Chapter 18

Heidi closed her laptop, letting out a deep breath as she finished attending one of her online classes. Balancing law school, her new Teaching Assistant position, and her pregnancy was a lot, but she was managing, at least on the surface. The house was quieter than usual today. Her father was out at a meeting, and her younger sister was at school. Jalen was outside working on the guest house with his team, the sound of construction humming in the background.

A soft knock at her door pulled Heidi from her thoughts.

“Heidi? Can I come in?”

It was her mother, Sylvia Horner, standing in the doorway with a gentle but observant expression.

Heidi hesitated for a second but nodded. “Yeah, of course.”

Sylvia stepped inside, closing the door behind her before sitting on the edge of Heidi’s bed. She studied her daughter carefully before speaking.

“I wanted to check in on you, sweetheart. You’ve been ... different lately.”

Heidi tensed slightly. “Different how?”

Sylvia sighed, tilting her head slightly. “You’ve been more reserved. You’re not as talkative at dinner, you’re spending more time in your room when you’re home, and when you are around, you just seem ... preoccupied.”

Heidi looked away, her fingers lightly gripping the edge of her desk.

“I’ve just been busy, Mom. School, work, helping out where I can.”

Sylvia nodded but didn’t look convinced. “I know you’ve got a lot on your plate, but this feels like more than just school stress.”

There was a long pause. Heidi could feel her mother’s gaze searching for something.

“Is something going on that you haven’t told me?” Sylvia finally asked.

The question hung in the air, thick with implication. Heidi’s heart skipped a beat. Her mother didn’t know, at least not yet, but she sensed something was off.

Heidi looked down at her lap, her mind racing. She didn’t want to lie, but she wasn’t ready to tell her yet. She needed Jalen to finish the construction on the guest house before she’d be ready to tell her parents.

“Mom, I promise, I’m okay,” Heidi finally said, offering a small smile that she hoped was reassuring.

Sylvia studied her for another moment before nodding. “Alright, but if there’s anything you need to talk about, anything at all..., you know you can come to me, right?”

Heidi nodded quickly. “I know.”

Sylvia leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to Heidi’s forehead before standing up. “Alright. I’ll let you get back to your work, but just remember, I’m always here.”

Heidi watched as her mother left the room, gently closing the door behind her. The moment she was alone again, Heidi let out a deep breath, her heart still pounding. Her mother hadn’t figured out that Heidi was pregnant yet, but if she wasn’t careful, Sylvia would. Time was now more of a factor than ever.

Jalen had just packed up his tools for the day, wiping sweat from his forehead as the late afternoon sun dipped lower in the sky. The guest house project was really coming together, and Tim had just finished his daily inspection, giving his usual nod of approval before heading inside.

Now, it was just Jalen and Heidi, standing near the back porch, the scent of freshly cut wood lingering in the air. Heidi had turned about ten minutes after her father left.

Heidi crossed her arms, shifting her weight slightly before exhaling.

“My mother is on to me.”

Jalen, who had just slung his tool bag over his shoulder, paused, turning his attention to her fully.

“What do you mean?” he asked, his brow furrowing slightly.

Heidi sighed, glancing toward the house as if making sure no one was nearby. “She’s been watching me closely, asking if something’s wrong. She sat me down today and straight-up asked if I had anything to tell her.”

Jalen exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening. “And what did you say?”

“I stuck to the plan. I told her law school, and my TA work were stressing me out.” Heidi ran a hand through her long, wavy auburn hair. “She bought it ... for now..., but my mom isn’t dumb. If I slip up, she’ll start digging.”

Jalen nodded, his mind already running through worst-case scenarios. They both knew what was at stake. If Tim found out Heidi was pregnant, let alone that Jalen was the father, it would be catastrophic. Tim would flip out and likely retaliate against Jalen. He’d try to terminate the contract before Jalen could finish the guest house, and Jalen would lose out on a massive payday. Worse, Tim might actively try to discredit Jalen’s business.

Jalen set his tool bag down, his eyes locked onto hers. “You think your mom is just suspicious, or is she already putting pieces together?”

