Beautiful Goodbye (24 page)

Sadie giggled,
"What a MILF your future wife is."

"That is true.
She is rockin’ the MILF status." Gage winked at me.

My mouth
dropped open but before I could say anything Tyler was yelling for
Sadie. She kissed me cheek on her way out and squeezed my hand,
like she knew what was going on in my head.

Gage hugged me
and kissed the top of my head, "Everything is going to be ok, just
trust me."

Looking into
Gage's chocolate brown eyes I felt relief, "I know. I trust you
more than anyone."

"Future Mr.
and Mrs. Tucker, your presence is requested in the living room,
please," Tyler called out.

Gage and I sat
on the couch next to Trent and a very smiley Libby who was sitting
on his lap. They were really cute together. Tyler led Sadie to the
chair and sat her down and handed her a box wrapped in red
paper.

Sadie looked
confused but opened the box. She pulled out a New York Jet's jersey
and held it up. She couldn't see the back but everyone else could,
above the number it said Mrs. Hampton. She slowly lowered the
jersey and looked dumbfounded at Tyler. "Um, thanks?" It came out
more of a question than statement.

Tyler smiled
sweetly at her, "Turn it around."

Sadie turned
the jersey around and read it out loud, "Mrs. Hampton." It took
Sadie a minute to comprehend what was going on, "Oh my God!
Tyler..."

Tyler dropped
to one knee and held up a ring, "Sadie, I love you and our little
Franchesca so much. Will you marry me?"

Sadie had
tears streaming down her face, "Tyler, I love you. Yes!"

Tyler slipped
the ring on her finger before wrapping her up in a hug and kissing
her senseless.

Libby and I
rushed Sadie to see her ring. It was very Sadie, a single round
diamond surrounded by diamonds on a white gold band. I was so happy
for Sadie. She was marrying the love of her life and starting a
family. But wasn't I marrying the man I loved and having a family?
Well I was marrying Gage, who I loved very much and I was getting a
miracle baby. I should be the happiest girl in the world right now,
but I wasn't. Sure, I was happy that Gage would stand beside me and
wanted to be a family. I knew he loved me and my little peanut but
did I want to settle?

The following
week our group was in the student union for lunch when Larkin
walked in with some leggy blonde. My stomach was in knots and my
heart ached. After months he still got to me. I tried to look away,
but I couldn't take my eyes off him. Sadie was sitting to my left
and Gage to my right. I felt a squeeze on the left leg jerking me
back to reality. I looked over to Sadie and she gave me a small
sympathetic but understanding smile.

I looked down
at my lap and when I looked up I was met with blank brown eyes.
"Hey Jenna."

"Hi, Larkin."
I brought my left hand up and sat it on the table so Larkin could
see my large ring. I knew he saw it when I heard his large intake
of air and saw his eyes go large. Thankfully, the table hid my
belly so he couldn't see it. If he saw how big I was he would
automatically know I was pregnant, and that he was the
father.

"Nice seeing
you." Larkin said, sounding deflated.

It took
everything I had not to throw myself at him and keep my tears from
falling. "You too, you look well."

"I guess. You
still look beautiful." That caused the blonde beside him to humph
and glare at him.

She turned her
stony glare to me and without taking her eyes off me she purred
with a honey sweet voice, "Larky, are you ready? Holly is waiting
for us."

The sudden
nausea I was feeling had nothing to do with the baby flipping in my
belly but everything to do with the man standing in front of me. I
dropped my hand back under the table and instantly Sadie's hand was
gripping mine. Gage was holding my other and I'm sure he felt my
palm getting sweaty. I wasn't sure what to say so I dropped my eyes
to my salad. "Well I umm, I guess you should get going. Don't want
Holly waiting. Goodbye, Larkin." I brought my eyes back to Larkin's
incredibly dark ones.

"Goodbye,
Jenna." Larkin turned and was gone.

Sadie leaned
over whispering, "Want to leave?"

