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CHAPTER FIFTEEN

ARI

It felt so damn good to just cry. I hadn’t wanted to fall apart in front of Gunner because I knew he would tell Jeff, but I couldn’t help myself. What the fuck is wrong with me? This whole Rebecca pregnancy thing was really throwing me for a loop. Emma brought me into her room, so we could be alone.

After I got my crying fit over and done with, I looked up at Emma, who was just sitting there, waiting for me to get my shit together.

“Ari, honey, I need to ask you something.”

“Of course Emma, ask me anything.” I said, trying to give her a smile.

“Arianna, are you pregnant?”

What the hell? Holy shit, where did that come from?

I had to laugh. “No, Emma. Rebecca is the one who was is pregnant.” I said as I looked down at my stomach. Wait. When was the last time I had my period? Holy fuck! I didn’t get it last month, but I thought that was just from the stress of Ellie’s wedding and thinking about Jeff asking me to marry him. I’m on the pill. I can’t be pregnant. Oh. My. God. I missed a few pills a month or so back.

I snapped my head back up at Emma. She was smiling at me like she knew already. Her powers seemed to know no bounds.

I gasped. “Oh. My. God.”

“Ari, I need you and the girls to go into town.”

“What for? Why now? Emma! You can’t plant that seed in my head and then expect me to just go buy you butter in town for Christ’s sake!”

Emma started to laugh as she wrapped her arm around my shoulder, holding me close.

“Ari, the moment you stepped out of that truck today, I knew. You have a glow about you, darlin’. Your skin looks beautiful. The fact that you are so emotional is another dead giveaway. I need you, Ellie, and Heather to go into town and buy a pregnancy test.”

Holy hell! My head was spinning. Just then, there was a knock on the door. Emma called out for whomever it was to come in. The door opened, and it was Jeff. Oh shit. I looked at Emma with a pleading look in my eyes. She smiled at me and nodded her head.

Standing up, Emma said, “I’ll leave you two to talk.”

As she walked out the door, she gave me one last look with a smile. I tried to smile back, but now, my whole body was shaking. I looked at Jeff. No, this is not happening. I still needed to be tested for the Fragile X gene. I couldn’t even think straight. How will Jeff feel about me being pregnant?

“Ari, baby, we need to talk.” Sitting down next to me, Jeff ran his hands through his hair and down his face. He was clearly frustrated.

His cell phone started ringing. That was weird because it was so damn hard to get a signal out here. He pulled it out, and I saw Rebecca’s name on the screen. I instantly felt sick. I stood up to leave but he grabbed my arm and pulled me back down.

“Damn it, Ari! Please stop running away from me.” Jeff sent the call to voice mail and tossed his phone behind him onto the bed.

“I’m not running Jeff. I just don’t want to be in the same room when you talk to her.”

“Well, I’m talking to you, not her. I need you to understand something, Ari. You need to know the reason why I feel the need to be there for Rebecca.”

I started to laugh. “I didn’t realize you had a need to be there for her, Jeff. I thought you were doing it for the baby, and that’s all,” I said with as much sarcasm as I could.

“That’s not what I meant, Ari. I’m not there for her. I’m there for this baby. I don’t want to start off being a dead-beat father by not being there for this baby. I don’t want to be like my dad.”

“I get that, Jeff. I really do. But you don’t even know if this baby is yours! I mean, you drop everything for her, and it always turns out to be some excuse just for her to get you to be with her. The baby isn’t even born yet! What’s it going to be like when it is born?”

“When he is.”

“What?”

“The baby....you said it. It’s a boy, so I was just saying when he is born.”

I just rolled my eyes at him. “Fine, Jeff, you do what you feel like you need to do. I’m getting sick of talking about this. I have too many other things that I need to deal with. I can’t worry about Rebecca and her twisted ways.”

“Fuck, Ari, I don’t want you to just keep brushing this off. I need you to know that you’re my world. You’re my number one, baby. I only want to make you happy, Ari, and I feel like you’re so damn sad. I don’t know what to do to make it better. I don’t want this to hurt you, Ari.”

Oh shit, here came the tears. If I’m pregnant…and Rebecca’s baby turns out to be his…what if mine is.

“Jesus, Ari. Why are you crying? Baby, please talk to me.”

