Bianca released a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. He’s staying for me.
“So what’s this new job you’re taking?” She asked, taking a bite of the toast.
“I’ve decided to start my own security company for businesses. It will mostly deal with protecting people’s assets and business deals overseas. I’m looking at office space today.”
Alex explained the ins and outs while they ate breakfast. Bianca didn’t understand a lot of the military and security things he talked about but she was interested because he seemed really happy. The rest of the day went by with ease and Alex stayed with her for most of it. They went to the office space he was thinking of leasing and had lunch. Then came home and made love again. By dinner time, Bianca was exhausted. She heated some leftovers and they ate in a comfortable silence, both of them tired and lost in thought. Bianca wanted to ask him to stay the night again but new that it was too soon. She needed some time for their situation to sink in and the presence of him would keep her from really thinking about it. After dinner, Alex must have sensed she wasn’t ready for him to spend the night every night because he kissed her at the door and started to leave.
“Alex,” Bianca called as he started down the path to his car.
He turned back, the look on his face seemed hopeful that she would ask him back in. Bianca felt bad about what she was doing but knew it would be good for the both of them in the long run. Even though they had decided to have a baby together, it was still too soon to move in together.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” She said and he winked and blew her a kiss, his mood lightening a bit.
Bianca closed the door, a smile on her face. With any luck there would be a lot of tomorrows.
Chapter 5
The next few weeks went by in a blur, at least that’s how it seemed to Bianca. Alex and she were courting. She laughed to herself, as she got ready for work, at the old fashioned term. She wasn’t sure that all of the hot sex fell under the category of ‘courting’. Smoothing frizz serum on her hair, Bianca thought about the possibility that she was pregnant, for about the hundredth time. Her period was due this week and she couldn’t stand the suspense of waiting to test. But she would wait. There wasn’t any point in putting herself through the disappointment of many negative tests when she could simply wait for her period to not show. Unable to tame the crazy that was her hair on this particular morning, Bianca snatched it up in her hands and threw it in a ponytail. It would have to do. She refused to relax or ‘perm’ it; she enjoyed her natural curls too much. But some mornings it was a lot to deal with. One last look in the mirror and she nodded at her reflection, she was finally presentable for work. Bianca located her black flats in the walk-in closet and slipped them on, snagging her purse and work bag from the corner on her way to walk downstairs to have breakfast.
Bianca toasted a bagel and glanced at the clock. She was running late and would have to eat in the car. Flustered by losing track of time, she poured her coffee in a travel mug and threw the bagel in a plastic baggie and stowed it in her purse. As she was walking out the door her phone rang and she wanted to ignore it. It was probably her mom. But it could also be Alex. One last look at the clock on the microwave indicated she just didn’t have time to answer either way. With a sigh she dashed into the garage and into her car. She sped down the highway, being careful of traffic laws but hurrying nonetheless. She hated being late. Her phone rang again inside of her purse. Worried it was an emergency Bianca flipped on her Bluetooth and answered.
“Hello?” She realized she didn’t take a moment to see who it was.
“Hey, babe.” It was Alex. Bianca relaxed against her seat; his voice had that effect on her.
“What’s up? Is everything alright?” She asked, he didn’t sound like himself.
“I’m not so sure this new business venture is going to work out,” he sighed, he sounded crushed.
“Why? What happened?” Bianca completely forgot about being late for work.
“My investor has backed out. I think I was dreaming a little too big. Luckily I have my military pension to live on for awhile but without being on active duty the pay is so much less.” Alex sounded devastated and Bianca felt terrible.
Maybe she was being selfish asking him to do this with her? He loved his career as a fighter pilot for the Air Force and she felt like she was taking his dream away. Maybe it was time to let him walk away…
“Bianca? Did you hear me?” Alex asked, pulling her from her thoughts.
“I’m sorry, Alex, I’m driving. Can you r
epeat that?” She didn’t want to seem distracted while he was having a personal issue.
“I said that I may need to leave town, fly to Chicago, for a few days to see if I can scrounge up some other investors. If not, then I’ll have to start from scratch with my ideas.” Alex said with a bit of anger.
Bianca frowned, hoping the anger wasn’t pointed at her. What if he resented her for taking away his career to have a child? Would he leave them? Shaking the thought away, Bianca tried to reassure Alex.
“I’ll bet you find just the person you need to help you with your business. Maybe that Mr. Gates person wasn’t the right guy for your business.” Bianca said with conviction.
She heard Alex sigh, “Maybe you’re right. My mom always used to say ‘everything happens for a reason.’ I guess it wasn’t meant to be.” His voice sounded a little brighter. Bianca hoped she helped him feel better. But she couldn’t help the guilt she felt at making him ditch his career for her.
“I’ll miss you,” She mumbled. Now she was feeling lousy.
“I’ll stop by tonight so we can have a proper goodbye,” Alex said, a hint of lust and innuendo in his voice.
Bianca’s body heated at his words. “I’m almost at work and I’m running late,” she said, “I’ll see you later.” The last sentence was uttered with just as much lust as his previous one.
Alex laughed, “Bye, babe.”
Bianca’s day was a blur. All that she could think about was being without Alex for several days and the possibility that she may be pregnant. She wondered if she should test while he was there tonight or if she should wait. After much thought, all day in fact, she decided to wait. She wasn’t due for her period for two more days anyway. Finally her work day had come to an end and she could leave. Bianca bid Mrs. Jensen goodbye and walked out of the school, waving at the office staff as she went. Her drive home was silent; she was too wired with sexual energy at the prospect of seeing Alex that she hadn’t bothered with the radio. Her thoughts wandered to him leaving town for the rest of the week and an air of melancholy surrounded her. She pushed it back, however, since she didn’t want to ruin their night together. When she finally pulled up to the house, Alex’s car was parked at the curb. A smile settled on her lips, he was just as anxious to see her as she was him.