Heidi chewed her lip. “Right now, I think she just senses something’s off, but that’s bad enough. If she gets too curious, she’ll start connecting the dots.”

Jalen exhaled slowly, processing it. “We stick to the plan.”

“I know,” Heidi said, nodding. “I’m not telling them anything until I have my own place. My TA job is secured now so we’re halfway there. Regardless though, they’re never finding out that you’re the father.”

Jalen leaned in slightly, his voice lower. “And if they figure it out?”

Heidi held his gaze, her blue eyes firm. “Then I face the hurricane. I won’t let my father hurt you, Jalen.”

Jalen nodded, his grip on her waist tightening slightly. They both knew this was a game of timing. The guest house had to be finished first if they were going to get through this as cleanly as possible. Until then, Heidi had to keep up appearances.

Jalen studied her for a moment. “Are you good? How are you holding up?”

Heidi sighed, resting her forehead against his chest for a second before pulling back. “Yeah. I just need to be careful. Some nausea in the mornings, but I’ve been handling it. I make sure to get up before my mom does, so she doesn’t notice, and I try to only vomit in toilets so I can flush the evidence.”

Jalen nodded slowly, but his expression remained serious. “Good, but if it gets worse, you need to be careful. If your mom sees you running to the bathroom or looking like hell, she’s gonna start pressing harder.”

Heidi huffed lightly, shaking her head. “I know. I know. That’s why I’ve been keeping ginger chews in my bag and sipping Sprite like it’s a damn lifeline. If she asks why I’m not drinking coffee in the morning, I just tell her it makes me jittery during class.”

Jalen smirked slightly. “Smart.”

Heidi rolled her eyes playfully. “What, you thought I was just a pretty face?”

Jalen chuckled, resting a hand on her hip. “Nah. You’re smart as hell. Just making sure you’re covering all your bases.”

Heidi exhaled, her fingers brushing through her long auburn waves. “The only thing that really sucks is the cramps. They hit me hard sometimes, but I just say it’s stress.”

Jalen’s jaw clenched slightly. “You sure you can keep that up?”

Heidi lifted a brow, giving him a knowing look. “Jalen, I have been keeping my composure through some of the worst, most awkward family dinners of all time. I’ll be fine.”

Jalen searched her face for a moment, making sure she wasn’t just putting on a front.

Heidi sighed again, softer this time. “Look, I know how important this is. If my dad finds out, we both lose. I won’t let that happen. I promise.”

Jalen exhaled through his nose, nodding. “Alright. Just keep playing it cool, and if you need to vent or anything, you know where to find me.”

Heidi gave him a small smirk. “Oh, trust me. I’ll find you.”

“I’m sorry that it has to be like this,” Jalen said, his voice low but firm. “I wish you didn’t have to hide all this from your family. I wish your family could be more open-minded about this. About me.”

Heidi exhaled slowly, crossing her arms. “I know.” Her voice wasn’t defensive, just ... resigned. “But you and I both know they’re not.”

Jalen held her gaze, his expression unreadable. “Still doesn’t make it right.”

Heidi let out a small, bitter laugh. “Jalen, my dad still thinks it’s 1950. My mom is only slightly better, but she still doesn’t question anything he says. If they knew...” She trailed off, shaking her head.

Jalen set his tool bag down and stepped closer, placing his hands on her waist. “If they knew, what?”

Heidi sighed, leaning into his touch. “If they knew ... they’d try to make me feel like I ruined my life. That I let them down.”

Jalen felt his jaw tighten. “By falling in love with me?”

Heidi blinked at him, her lips parting slightly.

Jalen searched her eyes. “Because that’s what happened, Heidi. You didn’t just hook up with me. You didn’t make a ‘mistake.’ We love each other. We’re having a baby. That ain’t something to be ashamed of.”

Heidi felt her throat tighten. She hated that Jalen had to feel like this, like he was some kind of stain on her life just because of her parents’ outdated mindset.

“I know,” she whispered. “And I don’t care what they think, but I care about what happens to you.”

Jalen exhaled sharply, running a hand over his head. “You shouldn’t have to protect me from your own father, Heidi.”

