Jordan's mom lived in a quieter part of town, in a sweet, white picket fence neighborhood that made Jordan completely out of place. I couldn't imagine his story – from white picket fence to hardcore tattoo artist. God knows how he got there, but he definitely loved his job and his life, he was a man very much contempt with the person he was. Proof of that was his lazy and relaxed stance as he came to open the door of Eva's car for me, as soon as we parked in the driveway of the soft yellow one-story house.

My heart was thumping hard and fast on my chest, and I could feel it in my throat. My knees were a bit wobbly and my legs shook, but I remained stern when he helped me come out of the passenger seat – not that I needed any, but here you go... He wore a light blue denim buttoned shirt and light grey slacks, very relaxed with his tattoos showing on his fingers and forearms and a bit on his chest. His smile was like a million bucks, and he actually gave me a tight squeeze in his bulging arms – it was a bit awkward to be honest because I went for a quick pat on his back and he lingered, which led to more patting and Eva laughing at us.

"Hey, you. Baby me" He grinned, patting my belly.

"We need boundaries" I sighed, but had to smile; it was his child in there, could I really ask the man not to touch it?

"Sorry. I'm just happy you came" He smiled, rubbing his trimmed hair.

"I told you I would" I shrugged, handing him over two bottles of wine.

"Ah, thanks! Come in, come in! Mom!" He yelled to the back, and both Eva and I jumped at his scream.

A woman with long red hair, pale skin and beautiful grey eyes popped from the wooden gate of the backyard, and her grin was so much like Jordan's, I would bet my house that was his mom.

"Hello, ladies." The woman smiled, wrinkles appeared around her lips and almond-shaped eyes "Welcome to our little backyard barbecue – beware the men curse and even the women burp."

Eva chuckled as the woman kissed her cheek.

"This is my mom, Angela. Mom, this is Eva. And this is Violet" He introduced us, and the woman's cheeky grin was just like her son's.

"Nice to meet you both. Come, come! The burgers are on, and Rocco has already eaten half of them."

We walked into the yard, and the whole gang was there, plus some. There were other people there, strangers, probably some neighbors and friends. I felt sweat blooming over my top lip and on my back. Dred and Stella came to greet us, and we ended up sitting with them at a picnic table. There were kids running around the lawn, some pop summer music blasting from a massive stereo, and food – dear God, these people could eat!

"So, I see Jordan has made an impression on you girls" Stella grinned, winking at Eva and me.

"More on some than others" Eva wiggled her brows at me, and I scowled back at her.

"You know he'll eventually convince you to do a tattoo as well, don't you?" Sweet pixie voice Dred smiled.

"Huh... I don't think that's happening anytime soon" I had to chuckle, taking a sip of my orange juice.

"Never say never." Stella advised, shrugging her slim shoulders "Before I met Rocco, I was working as a cashier at Costco. No tattoos, boring nine to five. He literally flipped my life around, and I couldn't be happier."

"I'm quite happy with my nine to five" I chuckled and she grinned.

"Jordan has said you have an amazing apartment on the beach!" Stella moaned "God, what I wouldn't do for that! I mean, don't get me wrong, I love my Little Havana apartment, but I am more fish than human."

"You're welcome to stay over and enjoy the beach. Oh, and the jacuzzi" I wiggled my brows as Stella and Dred moaned.

Jordan brought me food every so often, not lingering for long – which made me a bit sad, to be honest. His mom joined us girls after a while, sitting right next to me and patting my knee, over my peach summer dress.

"Are you girls having fun? I'm sorry it's so busy; we always have friends and family coming over every other Saturday. It's good for the community too" Angela explained, her pale hand holding her pointy chin as she stared at Eva and me.

"It's a beautiful party" I smiled.

"You have a beautiful house." My friend Eva added, "And great beer!"

"Let me get you more. What're you all having?" She asked the table, looking into our red cups "I'll bring you something stronger than juice, darling."

