His Nasty Virgin

VIVIAN

The ride out to the suburbs was a tense one. Full of protocol, but more distressingly, an air of uncertainty. We both knew what was coming. After Jesse dropped me off in his friend’s care, there was no telling when I’d see him again. If I’d ever see him again.

“They’ll take good care of you,” he said as he pulled into the cul-de-sac. It was a lovely area with nice big houses manicured lawns and picturesque white picket fences. “I would have taken you to stay at my brother’s since he’s closer, but Theo’s got the training. Plus, it’ll be easier to hide you the further you are from the city.”

I nodded absentmindedly. “Right.”

“I’ll send a replacement bodyguard to pick you up tomorrow morning. I’m getting the new safehouse ready for you as we speak. Shouldn’t take too long to put together for you.”

We pulled into the driveway of the Phillips’ home. A lovely wrap-around porch had all manner of planters hanging from its railing, each of them hosting colorful flowers in full bloom. It was a lovely slice of normalcy despite all the turmoil boiling just beneath the surface of my skin.

We walked up the front steps of the house together, barely an inch between us yet worlds apart. Jesse wouldn’t let me lift a finger, carrying my heavy duffle bag for me. He rang the doorbell, which chimed inside. It didn’t take very long before we heard the shuffling of feet.

Theo opened the door, Ava standing just behind him with little Cassie in her arms and Cory at her hip.

“You made it,” Theo said pleasantly. “How was the drive?”

“Smooth,” was Jesse’s curt answer.

“Any tails?”

“No. Looped back four times just to be sure. We’re clear.”

Ava waved me inside. “Come on in, Vivian. I can show you to your room first if you’d like.”

“Oh, thank you very much.” I turned to Jesse, carefully taking my bag from him. He was uncharacteristically stiff, his eyes dark and gloomy. “Thank you,” I mumbled. “For everything.”

Jesse simply nodded once, though I could tell he had so much more to say. What I wouldn’t give to hug him. But Theo and his family were watching, and I didn’t want to have this big emotional farewell with them here. It didn’t feel right when I turned on my heel to head inside.

Maybe that’s why I was so thankful when he reached out and took my hand, calling my name.

“Vivian, wait.”

I held my breath. “Yes?”

“If you need anything,” he said slowly. “Let me know.”

I was tempted to say that I needed him, but I didn’t want this to be any more awful than it already was. “I will,” I replied softly, giving his fingers one last squeeze before allowing Ava to show me inside.

The men spoke in hushed whispers at the front door while Ava guided me up the stairs and down the hall toward the guest bedroom. It was significantly cozier compared to my room in the penthouse. The walls were covered in various art pieces and the shelves were filled with all sorts of children’s books.

“I hope you’ll be comfy here,” Ava said, gesturing to the space. “The bathroom’s just across the hall, and Theo and I are right next door if you need anything.”

“Thank you,” I said. “I appreciate it. I hope I’m not being too much of an inconvenience.”

Ava waved a hand dismissively. “Nonsense. We’re happy to have you.”

“I’m just worried about your kids. Jesse said I’d be safe here, but if-”

“Trust me, Theo made sure to turn this place into a fortress before Cassie was born. There’s no way anybody

will find you here. You can rest easy.” I nodded slowly. “A fortress, huh?”

Ava beamed with pride. “Yes. All the windows are tinted so no one can see in. They’re also bullet-resistant. The doors are reinforced with steel locks, there are motion sensors around the perimeter of the property, and we’ve got an entire network of security cameras to alert us of an unexpected approach.”

“Oh, wow. No offense, but that feels a little…”

“Overboard? Yeah. I told him as much, but there’s no stopping my husband once he’s put his mind to something.” She winked at me. “Let’s just say we learned from experience.”

I was curious and wanted to ask her what she meant by that, but Cory tugged on his stepmother’s sleeve. “Can I show Vivian my art room?” he asked.

“She might be a little tired. We should let her get settled.”

I smiled as wide as I could. “I wouldn’t mind seeing your art room.”

Cory turned with a spring in his step. “Right this way!”

He led me to another room, this one far more spacious and filled to the brim with art supplies. Several easels with canvases on them sat around the room, a number of the projects mid-completion. There were also several award plaques, ribbons, and trophies against one wall, all with Cory’s name on them.

“Are these yours?” I asked, fascinated.

