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I catch up to Pebbles on the sidewalk in the front of the store and smile at her angry expression. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say Miss Moore was jealous.
I throw my arm around her shoulders and guide her across the parking lot. I help her in the car in silence. She remains quiet with her arms crossed over her chest when I get in the drivers side.
When we’re stuck at our second red light, I turn to her. “Are you going to continue to stare at the windshield like you’re trying to telepathically shatter it, or are you going to calm down?”
“Calm down! I am calm.”
I chuckle, “Sure you are.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean,” she snaps, glaring at me.
I let out a sigh, dropping my head to the headrest and looking at the ceiling of the car. This must be those hormones I read about in that book Ghost gave me. “You were fine before we checked out.”
“Oh!” Pebbles throws her hands up in exasperation, they crash back down to her lap with a slap. “That was before that hoebag in there stared at you over the register like she wanted you to fuck her right there on the conveyor belt!”
If I wasn’t afraid she was going to come out of her chair and attack me with her bare hands, I would laugh out loud at her outburst. I turn my head to face her and chance a coy smile at her. “Are you jealous, Red?”
“Jealous!” She turns to face out of the windshield again, crossing her arms over her chest and mumbling under her breath.
I smile, no doubt showing all of my teeth as the traffic light turns green.
“I wasn’t jealous,” she finally says, with no heat to her voice.
“Then what was it?”
“She was just annoying as hell!”
“Care to elaborate?” I urge her, glancing over at her beautifully freckled face.
She huffs out a humorless laugh. “I mean, she works at a baby store. A baby store! I think blatantly hitting on a man that is standing with an obviously pregnant woman is a little stupid, don’t you think?”
“I mean, no offense, but some women aren’t very smart when it comes to that shit. Some just don’t give a fuck.”
“Well, that’s stupid.”
I chuckle, reaching across the center console and squeezing her knee. I let my hand linger there for a minute, but before I can pull away, her small hand rests against mine, holding it there.
The rest of the ride back into town is spent in mutual silence as we listen to the radio. It isn’t until I’m pulling into her driveway that I even realize my hand has been on her knee this entire time.
Baby steps.
Fuck yeah.
“What are you going to do about the Bel Air?” Pebbles asks once we’re standing in her driveway next to my bike.
“That was Tiny that called while we were at the store. He’s trying to get into cameras to see if we can find anything.”
Pebbles nods, holding the bag in front of her stomach. I tentatively reach forward and push it out of the way. I watch her eyes carefully, not breaking eye contact as I settle my big hand against her swollen belly. I hold my hand still until I can tell she isn’t freaking out before trailing my palm from one side to another.
Her eyes leave mine and land where my hand is on her stomach. She watches as I place my free hand on her so I’m holding onto her stomach for dear life.
My entire life is in my hands, literally. These boys and their mom have quickly become the center of my entire universe. If I took the time to step back and truly think about it, I would be beside myself with worry about how obsessive I’ve become with the life I’m imagining for us.
If I were smart, I would pump the brakes on all that shit, especially considering Pebbles isn’t even sure she wants to be with me for the long haul.
I take a deep breath and run my thumbs along her round belly one last time before taking a step back.
“I’ll see you for lunch tomorrow?” Pebbles asks with a hopeful smile.
