Twenty-seven

I hear Corey get up from bed. I grab his arm, and he smiles, kissing me on my forehead. I watch as he leaves the room.

I close my eyes, deciding to get some more sleep. I feel exhausted, more than I normally do.

But, I hear Jen laughing. I get up, and rub my eyes. I get out of bed, I won't be able to sleep anyway.

I move towards the bedroom door, rubbing my eyes, and I take a big yawn. Corey smiles when he sees me.

"You should get some more rest," he tells me.

"I am fine." I move over to the coffee pot, pouring myself a glass of coffee.

"Remember one cup," Corey eyes me.

"I remember," I shake my head.

"Soon, you need to give the daycare your two weeks' notice," he tells me.

I nod. "I will."

Corey and I decided I will quit before I am too pregnant and tried to work. He doesn't want added stress on the baby. He wants to work and provide for our family.

"I have some news to tell you," he smiles.

I feel a grin take over my face.

"I am taking online classes to get my high school diploma," he tells me.

I am so proud of him. I move towards him, wrapping my arms around him. I feel his arms around my waist.

"I am so happy for you."

He moves the hair from my face. I smile. "I want to be the man you deserve."

"You already are."

I kiss him passionately. I feel his warm hand grab my cheek.

I hear a knock on the door. Who could that be at this time of day?

I roll my eyes, seeing Carly rush into Corey's arms. She hasn't come around in a while. For a moment, I thought it was my mom. I haven't talked to her since she came over.

"What happened to your face?" I see Corey grab her face with his hands. He gently strokes her face, and she buries it into his chest.

Carly has a visible black eye, and her lower lip is puffy.

He glances over at me. I tried to hide my frustration and uncross my arms.

"Hire someone to beat you, so you can have Corey's attention?" I snarl.

"Sadie," I hear the disappointment in his voice. He gives me a death stare.

"I am sorry, I shouldn't have come, I don't know who to turn to," she cries.

"You're okay beautiful, who hurt?"

I roll my eyes.

"A new guy I've been seeing," she cries.

I began to feel a little guilty for how I treated Carly. I frown.

"I am going to teach your new friend a lesson." Corey's face was like stone. He was visibly very angry.

Corey drops his hold on her. I rush over and grab his arm."You can't get in trouble, I need you." I reach down, placing his hand on my stomach. He eyes me for a moment.

"I know, baby," he kisses me on the head.

"You need to file a police report," he tells her.

"You know, I hate talking to the police." I see the fear on her face.

"What about Adam? I am sure he'll come over in his normal clothes, I will call him."

******

Moments later, I watch Adam examine Carly on the couch. He takes pictures of her injuries, documenting all the evidence.

I am so surprised at how he comforts and treats her. He gently rubs her face. I heard him say he doesn't know how a man can hurt such a beautiful woman.

Corey looks just as shocked as me, he watches Adam closely. I think more of a protector than jealousy.

"I'm going to wait outside with Jen for the bus," Corey says. My eyes watch him leave.

Looking at Carly and Adam, it was like watching a TV drama. I can almost see the emoji hearts in their eyes. They would be a strange couple.

******

Many hours later, I found myself at the daycare. I sit with the kids painting.

I hear my phone beep. Baby, I am sorry about this morning.

I smile. No, I was a jerk. I wrote back

Corey sends a laughing emoji. Maybe a little babe.

I love you so much. I write back.

I hear my phone ding. I love you, I am already daydreaming of all the ways I am going to touch you tonight. I read.

I simply sent back a mouth-watering emoji. Because I always want him.

Every night, I have been wanting Corey, and more than once a night. He doesn't mind though. I think this pregnancy is messing with my sex drive.

After my four-hour shift, I am beyond relieved to be home. The kids were extra rowdy today, probably because tomorrow is the weekend. I am over the moon excited that Corey has the weekend off too. We have so many plans with Jen.

******

Corey walks into the house. I lay on the couch watching a dance competition. I feel exhausted. I yawn. He moves over, picking up my legs, and he sits down. He begins to rub my feet.

It feels so nice.

"You sleepy baby?"

I nod.

I hear a knock at the door. Corey gets up to answer it. I move my eyes from the TV when I hear my mom's voice.

I sit up holding my belly. I have a slight stomach cramp. But I think it's nothing concerning.

My mom sits on the couch next to me. Corey kneels in front of me. He rubs my cheek with his hand.

"Your stomach is cramping?"

I nod. "I'll go make you some tea." He kisses my forehead.

"I don't want any tea, but thank you."

He nods.

"So I came to ask for your help at the dance company again?"

I nod. "That would be hard pregnant."

"Not necessarily, you don't have to do the moves, just make sure the kids are doing them right."

I look at Corey as he flips through his phone. He's probably trying to distract himself from what he wants to say.

He eyes me. "If you want to, but you should be careful." I place his hand on my belly.

I hear the door burst open, I hear Josh's loud rapping. My mom looks so uncomfortable.

"Oh, what's up, Miss Anderson?" Josh acknowledges my mom, which I would imagine he knows from dating Mandy.

"Good afternoon Josh." My mom smiles.

"I would like to go back to the dance academy."

My mom's face lights up.

Josh hands me a smoothie. "I know what you like, girl." I smile. He kisses my forehead.

"That's enough Romeo." Corey laughs. Even my mom chuckles, to my surprise.

"That's great, I am so happy", my mom says.

"Firs, I need to give my two weeks' notice at the daycare."

She nods. "Definitely".

I hear the bus's loud motor, and it wasn't long before Jen busted the door.

"Daddy." She rushes up to Corey, putting a piece of paper in his face.

"Good job sweetheart," he says, wrapping her in his arms.

"I have something for you Jen, if it's okay with your dad. "She hesitated before she said, Dad. I don't blame her, I did for a while too.

I see my mom take a piece of paper from her purse. I know by their gold lettering on top that it was a dance schedule.

I feel my heart smile. "It would be my greatest pleasure if Jen would come to the studio and dance with us."

Jen's face lights up.

"Oh, I don't know, classes are expensive, and we don't take handouts," Corey says politely.

"I understand that, but every employee gets the benefit of free classes for their children, and you guys are technically a family." She smiles.

I do feel like Jen's mom. I love her like she was my daughter.

"Please Corey?"

He eyes me. I flash him my sweetest face.

"We accept. Now go tell Miss Anderson, thank you."

I smile as she rushes to hug my mom. I almost cry when my mom hugs her back.