I was able to get myself under control. As I wiped the tears from eyes, I decided this was it. I needed to be stronger.

“It’s okay, Jeff. I understand. Really, I do. I’ll try to be more patient with everything. You’re going to the doctor’s appointment, right? So, you will be able to find out if August is her due date, right?”

“Yeah, I’m going with her in a week and a half. You still think she’s lying about her due date, Ari? I mean come on, that would be pretty hard to do.”

I shook my head at him. Stupid ass. I was so done talking about this.

“Well, I guess you’ll find out soon, won’t you? Listen I need to run into Mason with Ellie and Heather. We need to pick something up for Emma.”

“Do you want me to go with y’all?”

“No!”

Jeff let out laugh and pulled me onto his lap. “I take it you want to spend some time with the girls.

“Yeah, something like that.”

“Ari, are you going to stay here at the ranch with me this summer? Or are you going back to Austin? I really want you to move out here with me. I know you still have school, but I don’t want to be apart from you, especially with me starting up this new business and all. I need you with me, baby. You know more about horses than anyone else I know.”

I smiled at the idea of living in the little ranch house on Jeff’s property. He wanted to tear it down and start on a new house from scratch. I thought the house that was there was perfect. It was a two-story white ranch house with a wraparound porch on the first floor. The views from the porch were amazing. Jeff had already remodeled the kitchen, and it was perfect.

“I want nothing more than to move out here with you, Jeff. I already signed up for online classes, and I was only planning on taking a few classes in Austin next semester. My mom and dad are somewhat pissed, but at least I’m still going to UT. I think I’ll only have to stay a few days a week in Austin, so I can go to class, but other than that, I was planning on just moving out here.”

Jeff smiled and pulled me in for a kiss. It quickly turned into a much more passionate kiss, and I had to pull away.

“Um, I’m not sure how Emma and Garrett would feel about us making out on their bed.”

“You just made me so happy, Ari! I love you, baby. Hey, don’t forget Mr. Reynolds is coming to take a look at the stables this week. I have a few things I need to take care of, but this guy’s visit is going to be big if hee agrees to breed with us. Well, shit, it will be huge if it all works out.”

I smiled because I knew how much Jeff wanted this. I knew that Jeff was already talking to Gunner about going into a partnership with his ranch. Ellie and I overheard them discussing it right before Gunner and Ellie left on their honeymoon.

“Listen, we better get back out there, so we can eat. I’m sure Ellie is wonders what the hell is wrong with me, and Emma…well, um…she needs that thing from town,” I said.

Jeff gave me a funny look and pulled me in for another kiss. I wasn’t sure why I did it, but I kissed him back like it was our last kiss. I poured so much love into that kiss that it left me breathless.

“Jesus, Ari….that was some fucking kiss, baby.” Jeff said with a laugh.

We walked back out into the kitchen, and I looked at Emma who was giving me a questioning look. I just shook my head to her, and she looked down.

After we ate, we cleaned up and put away everything.

Then, Ellie pulled me into the living room.

“Ari, what the hell is going on? You’re pale as a ghost. What’s with this we-have-to-run-into-town shit?”

“Can we talk about this when we get into the car, Ellie? Please just go along with me. It’s a code blue.”

“Alright. Well then, let’s get going.”

I walked back out into the kitchen and grabbed my purse. Heather was already outside on the porch with everyone else. After she grabbed her purse, Ellie followed right behind me.

“Okay, so come on, Heather. We need to run into town to pick up that thing for Emma,” I said as I gave Heather a pleading look. She wasn’t catching on, so I mouthed code blue to her.

“Oh! Oh yeah, um…let me grab my purse.” Heather jumped up and ran into the house.

I noticed Josh was watching her every move. After she came back out, Josh stood up.

“Do y’all want me to drive? I don’t mind taking you in. It’s getting kind of late,” Josh said.

“No!”

All three of us said at the same time. Shit.

Jeff started to laugh along with Gunner.

“Dude, they want their girl time. What do you need to get?” Jeff said. He looked at me first and then back at Emma.

I snapped my head at Emma, and she glanced at me with the most relaxed look on her face. “I need some mason jars for pickling in the morning.”

Garrett looked confused. He was about to say something, but then Emma gave him a smile that just made him no even open his mouth.

Fuck, I need to learn how she did that!

