to reshape? But I didn’t have any bones in my belly…did Ash forget to tell me something?

Maria threw a white top at me. It was tight at the top but free flowing under my chest. “Wear that, we’ll go shopping today after school. How did I not see you buy that thing?”

I pulled off the green top and wore the one she gave me, trying to forget the additional worry on my already long list. Maria had always been very vocal about my style of dressing, for as long as I’d known her.

“I think we all know how much you hate how I dress.”

A triumphant smile crossed her face. She moved to me and tugged at my ponytail, letting my hair fall freely around my shoulders then placed a white headband on my head to trap the hair back.

“Now you look like a girl.” She picked up one of her makeup brushes and dabbed powder on my face.

“I never thought I wasn’t one,” I said moving my head around trying to dodge the brush.

“You could have fooled me.”

She walked past me and left, heading back to the kitchen. I laughed as I watched her walk down the steps and into the kitchen. There was a new strut with each step she took.

She waited at the door for me to catch up then pointed at me like an exhibit. “Presenting, the new and almost improved Lee. If I had more time I would have done something more about the makeup.”

“You mean if you had restraints and the patience to struggle with her you would have done more with the makeup.” Ann had a laugh in her voice.

“Yeah, that.” Maria sounded down. “But one step at a time, we’ll get there.”

“You and we go ahead, I am staying the way I am.” I sat down and went back to my breakfast.

“Ash wouldn’t mind seeing you dolled up once in a while, would you Ash?” Maria stared at him with a warning in her eye. She really wanted him to back her up.

“If Ash wanted a Barbie doll he would have gone out with Jane when he had the chance, or am I wrong?” I stared at him and waited. I was curious about his answer because he had never commented on my style before. But he just stood there looking confused and uncomfortable.

“You’ll want to speak up before they read into your silence,” Billy said with a chuckle. Ash looked at him, his eyes searching for an answer from him. I couldn’t hear their thoughts so they must have shut me out or no one was lending Ash any help.

I pulled my phone from my pants pocket. “How about I give you the diva’s number? Go out with her on one date. I’m sure you will make up your mind after spending a few minutes with her.”

“Lee, they’re just clothes.” Ash moved closer to me.

“What you wear is who you are.” I scrolled down the contact list and paused when I got to Jane’s. “Should I call or do you want to do that yourself?”

“Okay fine, give me her number.”

I turned and looked at him shocked. I thought he would give me some jibber-jabber about how he liked how I dressed, but he was calling my bluff.

“Ooh, even I know that’s a bad move.” Joe laughed, Billy joined in.

“Fine! Don’t you want to write it down?” I felt steamed.

“No. I have a picture perfect memory.” Ash sounded casual. It really annoyed me.

I turned my attention back to my phone. I was going to read the numbers out so fast he’d miss each and every one of them. I smiled when I noticed the number above Jane’s.

“She’s smiling, that’s not good,” Ann spoke quietly.

“Ash, I have a feeling you’re not going to like the next part!” Maria added between laughs. “It’s wonderful when she’s not pulling it on us.”

“You’re right, it is!” Ann laughed.

“Pull what?” Ash’s calm voice was gone. He sounded worried. I looked at him. I wasn’t going to miss him getting mad.

“Maybe we should double date? I’m sure Jane wouldn’t mind.”

“Of course she wouldn’t. Josh wouldn’t be so lonely with you there.” His sure confident voice was back.

“Who said anything about Josh?” I pressed call and held the phone to my ear. “I wonder if George is still up for that rain check?”

“Hell no!” Ash’s faced creased in anger. His cool voice was replaced with a harsh tone. He yanked the phone from me and crushed it in his grip.

“What the hell Ash!” I watched as my phone poured onto the island in little pieces.

His face eased up into a smug look. “Let’s see you call George now.” He opened his hand to let the rest fall freely onto the island and the floor. The others were laughing harder than before.

“What am I going to use now?” My annoyance was much more than the pleasure of seeing him so jealous.

“It was time for an upgrade any way. There will be a new one waiting for you when you get home.”

“I bet with its tracking app connected to your iPad too, no thanks.”

He raised a brow at me. “You seem to be under the impression I ask for your opinion when it comes to your safety.” He picked up my empty plate and handed me my bag. “You’re going to be late for class. I hope you all don’t mind riding in one car?” He pulled me up and led me out of the kitchen.

“That’s cool. We’re taking mine.” Ann walked faster and got outside before we did. She pulled the car out of the garage and put the top down. “Do I look hot or what?”

“Hot or not, that top is going back up. I’m not messing up my hair.” Maria climbed into the passenger seat.

“Have a great day.” Ash pulled me closer and kissed me. I pressed myself against him, deepening the kiss and holding onto him longer. I could feel the chills his kiss gave me run down my spine.

The two bumps in my belly startled me. I broke the kiss and moved back, my hands over the two spots I’d felt the hits. I kept still and waited to feel for more bumps.

“Lee, what’s the matter?” Ash lifted my head with his fingers to look at him.

I knew I should tell him but then he’d only make me stay home. We didn’t know what was going on with me. I wasn’t going to sit around the house and wait for the inevitable to happen.

“Nothing, bye.” I reached up and gave him a quick kiss before I ran for the car. I hopped over the door and into the back.

“Hey, will you be careful!” Ann shouted over her shoulder.

“Sorry.” I patted off the dust from the seat and sat still like an obedient five-year-old after being scolded.