I nodded and
kissed Gage on the cheek. "I need to leave. I will see you at home,
ok?"

Gage looked at
me, his eyes full of understanding. He knew I loved him but he also
knew it wasn't like I loved Larkin, but Gage was willing to accept
that fact and become a family. "Sure, babe," Gage
answered.

I knew I
couldn't just walk out without Larkin noticing my belly.
Thankfully, Tyler had brought in his winter coat and I asked, "Hey,
Ty do you mind if I borrow your coat. I forgot mine and ugh I'm
kinda cold."

Tyler never
looked up at me but I could see the confusion on his face. The last
few weeks I had been complaining I was hot and now I was asking for
his coat claiming I was cold. Then I could see his face relaxing as
he was understanding what I was asking. "Of course. Don't worry
about it."

"Thank you so
much Ty." Sadie grabbed the coat from the back of his chair and
handed it to me.

I awkwardly
slipped into it before standing and grabbing my purse, putting my
purse in front of my belly and Sadie to my side. Larkin was
watching as we walked out and much to my relief he didn't notice my
belly.

Before pushing
through the doors I turned my head and found Larkin staring at me
with sadness in his eyes. I gave a soft half smile and a small
wave. I got a small smile back from him before he turned his head
back towards his friends. We both knew those smiles and waves meant
more than just a 'see ya around', they were our goodbyes, our
closure.

CHAPTER 26

The weeks went
by and before we knew it the NFL draft was a few days away. Gage
had been in meetings just about every day and he was all over
Sportscenter and the news. He was in the running to be the overall
first pick. I was so proud of him, his dreams were coming true.
Ever since we were little he has dreamt of being in the
NFL.

I hadn't seen
Larkin since that day in the Student Union when we said our
goodbyes. Last I had overheard, yes overheard like some six year
old sneaking around listening in on her parents important
conversations, Larkin was back to his old self-- women, alcohol,
and drugs. I hoped he was at least being safe and taking care of
himself. I knew how much football meant to him and I was hoping he
didn't ruin it somehow.

I didn't want
to ask how Larkin was or if the Chargers were still interested in
him, but I never heard if he would be going to the NFL. I wasn't a
sports junkie so if I watched Sportscenter everyone would know
something was going on so I sat back hoping I would hear something
more. Of course, I didn't hear anything. I was going crazy, if he
was at the draft ceremony he would no doubt see me when I went up
with Gage and there would be no hiding my belly.

I was in our
room packing when Sadie came walking in asking, "Hey doll, you
almost ready? The guys are going crazy out there."

"Yep, just
getting my shoes then I will be all set. I can't believe we are off
to New York for the draft. The draft that will make Tyler and
Gage's dreams come true.”

"I know. I'm
so proud of Ty. Hell I'm proud of Gage, Trent, and Jinx too." Sadie
smiled and patted Dollies bobbling head.

I couldn't
help my smile when I said, "Me too. Who would have guessed they
would all be getting NFL deals. I wish they would all be going to
the same team though. It would sure make things easier."

"You’re
telling me. At least Ty and Gage are both going to the Jets but
Trent is signing with New Orleans and Jinx is off to Green Bay,"
Sadie said.

"I'm going to
miss those guys. I didn't want to ask any of the guys but have you
heard anything about Larkin?" I asked.

Sadie shook
her head and said, "All I've heard is the Chargers were interested
in him and he had a meeting with them but nothing else.
Sorry."

I shrugged and
said, "I guess it’s for the best, not really my business. I hope he
gets to the NFL, that was his dream."

Sadie put her
hand on my belly, rubbing it. "Honey, honestly it is your business.
Everyone, including Gage knows how you feel about him. Maybe you
should just talk to Larkin, you two might not get back together,
but he is the father of your baby."

"No, Larkin
and I had our closure, we said goodbye. He has no idea about the
baby and I'm hoping he never does. I don't want him to feel
pressured into being with me just because I'm the mother of his
child. I love Gage and he will make the perfect dad and husband. He
will make me happy."