Jeff stood up and handed me his truck keys. “At least take my truck. It’s dark, and the deer will be out.”

I grabbed his keys and kissed him on the cheek.

“I love you, Jeff.”

He tilted his head and looked at me funny.

“I love you, too Ari. Be careful, okay?”

***

Once we got in Jeff’s truck, I let out the breath I had been holding.

“What the hell is going on, Ari? You’re starting to scare me. I could even tell Emma was covering for you. Spill it,” Ellie said.

I looked at Ellie, who was sitting next to me, and then I turned to Heather, who was in the back seat.

I started the truck and almost had to laugh when “Truck Yeah” began playing. Damn it, Jeff.

Ellie reached over and turned it off. “Shit, I thought Gunner deleted that damn song!”

I pulled out and headed down the long driveway. My hands started to shake, and I felt like I was going to cry again. I glanced over at Ellie as her mouth fell open.

“Why are we going to town, Ari?”

“Um…well.” I let out a small laugh as I shook my head. “Emma seems to think that I might be pregnant, and she wants me to get a test…like tonight.”

Heather and Ellie let out a gasp at the same time.

“Fuck me!” Heather said in almost a whisper.

With wide eyes, I stared at Heather through the rearview mirror. “Wow, Heather, one road trip with Josh, and you’re dropping the F-bomb.”

Ellie looked confused. “Wait…what road trip? Oh my god! Are you and Josh.”

“No!” Heather yelled. “It’s a long story and one I don’t feel like talking about. Okay, so back to you, Ari. You told me you missed a pill last weekend. How can you know that fast?”

I took a deep breath and prepared myself for a really big lecture.

“Well, um I kind of might have missed a pill or two about a month and a half ago.”

“What?” Ellie and Heather shouted at the same time.

“Ari, how could you be so stupid?” Ellie asked.

I glanced at Ellie. Why is she being so mean? I felt my eyes burning from trying to hold back the tears.

“It’s not like I did it on purpose, Ellie! What the fuck?”

“Stop it, both of you!” Heather cried out. “Let’s just go to the store, buy a test, and find out once and for all. We’ll deal with the what-ifs later.”

I looked at Ellie, and we both tried to smile at each other.

“Ari, sweets, I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine how hard the last week has been on you with this whole Rebecca shit,” Ellie said.

I cleared my throat getting ready to pitch my idea. I might as well get it over with.

“Um, yeah…speaking of that…I’m gonna need to call another code blue for Monday. I have a doctor’s appointment with my gynecologist. I need y’all to be there with me.”

“Of course, we’ll be there with you. I don’t have anything going on. Shit, I’m supposed to still be on my honeymoon,” Ellie said.

Heather added, “I’m free, too. Count me in. Wait…is something wrong? I thought you just went in for your yearly a few months ago.”

My hands started to shake again. I told them my original reason for going in, and then I explained my plan.

By the time I pulled up to the small grocery store in town, Ellie and Heather were just sitting there silently staring at me.

“Oh. My. God. You must be pregnant because you’ve lost your damn mind, Ari!” Ellie finally said as she jumped out of the truck.

“Wait. Why do I have to wear a low-cut blouse?” Heather said as she shut the door to the truck.

“Jesus, I’ll explain it all later. Let’s just get this shit over with.” I sighed.

***

After we got back into the truck, I looked at the six tests that I had in the bag. I looked at Ellie and then Heather. We were all just staring at each other.

“So, should I do it now?” I asked.

“Do you want to go back in to the restroom or wait until we get back to the ranch?” Heather asked.

I let out the breath that I didn’t even realize I’d been holding in. “Now…we better do it now.”

***

I handed the Heather the last test and stepped out of the stall. Ellie had lined up all the tests on the little counter.

“I didn’t look at any of them, so I don’t know.” Ellie’s voice was shaking.

I stood between Ellie and Heather and grabbed each of their hands.

“Together?” I asked.

They both nodded their heads. We started to walk up to the counter, and then I glanced at both of them.

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Y’all have your damn eyes closed!” I said.

“Oh shit, sorry! I didn’t even realize I had closed my eyes,” Ellie said with a giggle.

We walked up to the row of tests, and we all looked down at them. My heart just about stopped when every single test read the same result.

“Holy hell.” All three of us said at the same time.

Ellie and Heather both slid their arms around my waist. I looked over at Ellie, and she smiled.

