I bobbed my head. “I’m really fine...”
“Philip.”
I smiled. “Philip. I’m Aideen.”
Philip winked. “You take very good care of yourself, Aideen. Watch where you put your feet.”
I chuckled. “Nice advice, I’ll remember it.”
Philip tipped his head forward, glanced over his shoulder then turned and walked towards the bar. I blew out a breath and shook my head at myself.
Watch where you put your feet.
That was really good advice for me; it was advice I’d have to put into immediate use because I couldn’t afford to be as clumsy as I usually was whilst being pregnant. It was too dangerous.
I glanced around the pub and decided I need to go home. I knew everyone was out celebrating my pregnancy and new apartment, but a pub was no place for a pregnant woman. It was a hazard, a pending accident waiting to happen.
It was also hot as hell with all the bodies packed in there and the heat made it difficult to catch my breath.
I needed to leave.
Without a single thought, I turned and walked towards the exit of the pub. When I walked through the doors and made it outside, the cold air wrapped around me like a blanket. I deeply inhaled.
That felt better.
“Well, well, well. If it isn’t me forever disappearin’ ex-girlfriend.”
I cringed when I heard his voice, but plastered on a smile as I slowly turned myself around. “Heeeeey, you. What’s up, homie?” I asked Skull as he stood before me with his large arms fold across his chest, and a grin stretched across his mouth.
He laughed, “What’s up, homie? Really? Where the hell have you been? I’ve been tryin’ to get in touch with you for ages. Did you change your number?”
I instantly felt shitty for not calling him for a chat like I usually would. I was a bad friend.
“No, I’ve just been busy.”
Skull playfully winked. “I thought you might’ve been avoidin’ me.”
I frowned. “Avoidin’ you? What for?”
“The last time we were together we decided that we were done for real, so I figured you wanted me out of your life when I couldn’t get in touch with you.”
My face fell. “That’s the furthest thing from the truth, Trevor. I love you, you know I do.”
I never used Skull’s real name unless I was serious, and I was being deadly serious right now. I wanted him to know I would never try to cut him out of my life. Ever. He was a huge part of my life.
Skull’s face softened. “I love you, too.”
I smiled and relaxed my features. “What are you doin’ here?”
“I work weekends so my drinkin’ nights are weekdays. I’m here with some lads from the club.”
I bobbed my head but said nothing.
“Are you okay?”
I snorted, “Depends on what you mean by okay.”
Skull stared at me, hard, as he waited for me to explain.
I sighed, “I’m fine. Things are just a mental for me right now.”
“Let’s go back inside, and I’ll buy you a drink. We can talk about it.”
“I would, but I can’t drink.”
“Why not?” Skull asked, perplexed.
I didn’t know how to tell my ex-boyfriend, who at one point was my world, that I was pregnant with another man’s child. So I decided to make a joke out of it. I placed my hand on my stomach, rubbed it around in circles and smiled wide.
Skull looked down my hands and then back up to my face. “Why are you smilin’ and touchin’ your stomach like that? You hungry? Wanna get some food?”
I burst into laughter. “Not hungry. I’ve a human being to think about in there now so no more drinkin’. Not for another few months anyway.”
Skull chuckled but stopped when I made no motion of telling him I was joking. He stared into my eyes and when he saw no traces of a lie he gasped, “I don’t believe you!”
I shrugged. “It’s true.”
“Shut the fuck up!”
I again burst into laughter, “Now that’s just rude.”
“You’re pregnant?” Skull asked, his eye bugging out his head. “For real?”
Could he not see my big belly?
I nodded my head. “Yep.”
“For who?” he asked worriedly.
I chuckled, “It’s not you, don’t worry.”
Skull relaxed. “Sorry, it’s not that I don’t want kids, I do, but you know. Wow.”