THIRTY TWO

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"Don't ask me what you know is true
Don't have to tell you,
oh, I love your precious heart
I was standing, you were there
Two worlds collide
And they could never, ever tear us apart"
—Bishop Briggs

     It's been a week since I discovered my unplanned pregnancy. I haven't told anyone besides those near and dear to me; the boys, the Philips, Susanna and—well, an unresponsive Reid.

     People have been filing in and out of the room all day, saying their prayers and vacating the room for the next visitors. I've seen people come and go—some I've never even met though they claim to be good friends to Reid. I've met new members of the Mafia and even the man himself, Reid's father.

     I'm not gonna lie, I was intimidated by his burly structure and the power that radiates off of him. Yet, as soon as he saw me, he pulled me into a gentle yet bone-crushing embrace. He reminded me so much of Reid that I didn't hesitate to cry into his chest, and he didn't mind. We stood for what felt like hours in each other's warm embrace.

     When we finally pulled apart, Mr. Taylor led me to the chairs at Reid's bedside.

     "Mr. Taylor—"

     "Jackson, please call me Jackson."

     "Right, Jackson. I'm so sorry about Reid," I murmured as my head cast downwards in shame and regret. Two fingers under my chin forced me to look up into the same electric blue eyes Reid's acquired. This move, also one I've accustomed to with Reid.

     "Sorry? Little one, you have absolutely nothing to be sorry for. If anything, I should be saying thank you," his ruff voice rung in my ears. Thank you?

     I knit my eyebrows as I try to search what he should be thanking me for.

     "My dear, you've brought happiness back in Reid's life. After the death of his mother," he paused and screwed his eyes shut. I placed a hand on his shoulder and he seemed to relax under my touch of reassurance, "He became dark. He closed off everyone, even me . . . but I understand, I was the same way. I guess some ways of mourning are quite similar."

     "Like father, like son," I whispered under my breathe. However, Jackson seemed to have caught it because he let out a snicker.

     "Exactly. We both needed a bit of light in our worlds, and you just happen to be his."

     My cheeks flushed as I glanced at Reid. I watched in silence as Jackson stood up and approached Reid's bed. His hands curled into fists and his jaw ticked, but he relaxed and brought a hand to Reid's tricep.

     "Son," he started.

     Oh god, should I leave?

     "I know I haven't been the best father lately, and I hope it's not too late to make amends. I'm not the only one who needs you," His shaky hand reaches out for mine as his eyes never stray from Reid's serenity. I place my dainty hand in his and approach the two men.

     "Your girl and mother of your unborn child needs you," I whip my head to Jackson. Who told him?

     'Luis' he mouths.

     That asshole is gonna get it now.

     I stifle a laugh and let Jackson continue.

     "The Mafia needs their leader," he pauses and tightens hold of my hand. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a single, glistening tear rolls down his cheek.

     "And I need you, son."

     "See, isn't this fun!" Holly squeals, swinging her bags at her side as she skips across the food court.

     Susanna and Holly both convinced me to leave the hospital and get some fresh air, saying, "after you have your baby, *poof* there goes your free time."

     At first I was reluctant. What if Reid woke up? I want to be there when he wakes so he knows that I am still there with him. But the girls kept using my recovery as an excuse. I'd recovered 2 days ago, and the girls have been nonstop about getting me out of the hospital.

     It had to happen eventually. Might as well get it over with now.

     We all took our seat at a deserted table farther away from the screaming children.

     "I guess this is kinda fun," I shrug my shoulders and sip from the boba tea.

     "Kinda? Girl, what happened to you!" Holly exclaims as she slurps the remaining liquid from her straw, eliciting the most annoying noise ever besides nails on a chalkboard.

     "Well if you need a reminder, my mom beaten me to a pulp, I was kidnapped and held as bait, Reid and I were in an accident, and oh wait—it gets better! I now just happen to be pregnant while my baby daddy and boyfriend remains in a unresponsive comatose!"

     Susanna and Holly's eyes are as wide as saucers as they survey me and absorb my speech like a sponge.

     "Damn," they girls say in unison.

     "Never mind . . . life has happened to you." Susanna sighs as she reaches across the table to thread her fingers through mine.

     "But hey," Holly chimes in, "on the bright side, you have some new cute—no, beyond sexy lingerie that you can try on for him when he wakes up and have mind blowing I-missed-you-and-you-almost-died-while-I-have-your-baby-in-me sex!"

     This ignited a fit of laugher from me as I throw my head back and clutch my stomach. They whole table falls under a comfortable silence as we calm down.

     "We're so sorry about all this by the way," Holly is the first to break the silence.

     "Yeah," Susanna intrudes, "I wish there was some way to help."

     Just as I was about to reply, my phone rings in my pocket. I pull out and answer without checking the caller ID.

     "Hello?"

     "Mere, it's Luis!" He says frantically through the phone.

     "Luis? What is it? What's wrong?" I stand up and clutch the phone to my ear.

     "Well, nothings wrong but Reid . . . he . . ."

     "Spit it out Luis! What? What happened—"

     "He woke up!"

     Reid's awake, and I'm at the mall.

     Son of a biscuit.

     That was enough for me to gather my belongings and race out of the mall while my friends followed hot on my tail.

__________

Hey readers!
So, this is the last chapter published for 2017, and I'd jus like to say a huge thank you!

I wasn't expecting this in the slightest—I started Wattpad because I've always enjoyed writing stories and wanted to share them with the world.

However, I had no clue that this story had caught the eye of 2.83k readers!
That's freaking amazing!

So with that, thank you so much for reading. Knowing that so many people enjoy it encourages me to continue!

I'm always open to hearing your thoughts and ideas. Don't forget to vote!

Happy New Years, and bring it on 2018!

Xoxo,
rrosebudd

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