“Do you want me to say congratulations or should I start preparing to hold your hair while you puke?” Ellie asked.

I felt a tear slide down my cheek.

“Both.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

JEFF

Gunner, Josh and I were all sitting on the front porch, waiting on the girls to get back. I was starting to get worried. What the fuck is taking them so long?

Just then, I saw the headlights of my truck, and I let out a breath of air.

“It’s about damn time. I was starting to get worried,” Josh said as he stood up, running his hands through his hair.

Gunner looked at Josh and let out a laugh.

“Is there something I should know about, dude?”

Josh looked at Gunner, confused, and then he realized what Gunner was getting at.

“I wish. I can’t figure Heather out for the life of me. One minute, she acts like there might be something between us, and the next, she’s trying to get as far away from me as she can. I really don’t know whether I’m coming or going.”

“Ask her to be your date for the dance here in town this Friday,” Gunner suggested.

“Gunner, if I ask her out one more time and she turns me down, I’m really afraid that I won’t want to ask her again,” Josh admitted.

Gunner stood up as Ari parked the truck. He gave Josh a slap on the back and laughed. “Dude, there’s only one way to find out, and I’m afraid that means you’ll have to ask her.”

Ellie jumped out of the truck and ran over to Gunner before she jumped into his arms. I had to smile at how happy they both were. Gunner kissed the shit out of her, and then he picked her and swung her around. Gesh, they act like they haven’t seen each other in days instead of just a few hours.

Heather was walking up with a case of mason jars, which Josh promptly took out of her hands. He turned to take them into the house. Heather gave him the sweetest smile as she followed him.

Ari was still sitting in the truck. That’s weird.

“Ellie, is Ari feeling okay?” I asked, looking at her.

Ellie’s face went from a smile to a panicked look within a second.

“Um…I think she’s feeling a bit, um…under the weather.”

I walked over to the driver’s side of the truck and opened it to find Ari with her head leaned up against the steering wheel.

“Baby, are you alright?” I asked as I reached in to her out of the truck.

She was completely limp in my arms while she just buried her head into my neck. Normally, her hot breath on my neck would have turned me on, but this time it was actually starting to scare me.

“Take me home, Jeff…please,” she whispered.

Home? What the hell?

“Ari, that’s a few hours’ drive back to Austin, baby. Maybe you should just.”

“Not Austin, Jeff…our home. Please just take me to our house,” Ari said.

My heart soared when she called the ranch house our home.

I kissed her forehead and looked back up at Ellie and Gunner. I walked her around to the passenger side and put her into my truck. She just sat there and stared straight ahead. What the fuck was going on? She was fine when she left. Oh my god. I hope Rebecca didn’t call her. She’d been trying to call me all evening, and I ignored every call. She never once left a message, so I figured it wasn’t important.

“I’m going to go say good night to Gunner and Ellie. Will you be okay until I get back, baby?”

She turned to look at me. “Yeah…I’m fine really. I just feel a little sick. That’s all.”

I shut the door and walked up to Ellie, who was looking at Ari in the truck. Then she glanced back at me, then back at Ari, and then back at me.

“Ellie, what the hell happened? Rebecca didn’t call her, did she?” I asked confused.

Ellie looked at Gunner and then back at me. She was acting really strange.

“Um…well, um….no, Rebecca didn’t call her. She just, um…she just got sick and threw up. So, yeah, she’s probably just really stressed. You know this whole thing just has her thrown for a loop, Jefferson.”

I turned and looked back at Ari. She was still sitting in the truck, just watching us talk. She was staring at Ellie like she wanted to get out of the truck to say something. When I turned back to look at Ellie, she was mouthing something to Ari.

Then she looked at me and smiled.

“I think she just needs some sleep, Jefferson. She’ll be fine. I promise.”

“Okay…Gunner, will you make sure you tell Garrett and Emma we said thanks for dinner again? I guess I’m heading over to our place. Talk to y’all tomorrow?”

Gunner and Ellie both said good night and watched as I drove the truck around to the gate that was between both ranches.

****

During the whole drive to our house, Ari just stared out the window. It was 11:30 at night, and I was exhausted from moving furniture all day. I just wanted to get home, shower, and go to bed.