"No, really I'm... fine" I added, but she was already gone.

"Just let it go." Dred advised, patting my hand "Everyone always gets wasted at Angela's barbecue."

"She'll take offense if you don't drink at least one beer with her" Stella chuckled.

"It's part of the ritual" Dred winked at us.

Great. So, what, Jordan's mom would think I was some sort of frigid bitch because I wouldn't have a drink with her? That wasn't a good start, surely.

"Here we go!" Angela shrieked, setting a bottle of beer for each of us "Let's drink to new friends. Welcome to our barbecue madness! Oh, and if any of you is sleeping with my son and hurts him, I will break this bottle and stab you with the glass! Cheers!"

Both Eva and I laughed nervously at that, whereas Angela and the girls laughed like it had been the best joke at the Apollo.

Ok, you can pretend you are drinking; just pretend you are taking a gulp! They will never know!

"Come on, darling! Get it down!" Angela laughed, pushing the beer to my lips and making me wince.

My mouth was literally full, and I was about to burst through my nose when a strong tattooed hand took the bottle from me.

"Mom! What are you doing?!" Jordan groaned, and I spit all the beer into Angela's beautifully cut lawn.

"What did I do?!" Jordan's mom gasped, and frowned with her lips pursed at me "Well if your friend doesn't like drinking, she should have just told me so! I prefer people to be upfront with me!"

Ok, she was mad. This wasn't good...

"No, no." I quickly shook my head, still coughing beer "I love beer, honestly. I just can't drink at the moment, that's all."

"Oh." Angela's red brows went up to her pale forehead "Are you on medication or something?"

"Or something..." Eva almost whispered, and I elbowed her.

Jordan sighed, rubbing his neck. He set the half-empty beer on the picnic table and grabbed my hand. Oh shit... Was this it? Was he making the announcement?!

"Mom, could you gather everyone around? I need to say something."

"Oh, shit! Are you getting married?!" Angela looked more offended than happy.

"Mom, just do it, please" Jordan rolled his eyes; it was amusing to see someone could actually annoy Mr. Inappropriate.

Angela asked everyone to gather around the lawn. There had to be at least thirty people there – if not more! Rocco pulled his cap back and whistled for everyone to pay attention, as he continued to fry the burgers and sausages. Stella and Dred sat with their drinks in their hands, waiting with her eyes huge – they were definitely dying to know what was going on.

"Hey, everyone." Jordan smiled, waving a hand around "Thank you all for coming today, it's good to see all our friends still come by to eat and drink for free."

The guests all laughed and saluted to him.

"I must confess... I organized this barbecue with second intentions." He winced, and everyone frowned, whispering at each other "And I couldn't think of a better place and people to share my news with than all of you."

"Oh, for fuck's sake! Just spit it out already! My burgers are getting cold!" Rocco yelled from the other end of the lawn, and everybody joined in.

"Right" Jordan chuckled nervously.

I felt for him, he was so nervous! I grabbed his hand and crushed it hard. He smiled down at me and nodded.

"I'm... I'm going to be a dad. We're having a baby" His voice was so filled with emotion that it cracked a bit, and I felt my throat swollen with emotion.

"What?!" Angela gasped, her thin hands went to her trembling lips "You're having a baby? And he'll be my grandchild?!"

"Yes, that's usually how it works, mom" He chuckled, but it was obvious in his red-rimmed grey eyes that he was more affected by emotion that he was trying to show.

I think people were more confused than anything else, really, at first. Jordan wasn't dating anyone that they knew of, and out of the blue, he was going to be a dad?! Yep, it was strange, it was clear that it hadn't been planned – honestly, I felt a bit ashamed for that.

However, his family and friends hugged us, congratulate us and made suggestions for baby names, baby products and even daycares. The Marshalls seemed like the kind of people to move along the weird and just get cracking on solutions.

"Oh, God! Can I?" Angela sobbed, pointing at my almost flat belly.

"Of course" I smiled.