Heidi lifted her chin slightly, her expression resolute. “Maybe not, but I will.”

Jalen studied her for a long moment, then sighed, shaking his head. “You’re impossible.”

Heidi smirked despite the tension in the air. “And you love me for it.”

Jalen let out a low chuckle, shaking his head before pulling her into a slow, lingering kiss. When he pulled back, his hands rested on her hips, his thumbs rubbing small circles against her skin.

“We’ll get through this,” he said firmly. “Together.”

Heidi nodded, letting her forehead rest against his chest for a moment. “Yeah.”

Three hours later at Rachel’s apartment...,

“Okay Rachel don’t open your eyes until I tell you...” Jalen warns.

“Okay ... Okay...” She says walking carefully clutching Jalen’s arm.

When Jalen had arrived at Rachel’s apartment a couple of hours ago, he told her that he had a surprise, but that she had to clear out for a couple of hours. Jalen had made a reservation for her at a spa that stayed open late, and he’d prepaid for her to get the premium treatment. The spa session included a massage, facial, pedicure, manicure, and shower with all kinds of smelly soaps and gels. Rachel now had chrome light purple-colored almond shaped acrylic nails and her toes were the same color too, freshly done. Jalen opened the door and carefully escorted her into her apartment.

A minute later, he finally says, “Okay, you can open them.”

Rachel opened her eyes and she gasped. Her jaw dropped, followed by her hands covering her mouth quickly.

Jalen had decorated her whole apartment with blue and gold balloons and streamers. There were white flower petals decorating the floor, couch, table, cabinets and chairs. There was a large cookie cake with two big candles shaped in a two and an eight. There were three gift bags and a wrapped present on the table next to the cookie cake. There were two dinner plates with freshly cooked chicken alfredo pasta, broccoli, and two sparkling waters. To cap it off, there was a big sign that said “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” in big gold letters on the wall.

“Happy Birthday, baby.” Jalen said, smiling warmly.

Rachel’s hands trembled slightly as her hands stayed covering her mouth, her eyes glistening with emotion. She turned to look at Jalen, completely overwhelmed by the effort and thoughtfulness by him.

“Jalen...” she whispered, shaking her head in disbelief. “You did all this?!”

Jalen grinned and stepped closer, gently wrapping his arms around her waist. “Of course, I did. You deserve it.” He kissed her softly on the forehead before pulling back to admire the joy on her face. “I wanted to make sure your birthday was special, and that you felt appreciated and loved.”

Rachel blinked rapidly, trying to hold back the tears. No man had ever done anything like this for her before. Sure, she’d had birthday parties, gifts, even a couple of surprise celebrations from friends, but nothing this intimate or personal. This wasn’t just a birthday surprise. This was love.

She took a deep breath and turned back to take in all the decorations again. The blue and gold balloons, her favorite color combination. The white flower petals, the cookie cake, the thoughtfully wrapped presents. She laughed softly as she noticed that even dinner was her favorite meal.

“You even made chicken alfredo...” she said, turning back to him.

“Of course. I pay attention,” Jalen said with a wink.

Rachel exhaled shakily and shook her head before lunging forward, wrapping her arms around Jalen’s neck and pressing her lips firmly against his. It was deep, slow, and full of raw emotion. Jalen held her tightly against him, letting her feel everything in his embrace.

When she finally pulled back, she looked into his eyes, her own filled with love and gratitude. “Jalen, I don’t even know what to say. This is ... the most beautiful thing anyone has ever done for me.” She swallowed hard before continuing, her voice just above a whisper. “I love you so much.”

Jalen’s heart swelled. He knew how hard that was for Rachel to say. She wasn’t the most emotionally expressive of the women in his life, and she had struggled with opening herself up completely; but this was real.

“I love you too, Rachel,” Jalen murmured, his hands cupping her face. He pressed another lingering kiss to her lips before pulling back with a playful smirk. “Now, before this food gets cold, are you gonna sit down and eat, or are you just gonna stare at me all night?”

Rachel chuckled, wiping at the single tear that had escaped down her cheek. “I mean, I could just stare at you, but since you put all this effort into cooking, I guess I’ll eat first.”

