I swear earlier hit different. My stomach is a bit swollen and I'm so fucking sore. Beth sneered the entire elevator ride to the parking lot, Joel was unbothered and I was just holding my stomach wondering if Joel shifted my inside the whole ride to the hospital. Cause shit don't feel right. "You ok?" He asked, smirking as we got out of his car. I glared at him. He chuckled, shutting his door before walking towards me and taking my hand. He's wearing a red t-shirt with black sweatpants and Vans. "That's what you get when you bite your lip." He said, close to my ear.

"No! No! No! That's what I get when you want to piss Beth off, you mean." I corrected. He shrugged.

"You have no proof of that." He said, letting go of my hand and wrapping his arm around my shoulders. I rolled my eyes. I swear I hate you sometimes. He kissed my forehead. We were halfway to the entrance when Beth pulled up, still pissed. We waited for her, I didn't have to look at Joel to know he's either smirking or wearing some kind of look that'll just piss Beth off more. She walked passed us. "I'm sorry for making you wait so long...I was helping Aubrey find better pair of  leggings—something bad happened to the first pair she wore—"

"Oh fuck you," Beth grumbled. Joel chuckled.

"No thanks, I'm good," Joel said. I looked to the sky hoping he'll behave for at least 5 minutes while we're here.

-

We sat in the waiting room, I sat between Joel and Beth as their annoyed with their bullshit Switzerland. Jarrett and Kimberly's surrogate wants her identity to remind anonymous to the rest of their family much to Joel's irritation. I looked at Joel when he sighed, cursing under his breath. "What's up with you grumpy?" I asked.

He looks at me. "Who you calling grumpy?"

"The man that's looking me in the face right now," I replied, boldly.

"You want another round of earlier, I see." He said, smirking. I rolled my eyes and stuck my tongue out at him. He chuckled, draping his arm around me. He pulled me closer until he's inches from my ear. "Let's play a little game...well a bet more like." He whispered.

I looked at him. "About?"

"The baby. We'll have a bet about the baby's gender." He replied.

"They didn't tell you the gender?" I asked. He shook his head.

"I haven't heard anything so I guess it's a surprise or some shit. So. are we doing this or not?"

"Sure. I say it's a boy....what do I get if I win?"

"Anything you want." He replied.

"Ok, you have to behave yourself for the rest of the day."

"No." He countered. I made a face.

"You said anything," I argued.

"Yeah, I hoping you wouldn't ask for the impossible." He said I rolled my eyes.

"Fine.....I want a guinea pig then."

"No." He said. I threw my hands in the air in frustration.

"Omg, what can I get, Joel!" I shout whispers.

"Sex."

I stared at him for a while. "No thanks," I said, looking away. Not after earlier, I want to keep my parts functioning thank you very much. Beth laughed and Joel's jaw dropped.

"What do you mean 'no thanks'." He said, dramatically.

"No as in no, thanks as in being grateful for something. Put them together and you get; Joel, you can keep that shit cause I don't want it." I whispered. Beth almost fell out of her seat. Joel stared at me, emotionless. I leaned forward and pecked his lips. "Don't look at me like that cause you and I both know that sex is bound to happen regardless....besides I can't keep my hands off of you when you gimme that look."

Slowly a smirk formed on his lips. "I should put you over my knee for your first statement, Ms. Cabrera." He whispered.

I grinned. "Put me over it then, Mr. Pereira." I challenged.

"Get a room," Beth grumbled.

"Soon," Joel said with a smiling at her, looking over my shoulder. He winked at her then kisses me. He cupped my cheek, deepening the kiss. "Ok, fine...I'll try to behave."

I gasped. "Really?"  I asked.

"No."

"Aw." I said, pouting, he chuckled. "What do you want...if you win?"  I asked. He grinned. It was a grin I didn't like, it's sinister looking.  I narrowed my eyes at him. "No."

"You don't even know what I want." He protested.

"I don't care, I don't trust that look."

"What look?" He asked.

"You mean his ugliness? Sorry, Bre that's just his face." Beth said. I covered Joel's mouth before could utter his comeback.

"You know what," I said, getting up," curse each other out to your heart's content," I said before marching off. Joel caught up with me when I got to the exit. It's dark out probably around 8.

"Aubrey." He called, as I walked to the parking lot. "Aubrey!" He yelled. I ignored him. I'm tired of their behavior, I should be having to tell 2  27-year-olds to behave themselves. It's fucking exhausting. Not even Jolan and Jovanni act like this. "At least tell me where you're going."

"The car," I replied, rubbing my arms when a strong breeze hit my skin. He followed me in silence and unlocked the car when we got close. He opened the door for me, I just stood there glaring at him. He frowned.

"What?"

"You were being childish and you need to go in there and apologize," I told him.