Her trembling hand rested over my bump and she sobbed. She was so dramatic, I would think she was Eva's mom and not cool Jordan. Tears rolled down her eyes as her mascara got smudged – she looked like a red panda and it was hilarious. I chuckled but hugged her, patting her back.

"Oh, how long?" She asked, trying to clean her eyes.

"Just over eight weeks" I smiled.

"Oh..." She seemed impressed "It's very early, then. How are you feeling?"

"Tired, most of the time." I admitted, patting my bump "I swear I'm thinking of moving my bed into the toilet – and I'm not even that pregnant yet."

"How are your mornings?" Angela smiled, making me sit with her on the picnic table.

"I don't get sick a lot." I shrugged, and smiled as I caught Jordan from across the lawn, talking to his friends from the tattoo parlor "At least not for now."

"Oh, please, you have to tell me how you two met! Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled about the good news, but I had no idea Jordan had a girlfriend!" Angela explained, grabbing both my hands.

I told her the gist, Eva's tattoo, we getting along – obviously I left the sordid sexy details out, those were too private –, and things just happening.

"Oh, when are you two getting married, then?" Angela asked, with a massive grin and sparkling eyes.

"Ah..." I mumbled, certainly blushing "We haven't... set anything, yet."

"I guess the baby is the most important thing, now" Angela smiled, grabbing the plate of food behind me and handing it over to me.

Eva, Stella, and Dred eventually joined us again, and I've met the grandparents, the cousins, the second cousins, Mr. Pratt from down the road, the postman and a whole bunch of local characters that all welcomed me into the family.

This... was all very weird to me, and a bit overwhelming as well, to be honest. My family was... let's just say they weren't this 'chatty', and definitely not the hugging type. Also, they never told me I was too skinny and that I should eat more – this came from both Jordan's mom as his Nana. She was the toughest grandma I've ever met, and even though she wore a lovely straw hat with pink flowers, she was short and her back arched, I was instantly scared of her.

"Just remember there's no hanky-panky now!" She advised, her wrinkled finger tapped the tip of my nose "So you keep your eyes wide open on that one" She pointed at her grandson, engaged in conversation with some other family member.

"Mom!" Angela hissed, but Eva and I were already laughing "Please... Violet just joined the family, let's give her a few good weeks until we show her our true colors."

"That's fine." I smiled at Angela "We're fine in that department Mrs. Marshall."

"Oh, dear...! That's what you say now!" Nana Marshall snorted into laughter; her old and bony thumb jerked her grandson's way again "Just look: half an hour he has left you here with us, and what is he doing? Having a chat with his former ball and chain."

"Mom" Angela hissed again, but this time she seemed sincerely terrified about it.

"Shit..." I heard Eva whisper next to me.

Yep, that was definitely the right word to use. We weren't together in any way, we merely slept together and made a baby; I wasn't – truly – expecting a ring and a picket fence house in the suburbs where we would grow old together until we were ninety. Still, I expected some respect – or at least for him not to flirt with his ex right there in front of my face and all his family and friends.

The girl was gorgeous, tall, very tanned, massive legs and a small waist, a decent bum, long dark hair and dark eyes, pouty lips and a pointy chin. She could be the next Miss Argentina, actually. I winced as I pated my bump – yep, no sexiness here on the five feet two inches dark shoulder-length bob and no boobs white girl. Yep, not exactly Miss USA or even Miss Congeniality.

"I should go home, really." I muttered, trying to smile even though my throat went dry when Jordan grabbed the girl's hand and dragged her into the house, both of them still holding their drinks "I have a lunch with my dad tomorrow, and I should get rest."

"Sweetheart, Marisol just came back from Puerto Rico from her granddad's funeral" Angela tried to explain as Eva and I got our purses.

"Oh, no, please, don't think we're leaving because of..." I gestured into the house, shrugging "I honestly must go. But we will schedule some brunch? I'll call you so you can spend some time with your future grandchild" I smiled, squeezing her hand.