Jalen laughed, guiding her over to the table, pulling out her chair like a gentleman before sitting across from her.

Rachel couldn’t stop smiling, even as she twirled the pasta onto her fork and took a bite. Every few seconds, she glanced up at Jalen, her cheeks warm, her heart full.

“This is so damn good,” she said between bites. “You cooked this?”

Jalen smirked, leaning back in his chair. “Of course. You thought I was gonna decorate your whole apartment and then slack on the food?”

Rachel shook her head in disbelief. “I don’t know ... it just feels like ... too much.” She gestured around the room, her voice softer now. “No one’s ever done anything like this for me before.”

Jalen rested his elbow on the table, watching her with a knowing expression. “Then that just means no one’s ever treated you the way you deserve.”

Rachel swallowed thickly, looking down at her plate as her smile grew even wider. She hated how soft she was feeling right now, but damn if Jalen didn’t always know how to get to her.

She took another bite, shaking her head. “You’re making it real hard not to fall even harder for you, you know that?”

Jalen grinned, cutting into his chicken. “Good because I don’t plan on letting you go.”

He smiled as he twirled his fork into his pasta. He loved seeing Rachel like this: stunned, happy, and genuinely appreciated for once.

“I make time for what’s important,” he continued, meeting her eyes. “And you’re important to me, Rachel.”

Rachel exhaled, shaking her head as she leaned back in her chair. “You’re really unbelievable, Jalen. Like ... this level of effort? I still can’t believe you pulled this off.”

Jalen shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “What can I say? I know how hard you work, how much pressure you put on yourself. Figured you deserved to relax, be spoiled, and not have to worry about a damn thing tonight.”

Rachel blinked a few times, pressing her lips together as if trying to fight back the emotions creeping up. She wasn’t used to being taken care of like this. It was foreign, but she loved it.

She tilted her head, narrowing her eyes at him. “And you did all this by yourself? You didn’t, like, recruit one of the other girls to help?”

Jalen chuckled. “Nope. All me.”

Rachel let out a small, breathless laugh. “Damn. You really are different.”

Jalen smiled again. “Told you that already.”

Rachel stared at him for a moment, her chest tightening. If she ever had any doubts about how much she loved Jalen, this night just crushed all of them.

She put her fork down and wiped her mouth with a napkin before standing up. Jalen raised a brow, watching as she walked over to him. Without hesitation, she straddled his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing a long, deep kiss to his lips.

Jalen responded instantly, gripping her waist as she melted into him. The heat between them was instant, but it wasn’t just lust, it was pure emotion. Their tongues slowly slid into each other’s mouths as their kiss deepened even more.

Rachel eventually pulled back slightly, resting her forehead against his. “Thank you,” she whispered. “For everything.”

Jalen brushed his thumb along her jaw, his voice just as low. “You don’t ever have to thank me for treating you right.”

Rachel sighed, closing her eyes for a moment. “You do realize you’ve completely ruined my standards for every other man after this, right?”

Jalen grinned. “That was the plan.”

Rachel looked at him warmly. Then she suddenly stood up.

“C’mon. Let’s go.” Rachel said as she took his hand.

“Where are we going?” Jalen asked, confused.

“Bedroom.” She replied.

“You don’t want your cookie cake first?”

“Not now. I just want you inside me. Now move.”

Jalen didn’t need to be told again. Rachel pulled him by his hand dragging him toward the bedroom with urgency. The air between them was already thick with heat, her body humming with need from the way he had made her feel all night. She wasn’t just turned on; she was completely aching for him.

The second they crossed the threshold into her bedroom, Jalen barely had time to kick the door shut before Rachel spun around, grabbing the collar of his shirt and pulling him down into a fierce, desperate kiss. Her nails dug into his scalp as she fisted his hair which had grown out a bit to a mini afro. This kiss deepened as their tongues tangled once again, but more aggressive this time in a battle for control.

Jalen’s hands slid down her back before gripping her thighs, effortlessly lifting her off the ground. Rachel let out a small gasp, instinctively wrapping her legs around his waist as he carried her to the bed.