"When I said you can get sex and you said I can keep that shit—cause our sex life is trash apparently—I didn't ask for an apology when you said it loud enough for Betty Coker to hear. Which confuses me because I know for a fact that I get you wetter than an outside mat when it rains—" I covered his mouth when I saw couple gradually getting closing. When the walked by I removed my hand.

"I never said our sex life is trash, but I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings....sometimes I forget gremlins have feelings too—ah!" I yelped when he grabbed me. I giggled as he tickled me. "Joel, I was just joking!" I said, laughing my head off.

"No, you weren't." He said, raining kisses on my neck too. Tears are streaming down my face. He stopped and kissed me. I wrapped my arms around him. I pulled away with chattering teeth. He wiped my tears away. "Let's get in." He said. I went inside and he shut the door behind me. He gets in and pulled back  his seat. I crawled over and laid on top of him. He wrapped his arms around me and sighed. He stroked me my hair. We laid there in silence.

-

At around 10:30 pm,  Joel got a call for Jarrett saying the baby is here and it's....a boy! Woo! Woo! His name is Jericho or Rico for short. Joel held Jericho in his arms with his eyes closed, humming. So many parts of me wished that Joel would've been able to hold our child with that absentminded smile. I looked away trying to blink away the tears. Kimberly is asleep beside me and is Jarrett downstairs with Beth and Eli getting coffee. I should have gone with them. I should have known this would have affected me but I don't regret coming I need to get accept what happened and live a happy life for Jacy. "You want to hold him?" Joel asked. I looked at him, unsure of what to say.

"Um....I-I don't know how," I replied.

"I'll show you." He said, putting Jericho in my arms. "You have to support his head and put your hand here." He said, adjusting my hands. I stared down at Jericho's sleeping face. Joel got on his knees with a small smile then whispered something in Portuguese. Jericho made the cutest sound that made me smile. His yellow pacifier bobbing away. I looked at Joel and found him staring at me at me. Kimberly stretched and sat up.

"Wow, you're letting someone hold him, you baby hog." She teased. Joel smiled.

"I can't be be greedy." He whispered.

"You're only sharing because it's Aubrey."

"Hell yeah, everyone else can wait," Joel whispered, grinning at her mischievously.

"Oh lord," I said.

-

When got home 3 hours ago, I couldn't write there were too many ideas plaguing my mind. I had to write I just had to. I gritted my teeth as I struggled to lift the typewriter to the bedroom. I stopped halfway to the door to catch my breath, putting it at my feet. Holy shit, that's fucking heavy. I wiped the sweat off my forehead, letting out a ridge breath. I picked it up again and continued my venture into the bedroom. I left it at the door while I fetched a small foldable table and chair from the supply closet downstairs." What are you doing?" Joel asked after he turns on the lamp. I looked up and saw him sitting on the edge of the bed, yawning. He looked at me through his lashes.

"Just a bit of prep," I replied.

"For what exactly?"

"I'm going to write duh," I replied I pointed at the typewriter, "obviously."

He sat there swaying, literally. The left side of his head was flat from sleeping in it and his eyes are now closed. He shrugged, sheepishly. He opened his eyes just a crack. He chuckled. "I guess it is. But why are you moving it in here, though?"

"I needed a space to work," I replied scanning the room for somewhere to work. There was some truth to that statement, I do need space but just where he's present. He is my inspiration after all.

His brows furrowed. "You do have a space; where the typewriter was originally." He pointed out.

"Thank you. I really appreciate the space but it's a bit...claustrophobic." I stated.

"Oh," he started, "you need some help?" He questioned, standing up stumbling a bit.

"Yes. That would be bloody fantastic. Grab the typewriter while I find a space to put it." I told him.

"Ok." He mouthed after a big yawn. He got up and picked up the typewriter.

"There's space by the balcony do—" he trails off when I set the table and chair three directly in front of the bed,"—or." He raised a brow at me.

"I don't want to be to close to the balcony but enough for me to get the right amount of sunlight and I don't to be too far from the bed." I countered, ending with a smile. He give me a questionable look. He opened his mouth to say something but closed it and just shook his head. I let out a sigh of relief. "Oh and before you go back to sleep, put on some earplugs I don't wanna disturb you." I told him, as he was about to go under the covers. He dug into his nightstand and put a pair into his ear. He nested into the covers, sighing.

I waited a good five minutes before I was sure he was knocked out. I ditched my progress on my computer earlier so I could start fresh. I glanced at my sleeping caveman and a smile tugged at the corners of my lips. I looked away staring down at the ivory keys. "Let's get this show on the road." I murmured to myself.

'It was raining again. The fifth time this morning,  I completely forgotten to check the weather forecast before leaving the house. Oh well. I smiled at my regular custom, Mrs. Kirkland, who was smiling back with that sweet smile of hers. Her whitened hair was hidden beneath a pretty, floral scarf that framed her wrinkled, oval face. Her pale grey eyes had their usual sparkle in them. That sparkle meant there's gossip coming my way. Her thin mouth painted a deep red. She was wearing her bright yellow raincoat that you could see from outer space. She's fairly pretty but from the looks of her, you could tell she was a real sight in her younger years. "Mrs. Kirkland, how are you today?" I asked, as scanning her usual small bag of fertilizer.

