James' POV:
The next month went by quickly. It was the beginning of April and the season was coming close to an end. We had just finished an away game against the Rangers, winning it in overtime. Our next game was a home game, also against the Rangers.
I grabbed my phone and replied to a text from Deryk, telling him I would not be going out tonight. I had to go help Jen move the crib for the baby and then I had to go to Allison’s…
Things with them wasn’t getting better either…I tried spending less time with Jen, but Allison still wasn’t happy. We were arguing a lot more and it sucked…I mean, did she fully want me to stop talking to Jen?
I texted Allison a quick ‘Love you.’ before heading to my car and driving to Jennifer’s. “Jen?” I called, walking into the house.
“Kitchen…” she called back.
“Hey…sorry I’m late.” I said
“It’s ok.” she smiled, “Good game the other day.”
“Thanks!” I smiled
“James…can I ask you something?”
I looked at her confused…what more did she want? “Yeah.”
“Does your girlfriend hate me?” she asked, looking down.
“What?” I asked, confused by what she was asking.
“Your girlfriend…I saw her at the grocery store the other day when I went with Catherine and she glared at me…” Jen started
I felt a little mad. For one that Allison didn’t tell me that she had seen Jen and for two…I was mad that Allison had glared at Jen. I mean I know Jen is my ex and my baby momma…and that I have been coming over here a lot to help out, but Allison really had no reason to hate her. I broke up with Jen…I got her pregnant…It upset me that Allison would even do that…“I’m sorry…I’ll talk to her, okay?”
Jen nodded, “Thanks…I mean…I kind of understand if she does…if I had a boyfriend and he was going to be the father of his ex’s baby…I’d hate her too…”
I shook my head, “She has no reason to hate you, Jenny. I’ll talk to her.”
“Okay. Let’s get moving this crib.” she replied smiling.
Allison’s POV:
I looked at my clock for the fifth time. James was late…again. I don’t know why I even expected him to be on time anymore. Ever since she told him he was the father of her baby he was always late because she had something for him to do.
I didn’t like Jennifer one bit. She seemed far too needy and I felt like she was just using James. He had promised to not spend so much time with her, but lately, he had been doing it again.
In my heart I knew he didn’t mean to, but still. It was killing me that he did. I sighed and looked over at the sofa where Melanie and Sidney were making out. “Sid…I hate to interrupt your make-out session with Melanie, but I was wondering if you know where James is…”
Sid looked at me and shook his head, “No…I mean I’d assume he is at…” Before he could finish his sentence Melanie hit his arm causing him to rub it, “Ow…”
Judging by her reaction and him shutting-up after the hit, I assumed that Sidney meant James was at her house…helping her do something…and that made me furious. I grabbed my phone and went into my room, dialing his number.
“Hello?” a female voice asked.
It was Jen…“Where is James?” I asked, feeling a little more agitated
“He’s in the bathroom.”
“Oh and may I ask why YOU are answering HIS phone?” I was angry. Why the fuck was she answering his phone?
“He asked me to if it was you…to tell you he is sorry he’s late, but he’ll be on his way just as soon as he is out of the bathroom…” Jen started.
“Oh yeah? Well you can tell James that I’ve made new plans. So he can just stay there with you!” with that I slammed my phone down and screamed, causing Mel and Sid to run into my room asking me what was wrong. “James. That’s what’s wrong. I want to go out.”
“What?” Melanie asked, confused
“I want to go out and I want to drink…right now!” I replied and neither of them wanted to stop me.
James’ POV:
I couldn’t believe what Jen had told me, but after four unsuccessful attempts to reach Allison, I knew she was telling the truth. I plopped back down on Jen’s couch and ran my hands through my hair. I had fucked up again and I knew it. “I’m sorry…” Jen repeated again.
It wasn’t her fault. It was mine. I couldn’t say ‘no’…”It’s not your fault…”
“Yes it is…if I had just left you alone when we broke up none of this would have ever happened!” she argued
I looked at her, “Jen…it isn’t your fault. I can’t say ‘no’…to you…to her…to anyone really…I just…I think I fucked things up big time.”
Jen looked over at me, “James…she probably just needs some space. Let her think it over and I’m sure she’ll forgive you.”
I half smiled, “You think?”
Jen smiled back, “I know. She’s stupid if she doesn’t…you’re a great guy, James Neal. One of the best.”
“That isn’t true…I cheated on you…”
“That’s in the past. You’ve done so much for me and I can never thank-you enough.” Jen leaned over and hugged me.
I hugged her back, softly and I felt her wince, “Are you ok?!”
“Yeah…” she smiled, “The baby just kicked…” she laughed.
I smiled at her, “He did?”
Jen nodded and grabbed my hand, placing it on her stomach. Just then, I felt it. A small kick. I smiled, “Wow, that’s so weird.”
She laughed, “Talk to him.”
I looked at her. What was she talking about? “What?”
“Talk to him. I talk to him every day and read to him. It’s supposedly good for their mental development…so just say hi.” Jen smiled
I looked down at her stomach and smiled, “Hi, little guy…It’s your dad. I can’t wait till I meet you.” Jen smiled up at me and I smiled back, feeling the baby kick again.
“He likes you.” she said
I smiled back and grabbed the kid’s book off of Jen’s coffee table and started reading it to the baby.