The Rocker That Savors Me(55)

On Saturday, I rushed to get through the morning. Lana was helping me and we were both having a blast getting everything put together. I had told Jesse some of what we had planned, but only because I needed his help with who to call. He hadn’t understood a word of what I said, and I had had to explain it to him twice before he got it.

By midafternoon we had everything ready, and I was nervous as hell. Jesse had helped me by taking Emmie out for lunch, and they were still gone by the time everyone started arriving. At ten minutes to three, I got a text from him and put everyone in their places. I wasn’t sure if surprising a heavily pregnant woman was a good thing, but it couldn’t do too much damage.

My heart was racing and my palms were sweaty when I heard Jesse say something that made Emmie laugh. A few moments later, they came out of the house and onto the patio. I held my breath as Emmie took in the sign hanging from the long table loaded with food and presents. Her eyes went huge and she looked at me. “Layla?”

From all directions guests jumped out from their hiding places. “Surprise!” they called and Emmie jumped.

“Oh my Gods!” She whispered and I was dismayed to see her eyes fill with tears.

“You don’t like it?” I asked.

Emmie shook her head, sobbing now. I glanced at Jesse for guidance, but he didn’t look like he understood either, so I pulled her close, holding her as much as I could with her stomach between us. “Emmie, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry.” Tears burned my eyes, and I tried to blink them away. One of us crying was enough.

When she had shown me the nursery last week, and I had seen that she only had the bare necessities I had wanted to throw her a baby shower. I wanted my friend to have this special occasion that all mothers should get to have when they were carrying new life inside of them, and I had wanted to be the one to give it to her. I never intended to upset her like this.

“I’m sorry, Emmie. I can ask them all to leave…”

She shook her head again, her arms holding on tight to me while her tears soaked through my top. “No. I’m not mad. I’m…I’m touched. No one has ever…ever…” She broke off, sobbing once again. “I’ve read all about baby showers, and heard the other mothers at the doctor’s office gushing over theirs, but I never thought that I would get to have one.”

“Oh, Emmie.” I kissed her hair, holding her closer.

After a few minutes, she finally pulled away, her face blotch from crying. Nik, Drake, and Shane—all having been in on my secret as of the day before--stood behind her, but none of them said a word. Emmie gave me a watery smile. “Thank you, Layla. Thank you for this.”

Jesse’s hand caught mine. “Well, let’s get this party started.”

For the next two hours, I got to know the people in Emmie’s life outside of the guys. I met Alexis Moreitti who was six months pregnant and her husband Jared. Alexis walked with a cane, and I learned that she had been in a car accident. It was a miracle that she was even able to walk, even more so that she was able to carry her child to term. Her husband was nice, and when he looked at her, I could see his love and devotion shining through.

I discovered that Alexis was Gabriella Moreitti’s cousin. It wasn’t a great discovery either. Gabriella had been invited as well and had come with Axton Cage. But it wasn’t until half way through the shower that I learned Gabriella and Emmie were anything but friends.

“Why did you tell me to invite her?” I asked Jesse when I realized that Emmie was uncomfortable with the other woman around.

He sighed. “Because I didn’t think she would actually show up.” He was eating one of the sandwiches that Lana and I had made that morning. From the looks of it, it was one of the chicken salad croissants that Lana had made from scratch. “Look, Gabriella told Emmie that she hooked up with Nik a while back. It was before Em got pregnant. It was all lies, but Em didn’t know that until recently.”

I glared up at him. “And yet you still told me to invite her.” I had liked talking to the woman, but now I instantly disliked her. No way was I going to like someone that hurt my friend on purpose.

He hung his head and his lower lip pouted out. “I’m sorry, baby.”

“Damnit.” I couldn’t stay upset with him when he did things like that. With another glare, I stood on tiptoe to kiss him. “Next time tell me things like this, okay?”

Jesse grinned. “You aren’t mad at me?”

“How can I stay mad at you when you give me those big puppy dog eyes and that pouty lip?” But I pushed him away when he started to pull me closer. “Go. I have things to do.”