"Same ole, same ole. An old gal like me has nothing more to look forward to than—" she trailed off when the bells rang when the door opened, "—her flowers. Oh my." She finished her sentence. Oh my indeed. We both stared at the tall, dark stranger stand near the entrance, staring the baskets of seeds behind the door. The few people stopped and stared at him in awe. Mrs. Kirkland leaned over the corner still gawking at him. "Have you seen him before?" She questioned. I shook my head absentmindedly. "Because I sure haven't and I know everyone." She added. Our small town is so small that everyone knew everyone here and strangers rarely visit—this is big news for us.

My studio size store seems to pique his interest. "Leave the gawking to the rest of us, dear, ask him if he needs help." She urged me. I glanced at her and she gestured me to go with a small nod. I smooth down my flyaway strands of my ponytail and adjusted my apron. I walked slowly towards him. I stood a few inches of him.

"Hi, welcome to Los Flores. Do you need any help?" I asked, with a smile.

He turned and looked at me. My heart just about dropped out of my chest. He's beautiful. His wavy, dirty blonde was tousled dirty like he had just gotten out of bed and his piercing. hazel eyes sucked me into a trace. His jawline could cut stone. He wore a tan hoodie and jeans. He was well built and astonishing tall. He towered over my 5-foot frame by almost a foot and a half. I was shocked in, like an explorer  finding the jackpot of treasure. I stood there, staring at those full lips. "So, you do have them?" He asked.

I snapped out of it. "Huh?" I said, bluntly. He stared at me, somewhat amused. I flushed.

"Jasmines, do you have Jasmines?" He asked.

"Err...yeah. Follow me." I told him. I lead him to the end of the aisle and he followed closely behind.

"This is a nice place you have here." He said.

"T-t-thank you," I replied. We fell into an awkward silence as we walked down to aisle four. I stopped in front of the last pot of Jasmines. I handed it to him with a shy smile. "Lucky you, it's the last one." I stated. He stared at me. I was squirming under his intense gaze. He flashed a smile showing off his tiny, deep dimples. I bite my lip. Oh my gosh. "Anything else?"

He licked his lips, my eyes followed the movement on impulse. "Now....that you mention it I'd love some...Lupin." He asked, a minute later. I nodded and reached above my head then handed him the pot. "Forget-me-not?" He asked. I tapped my finger on my chin, thinking.

"Sorry...I think I'm out of those."

"A shame," he said, sighing, " I guess that's it then." I lead him to my station. Before I could tell him the price, he handed me his platinum card. I stuck it into the card machine then handed it to him. He entered his pin and handed it back to me. I give him back his card with his receipt and smiled. My smile went stiff when his eyes met mine.

"Thank you come again." I forced out. He bowed slightly than just like that he was gone. I let out a huge breath when he left. Wow, talk about breath taker...'

I chewed on my thumb as I reread what I had. It was alright, I guess. She kind of has the same reaction I had when I met Joel. Hmm. She didn't even get his name then again neither did I when I first met Joel. I shrugged. I think chapter one is off on a good start and it kind too short to go on to chapter two. Hmm.

'It's been two weeks since I've last seen him and Mrs. Kirkland has been popping in more often, hoping he'll come back. It has gotten to a point where she brings her own stool and sits behind the corner next to me so she'd have a front-row seat but he never did so we'd sit around gossiping. You know girl stuff. I was reading a magazine awhile Mrs. Kirkland napped when the bells went off. I looked up and gasped. I hit Mrs. Kirkland's knee and she jumps up. She gasped when she saw him. He glanced our way and smirked. I flushed. He picked up a bag of fertilizer and walked this way. "Evening ladies." He said. That was the first time ever that I've heard Mrs. Kirkland giggled. It was the weird thing.

"Good evening." I greeted.

"You must be new around here." Mrs. Kirkland said. He glanced at her.

"That is correct. I moved here recently from New York." He replied with a smile. I could help but listen to their conversations and soaking up every ounce information I could.

"Wow...I see why you moved it's rowdy even for me. I'm Greta Kirkland and you are?" She asked, her hand outstretched. He took it.

"Meyer, Damian Meyer." He replied.

"Damian, it's nice to meet you and this lovely dear is Charlotte."  Mrs. Kirkland said. His gaze shifted to me. My heart flipped out of my chest and rolled out the door.

"Charlotte." He repeated. Hmm, I love the way my name rolls off his tongue like melt chocolate...'

Ok, my brain is officially fried. Imma call it a night. I grabbed the paper and placed it into an old telephone book. I jumped into bed and snuggled up to my caveman.