"I will remember that" Angela winked a grey eye at me.

Eva and I left as quickly as we could. We said goodbye to Dred and Stella and assured them we would get a girl's night out – baby approved – over the next few weeks. They had all been lovely, and I never had any silly and unrealistic dreams of Jordan and I and our baby. I could always tell dad we broke up and that we were raising the baby together regardless – yes, that would save my ass!

"Well... I gotta say, I wasn't expecting that" Eva sighed, as we drove back to my apartment.

"Yeah..." I shrugged, looking out the car into the busy streets "It doesn't matter, does it? We are not a couple, and I've made that pretty clear."

"Oh, sweetie. If you think you and him are definitely not a couple, you are definitely mistaken!" She snorted into laughter.

***

Eva didn't stay, as I made up some silly excuse of needing to get some work done just to be alone. I took a long shower, got into my bathrobe and... just lay on top of my large sofa, taking in the sun and feeling like a used washcloth. Ok, granted, I wasn't being fair to Jordan, I knew that... but who wouldn't feel hurt?! I mean, sure, we only made a baby and it had been accidental – nothing romantic about that! Still, at least he owed me some respect, right?

I wanted to scream, as I rubbed my face hard with both my hands. Why was life so complicated nowadays?! God, why, oh why did I have to go and sleep with that sexy piece of sin?

Because he is a sexy piece of sin!

My doorbell rang and I moaned. God, it was probably Eva, wasn't it? Maybe with dinner or something like that, feeling guilty for leaving me alone and with my pride hurt. How pathetic was I?!

I peeked through the peephole and winced. Shit... What did he want?

"What do you want?" I snarled, crossing my arms over my bathrobe.

"Talk to you, but not through the door" Jordan answered from the hallway.

"How did you get into the building?!"

"Your doorman thought I was making a delivery – I brought food." He offered, and I moaned at the smell of lovely comfort food "It's my mom's casserole, my Nana's pudding and... a beer for myself..."

"Thanks, but I'm really not hungry" I lied; I was starving.

"Can I at least come in and leave this for you?" He asked with a long sigh.

"Just leave it there by the door; I just had a shower, I'm not dressed."

"Well, I'm definitely not going, now" His chuckle was naughty.

I rolled my eyes but opened the door – I made sure I kept it half closed so he wouldn't barge in.

"You didn't have to bring me food" I quickly tossed.

"I know that." He shrugged under his shirt "I just thought it would be good for you and the baby to have some homecooked food before bedtime."

"Thanks" I nodded, my hand waiting for the bag.

"Can I get in and have a beer while you eat?"

"It's too early for dinner. Besides, I've come from your mum's like an hour ago – I'm still full" I assured him, patting my stomach.

"Sure, sure." He nodded, his steel grey eyes didn't leave my face "Let me just get this into your fridge."

"I can do that." I assured him, taking the bag from his hands "Thanks for bringing me this. I do appreciate it. I'll see you at the next appointment, ok?"

Jordan frowned deeply, and he held the door when I tried to close it.

"Can we talk? Please?"

I wavered. I hated when he looked at me like that, intensely. I sighed and gestured for him to come in. He mumbled a thanks as he walked into the apartment. He pushed his hands into the pockets of his slacks and eyed his boots. Yes, this was awkward...

"Jordan, you don't have any obligation towards me" I started before he could.

"Really" He tossed back, steel eyes coming up to meet mine.

"Of course not." I tried to smile "You have your life, I have mine. The only thing we have in common is..." I shrugged, patting my belly "Nothing else, really."

"Right, so you keep saying" He nodded, not taking his eyes off of me.

"So..." I shrugged "Don't worry. We're good. I loved meeting your family, by the way. They're lovely. I'll call your mom so we can meet up a few times, you know just... get to know each other, for the baby."

"For the baby."

"Will you stop just repeating my words?" I frowned, crossing my arms over my chest "It's making me uncomfortable. If you have something to say, just say it."