I pulled up to the house and jumped out. I ran around to the other side of the truck, but Ari was already getting out. She was staring at nothing as she walked up to the house.

I grabbed her arm and turned her around. Pulling her close to me, I said,

“Ari, this will be the first time we stay here in this house as an engaged couple.”

I was hoping that would have at least made her smile. Instead, she just pushed back away from me and stared at me. What the hell is going on? Her eyes looked so…lost.

Just then, the corners of her mouth started to move up, and she gave me her beautiful smile that always took my breath away. She stepped closer to me, and I leaned down to capture her mouth with mine. She kissed me back with so much passion that my knees just about buckled.

She slowly pulled away from me as she looked at me. She had tears streaming down her face. I reached up my hands to cup her face as I used my thumbs to wipe her tears away.

“Will you please make love to me, Jeff?” Ari whispered.

I never in my life could love this girl more than I did right now. As much as I knew I was hurting her, I was still the one she wanted to help her forget and feel better.

I couldn’t even find my voice to speak. I reached down and scooped her up in my arms. She leaned her head into my chest as I made our way into the house.

I thanked God that I’d gone ahead and put fresh sheets on our bed earlier today. Josh had given me hell about it the whole time. The last thing I’d wanted was for Ari to be searching through all the boxes for clean sheets.

As I stepped into our room, still holding Ari in my arms, I heard the moment when she let out a gasp. She wasn’t prepared to have our room all set up and ready. I softly laid her down on top of the quilt that Emma had made for us.

As I pushed Ari’s beautiful hair back behind her ears, I leaned down to whisper in her ear.

“You’re so beautiful, Ari. I love you so much.”

She closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them again, I could see the moonlight from the window sparkling in her eyes.

I slowly pulled her up to me as I started to kiss her. The moment she bit down on my lower lip, I let out moan. She sat up on her knees on the bed and started to take off my shirt. We only broke our kiss long enough for me to get my shirt off. As I removed her shirt, she placed both of her hands on chest, and then slowly started to push me down onto the bed. Her whole body was shaking, making me wonder if she was nervous or just cold.

I watched her face as she started to unbutton my jeans with that damn smile of hers. I would do anything she asked me to do just that smile. I lifted my hips up off the bed as she began to take my pants off.

Her head snapped up at me and she raised her eye brows. “Commando, huh?”

I just laughed as I pulled her down on top of me. I rolled her over and started to slide off her shorts. I sat up and stared at her. God, her body is amazing. She was wearing a pair of pink lace thongs with a matching bra. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. I looked up at her perfect chest and moved my eyes down until they landed on her panties. I softly moved my hands up her legs. The moment my hands touched her, she jumped and got goose bumps.

“Ari, are you feeling up to this, baby?”

“Jeff…please don’t stop! Please.”

I started to pull down her panties and off her legs when my fucking cell phone rang. Motherfucker! Are you kidding me?

I ignored it, and I made a mental note to get my fucking phone number changed. I wasn’t even sure if Ari noticed the phone ringing because she didn’t move or make a sound. I reached over and turned on my iPod.

I leaned down and started to kiss the inside of her thigh. She let out the most amazing moan I’d ever heard. I wanted to taste her so fucking bad.

I moved up to between her thighs and quickly took her in my mouth. She grabbed my hair and pushed me in closer. The sounds that she was making were driving me crazy. I placed two fingers inside her, and her whole body jerked up. Then, I placed another finger inside, and she started to call out my name.

I stopped kissing her after she seemed like she was coming down from her orgasm. I placed soft kisses all along her hips, moving up to her stomach, until I came face to face with her. The love I saw in her eyes was amazing. She seemed to be glowing. She let a small smile play across her face before she moved quickly, flipping me over. She was now sitting on top of me with a devilish grin on her face.

“It’s my turn to be in control, baby,” she said as she aimed her hips on top of mine.

The moment she sank down on me, I felt like I was going to lose control. I ran my hands up and down her body. With each motion, she about killed me with her moans of pleasure.

“Jesus, Ari, you feel so good.”

She threw her body back, and before I knew it, she was calling out my name again. This time, I lost all control and came right along with her.

She laid her head on my chest, trying to catch her breath.

“I love you, Jeff. You have to know how much I love you.” She slowly looked up at me.

