Knocked Up By the Jerk by Loni Ree

Mason

Watchingmy best friend reek of happiness while my heart is broken sucks. The entire week Livie was in town, I tried to see her, but she refused. I finally realized she will never forgive me for the way I treated her in that bathroom. I acted like an animal and scared my soulmate. She’s washed her hands of me, and I decide to respect her wishes.

Over the next month, I put on a brave face, but my heart is crushed. Spending time with Bridgett and Fletcher causes pain to radiate through my body. When I see the woman, who looks exactly like my love, pain pierces my chest.

I have no doubt my friends realize what’s eating at me, but they sense my need for time and don’t question me. I get drunk one Saturday night and tell myself to stop being such a pussy. It’s obvious Livie isn’t going to release her hold on my heart, so I need to take the bull by the horns and get my girl.

* * *

Monday morning,I need a caffeine boost. After dealing with the village idiots again yesterday, I barely got any sleep. Since I forgot to buy coffee pods at the grocery store, I stop by the local coffee shop on my way to work, hoping to recharge. I’m heading back to my truck when I see Bridgett rushing toward me.

“Hey,” she calls out and walks up to hug me. My body doesn’t react to her at all, but longing for another beautiful blonde causes my heart to squeeze in my chest. As she looks up at me and bites her lip, pain flows through me. The gesture reminds me so much of her sister. “Can I ask you a favor?” She’s nearly vibrating with excitement.

I force myself to push my unhappiness to the back of my mind and smile down at her. “Sure.” As she explains her favor, jealousy and longing hit me hard, but I ignore the emotions. “Do you want to follow me to City Hall, and we can do it now?” I pat her arm.

She agrees to meet me at City Hall, and I rush off to my truck. The day Bridgett and Fletcher met, I went to my friend’s office to explain the situation about the pregnant dog. Today, she wants me to reenact that day to deliver another surprise to her husband.

Bridgett follows me into the building but waits outside the door as I knock and then walk in. Fletcher glances up at me and frowns. “I need to talk to you,” I tell him before dropping into the chair across from my desk. “This is official business.”

“What do you suggest we do about the village idiots?” He misunderstands my reason for coming to see him.

“That’s not the issue I’m here to talk about.” I sigh.

“Who caused the trouble this time?” He leans back in his chair and raises an eyebrow.

I take a deep breath and smirk. “You.” I watch his mouth drop open as he thinks back to another time when I uttered those words. I can’t resist fucking with him a little. “I seem to remember you liked to skip classes in high school.” He looks confused, and I decide to put him out of his misery. “Evidently, you missed the day they taught us all about the birds and the bees. It seems you’ve been busy knocking up a cute little blonde. Since you already married her, I’m going to let you off the hook for this offense if you promise to make me the godfather.”

Bridgett comes rushing in the door, and I step out to give them their privacy. As I walk out of the building, I decide I’m calling in sick and going home to drown my jealousy and longing.

* * *

The next day,I’m sitting at my desk nursing a hangover when Fletcher storms in and slams the door. “Hey.” I grab my aching head and groan as the noise sends arrows of pain through my skull. “I’m not in the mood,” I warn him.

“Well, you better get in the mood real quick.” I glance up and see the anger flashing in his eyes. “I’m going to kick your ass.” What in the hell did I do? Fletcher must see my confusion because he stomps over to my desk and slaps his hand down on the hard surface. “You knocked up my sister-in-law.”

Holy shit. Happiness blasts through me. There’s no way she’s getting away from me now. I’ll do whatever it takes to make her forgive me. I know failure isn’t an option. After all, my family is at stake.

“Are you serious?” I need to hear it again.

“As a fucking heart attack.” He sits across from me and crosses his arms over his chest. “My father-in-law called last night wanting your address and phone number.” He stares at me, and I see he’s holding back laughter. “You owe me big fucking time. I promised him I’d take care of it and bought you a little time.” My best friend raises an eyebrow. “Now, I want to know what you’re going to do about my pregnant sister-in-law.”

“I’m going to fucking marry her and knock her up many more times.”

He stares at me for a few seconds before sighing. “I figured as much. I told you there was no escaping once these Parker girls get under your skin.” Oh, sure. Rub it in.

He calls his wife to get Livie’s address, and Bridgett insists on talking to me. She rakes me over the coals before I manage to convince her I’ll never hurt her twin again. Bridgett is upset that she found out about her sister’s pregnancy from her parents. Evidently, Livie knew Fletcher would head straight here, so she decided not to tell her sister yet. Bridgett finally gives me the information, and I don’t waste any time. After thanking Fletcher, I rush out the door. On my way through the lobby, I let my secretary know, “I’m going to take a couple of days of personal leave.”

I storm into my house and pack a bag, then manage to make reservations on my way to the airport. It’s time to win over my woman and get my child.

* * *

The only last-minuteflight I could find has two stopovers. It takes me twelve hours to make it to Seattle, and I’m exhausted but excited. I used the long trip to think about how I’m going to handle this situation. A few months ago, the thought of having a child would have terrified me. Now, it’s like a miracle. A new start with my soulmate. And I don’t plan on screwing this up.

I find a hotel and decide to get a couple of hours of sleep before I head over to Livie’s apartment. After tossing and turning for a while, I throw back the covers. I’m not going to get any rest until I make things right with my girl. It kills me to wait any longer, but I don’t want to wake her up early. At nine a.m., I decide it’s late enough. I drive to her place and rehearse my speech the entire way.