"Gage is
amazing, I'm not disagreeing with you. However, you don't love Gage
like you love Larkin. You don't look at Gage like you looked at
Larkin. I know Gage will make you happy but not the kind of happy
you deserve. I love you and I don't know, I just want you to have
what Ty and I have."

"I love you
too, Sadie. Thank you for being my best friend but I promise I'm
happy and I'm doing what’s best for myself and my baby, and that’s
Gage. He loves both of us and he will take care of us."

Sadie started
to open her mouth but Tyler opened the door asking, "You two ready
yet, we need to leave."

Turning my
attention to Tyler I nodded and said, "Yep." I zipped up my
suitcase and rolled it across the floor before walking out the door
I looked back at Sadie I smiled reassuringly and said, "I promise
everything is great."

The flight to
New York was quick, thankfully. When we arrived in the city we met
with Gage's parents and brother, and to my surprise my parents plus
Mac and Kota were with them.

"Ah! What are
ya'll doing here? I didn't know you were coming."

My mom hugged
me. "We wouldn't miss Gage's draft for anything. It takes a lot of
work and dedication to become first round draft pick." My mom let
go of me to hug Gage before turning back to me to ask, "So how is
my grandbaby?"

Gage rubbed
his hand on my ever growing belly and I replied, "She is great. She
loves to sleep all day and play all night. I hope that isn't an
omen that my little peanut has no plans of sleeping when she gets
here."

That earned me
a laugh from everyone and Gage's mom wrapping me into a hug and
said, "Sweetheart kiss your sleepy time goodbye, you won't see that
again for a long time."

Hmph.

**********

It was
incredibly loud. I figured it would be but good Lord, Radio City
Music Hall was humming with football.

"Hey
beautiful. How you doing"

I turned in my
chair to find my dad standing behind me smiling. I smiled back and
answered, "I'm ok. Nervous but I'm proud of Gage and what he is
doing."

"To say I'm
proud of that boy is an understatement. He means so much to our
family and knowing that he will be taking care of our little girl
and her baby from now on is comforting. He is truly a
blessing."

"I know, Dad.
I love Gage, always have and always will."

My dad tilted
his head examining me for a moment before asking, "But he's not
Larkin, right?"

How the hell
did my dad know? I darted my eyes around the room inadvertently
looking for Larkin before bringing my gaze back to meet my dad’s.
"That doesn't matter anymore dad. Gage and I are getting married
and we will raise our family together. We love each
other."

My dad sighed
before sitting beside me. "There is no doubt you two love each
other, you have loved each other since your diaper days but is this
really what you want?"

I was nodding
before my dad was finished and said, "Yes, dad. I know I can count
on Gage, he is dependable, safe, and comfortable, he's my Gage. He
loves me and he loves my peanut. How could I walk away from
that?"

Wrapping one
arm around my shoulder my did kissed my cheek. "As long as your
happy and taken care of I will stand beside you and support
whatever decision you make. We love you JP."

"Love you too,
dad."

After my heart
to heart with my dad my nerves were on full alert. Now, I was never
one who fell for the sappy love stories about soul mates and
feeling electricity in the room when that special someone entered,
but I swear I felt tingles running up and down my body just before
I turned around and saw Larkin walk in. Then I saw a gorgeous
brunette walk up and plaster herself to his side. I felt the backs
of my eyes starting to burn, I needed air.

Attempting to
stand Sadie was at my side saying, "I saw, let's take a potty
break."

Forcing myself
not to cry I grabbed her hand and followed. I was not sure how this
night would play out now, there was no doubt if I went on stage
with Gage that Larkin wouldn't see my belly. No hiding this
monster. For barely over thirty weeks I was the size of that little
dough boy who always laughed when you poked his belly. I swear if
you tried to poke me I would punch you, touch the belly get the
fist.