Son of a bitch. She was crying again. It felt like someone had just kicked me in the stomach. Just then, Maroon 5’s “Wipe Your Eyes” started to play. Perfect fucking song. I wiped off the tears from her face as she smiled at me. My heart shattered into a million pieces. She was hurting, and I couldn’t fix it. She put her head on my chest.

“I know, baby. I love you just as much…if not more.”

Lying there with her in my arms, I listened as her breathing become more and more relaxed as she finally drifted off to sleep. I rolled her over and pulled the sheets up over her. I sat there for a few minutes, just watching her sleep. She seemed so at peace. I wished that she was that way when she was awake.

Then, I heard my phone chirp. I knew that who-ever had called before had left a message because my notification alert kept going off. There was no way I would have told Ari we needed to stop, so I could check my phone. I already knew who had been calling.

I quietly moved off the bed and reached into my jeans pocket to get my phone. Sure enough, there was one missed call and one voice mail message from Rebecca.

I walked through the living room and stepped out onto the front porch. Rebecca had sounded panicked in her voicemail. She’d said she needed to know if I was alright because she had been trying to get a hold of me all day. No shit.

I looked at the time. It was close to 1 a.m. I guess I better call her.

“Jeff! Oh my god! I’ve been worried sick. I’ve been calling for hours,” Rebecca said.

“Well, Rebecca, I’m fine. I told you that I was coming out to Mason and that I didn’t get very good cell phone coverage here. If it was important, you could have left a message.”

“I remember that now. Gesh, it must be pregnancy mind. I tend to forget things a lot lately. I was wondering what you were doing this weekend. I really need to get the baby’s room ready, and I’m afraid that I’m running out of time. Is there any way you can help with painting and setting up the crib and such? I can’t get anyone to help me.”

“You have until the middle of August. Why are you in such a rush to get the baby’s room done this weekend?”

“Jeff, please. You never know. What if something happens and the baby comes early? Please. If I have to beg and plead, I will. I really need help. My parents have pretty much disowned me. I have no one.”

Motherfucker! Ari’s going to be pissed. “Fine. I’ll be there sometime tomorrow morning. It’ll probably be closer to lunch-time.”

“Oh, thank you so much, Jeff! You don’t know how relieved I am. I’ll plan on making us lunch.”

“Okay. I’ll be there around eleven.”

“See you then Daddy!”

I ended the call and almost felt sick to my stomach. I turned around to see Ari standing in the doorway. Fuck.

“So, now, you feel like you have to go outside and talk to your baby mama at 1a.m.”

“Ari, it’s not like that. I just didn’t.”

“I have a doctor’s appointment on Monday with Dr. Wyatt.”

“Why? Is something wrong?”

“Only the fact that Rebecca and I share the same doctor. No, nothing is wrong. My mother asked me to get tested for Fragile X, so I am.”

“Shit, baby. Do you want me to go with you?”

She shook her head. “Sounds like you have a busy weekend planned. You better get to bed,”

Ari turned and walked away from me, leaving the front door open.

Fuck me! Why the hell did she have to wake up and over hear my conversation? I followed her into the bedroom and tried to get her to talk to me.

“Jeff, I’m tired. I don’t feel good, and I have a lot on my mind. I’m not really in the mood to talk to you about how you’re going to play Daddy and fix up a fucking baby room!” Ari shouted.

“What the hell do you want me to do, Ari? Leave her to fend for herself? She needs help, and her family has abandoned her. You really want me to be that cruel to her?”

Ari glared at me before she grabbed a pillow and a blanket.

“I’m sleeping on the sofa. I might need to get up in the middle of the night. My stomach is feeling sick again.”

“Ari, please don’t sleep out in the living room. Stay here with me, baby.”

Ari turned to look at me, and I could see the tears building in her eyes. Motherfucker, this sucks. She gave me a weak smile and then turned and walked out of the bedroom.

I sat down on the bed and pushed my hands through my hair. Why couldn’t it be Ari who was pregnant and not Rebecca? Why do I keep hurting the one person I loved the most? Laying down, I stared the ceiling until around 4am. My heart was breaking a little more with each passing minute. I never once heard Ari get up and get sick.

My alarm went off around 7:30. I got up and walked out to the living room to find that Ari was already gone.

Heading back to the bedroom, I grabbed a pair of jeans and put on a t-shirt before I went to my truck.

This day is gonna suck.