The boy nodded, chest puffed out with pride. “It helps that Ava’s an art teacher. She knows all sorts of contests that I can enter.”

Ava smiled sweetly, patting her baby girl gingerly on the back as she stirred. “Yes, but you’re only allowed to enter them as long as you don’t let your other grades slip. That’s the agreement we came up with with Dad.”

Cory shrugged, leaning toward me to whisper, “I’m not doing so great in math.”

“I can help you with that,” I offered. “I’m good at math.”

“Really? Maybe after supper? I’ve got two whole pages to finish. It’s due tomorrow.”

I laughed. “Sure. I’ll see what I can do.”

Ava held a hand out to her stepson. “Speaking of supper, why don’t you wash up? We’re having tuna casserole. I hope you like it.”

“Love it. It’s one of my favorites.”

With a twinkle in her eye, she said, “I knew I liked you.”

Dinner was, for the most part, fantastic. It was surprisingly easy being here. Ava was so warm and welcoming that I’d sometimes forget why I was here, to begin with. Theo’s dad’s jokes were as amusing as they could get. Cassie was adorable, seated in her highchair with a bright green bib around her neck in the shape of a frog. And Cory was a little chatterbox -not that I minded in the slightest- talking about how he was sure his science teacher was a vampire.

“He’s just so pale,” Cory insisted. “And he always has the blinds in his class closed.”

“Isn’t it because his classroom’s on the east side of the building?” Theo asked. “And your science class is in the morning, so it’s probably pretty bright.”

“But what about that one time Emilio had some garlic bread for lunch and Mr. Nostra freaked out?”

Ava hummed. “Mr. Nostra has an allergy to garlic, sweetie. That doesn’t mean he’s a vampire.”

“What about his pointy teeth? How do you explain that?”

I shrugged as I took a bite of tuna casserole. “Maybe he can’t afford a good dentist.”

“Hm, good point. Back to the drawing board.”

Their happy chatter was a welcome change to my ears. I’d been so cooped up in the penthouse that I’d almost forgotten what regular conversation sounded like. It was nice and warm here. Full of love and life. A part of me was glad for the change in scenery.

But the other part of me desperately wished that I could go back.

I sat at the dinner table, poking at a bit of my food, struggling not to think about Jesse all alone at home. Without Wally or me there, he had no one; he was isolated in his penthouse way up high.

My mind wandered.

What was he doing right now? Was he eating supper, too, or had he gone back to deliberately drowning himself in his work? Was he thinking about me as much as I was thinking about him?

I was about to take another bite of my meal when my stomach suddenly churned. I swallowed hard to fight the gagging sensation at the back of my throat, covering my mouth just in time to avoid making a scene. I wasn’t sure what was happening. Out of nowhere, my portion of tuna casserole smelled horrendous to me.

“Excuse me,” I muttered quickly, leaving the table. I prayed nobody noticed my odd behavior.

I ran to the nearest bathroom and locked myself inside, making it to the toilet just in time to hurl the contents of my stomach. The tile beneath my knees was cold and hard, and the porcelain of the toilet bowl was just as unforgiving. A few more dry heaves and I was exhausted, shivering from the exertion of being sick.

I frowned as I wiped my forearm across my sweaty brow. It was really hot in here. Was I getting sick? Did I catch the flu or something?

Eventually, I found the strength to pull myself up, gripping the edge of the bathroom counter for support. I studied my reflection in the mirror, unsure why I was so flushed. I felt my forehead. I didn’t have a fever, yet my skin was sensitive and achy. What was going on? Was the tuna casserole bad? None of the Phillips family seemed to be having any of the same reactions.

And then it hit me.

I’d been feeling pretty bloated. That combined with my sudden aversion to one of my favorite foods… No, it couldn’t be.

Could it?

I rummaged through the bathroom drawers. I felt bad for snooping, but I needed to know. Curiosity would eat me alive otherwise. I found what I was looking for at the very back of the drawer, a small box of pregnancy tests, still in their wrappers. I debated asking Ava for permission before using one, but I figured that since she had a newborn, the chances that she’d need these right away were slim.

I shakily ripped the test out of its packaging and headed to the toilet, sitting down with a heavy sigh. There was no way I was pregnant. Jesse and I had been careful. We always used protection. Surely, I was just being paranoid.