They collapsed onto the mattress, Rachel beneath him, her body already arching against his, craving the friction.

“Take it off,” Rachel breathed against his lips, her fingers already tugging at his shirt.

Jalen smirked and did as he was told, pulling his shirt over his head and tossing it aside. Rachel’s eyes raked over his body, hunger flashing across her face as she ran her hands down his chest, her nails scraping lightly over his abs.

“Your turn,” Jalen said, his voice low and commanding.

Rachel sat up just enough to pull her dress over her head, tossing it somewhere across the room. She wasn’t wearing a bra, and Jalen took a second to admire the way her breasts sat perfectly, her nipples already hardened with anticipation.

“Goddamn,” Jalen muttered before gripping her waist and flipping them over, so she was straddling him.

Rachel grinned down at him, her hands splayed against his chest, loving the way his muscles flexed beneath her touch.

“You’re overdressed,” she teased, sliding her hands down to his waistband.

Jalen arched a brow. “Then fix that.”

Rachel smiled. She didn’t hesitate, undoing his belt and zipper, sliding his pants and boxers down just enough to free his already-hard length.

She bit her lip, stroking him slowly, her thumb teasing the tip as she watched his reaction.

Jalen let out a low groan, his grip tightening on her butt cheeks. “You’re playing dangerous games, birthday girl.”

Rachel smiled harder, biting her bottom lip. She positioned herself over him as she leaned down, whispering in his ear, “Then stop talking and fuck me already.”

Jalen gripped her hips tightly before guiding her down onto him in one swift motion. Rachel let out a sharp gasp, her nails digging into his shoulders as he stretched her completely.

“Fuck,” Rachel breathed, rolling her hips slowly at first, adjusting to the fullness of him.

Jalen hissed, his hands guiding her movements, setting the pace as she rode him, her body moving like she was made for him.

“That’s it, baby,” Jalen groaned, thrusting up to meet her movements, his grip tightening on her waist.

Rachel let out a loud moan, her head falling back in pleasure as she moved faster, her nails leaving red marks down his chest as the pressure built between them.

Jalen sat up suddenly, wrapping an arm around her back, his lips latching onto her neck, sucking hard, making sure to leave a mark.

Rachel gasped, her arms wrapping around his shoulders, holding on as he took control, his thrusts deep and deliberate, hitting every spot perfectly.

The tension built fast, the pleasure intensifying with every movement, every grind, every moan that filled the air.

About five or six minutes later... “I’m—fuck—I’m close,” Rachel panted, her body trembling against him.

Jalen smirked, flipping them over in one swift motion, pinning her beneath him as he drove into her harder, chasing both of their releases. Rachel let out a scream of pure pleasure as these thrusts pushed her over the edge. Her legs wrapped tightly around his waist, her nails digging into his back as she shattered beneath him, crying out Jalen’s name as tidal waves of pleasure crashed over her.

Jalen kept thrusting as he could feel the tip of his cock reaching her cervix. Moments later, he groaned as he buried himself deep inside her and released his warm thick cum into her, leaving them both breathless and spent.

For a long moment, the only sounds in the room were their heavy breaths and the faint rustling of the sheets as they came down from the high.

Jalen pressed a soft, lingering kiss to her lips before rolling onto his side, pulling her against him.

Rachel let out a content sigh, nuzzling into his chest.

“Best birthday ever,” she murmured, a smirk on her lips.

Rachel, still glowing from their earlier sex session, sat on the couch with her legs tucked under her, wearing nothing but Jalen’s oversized t-shirt. It hung loosely off her frame, exposing one bare shoulder, and barely covered the tops of her thighs. Jalen, sitting beside her in just his boxers, leaned back with a satisfied smile, watching her grin excitedly as she reached for her first gift.

The cookie cake sat on the coffee table in front of them, a single slice already missing, which had been Rachel’s “pre-dessert” before opening gifts. The gold candles shaped like a two and an eight flickered as she leaned forward, her lips pursed, blowing them out in one smooth breath.

Jalen clapped lazily, his voice low and teasing. “What’d you wish for?”

Rachel shot him a playful glare. “If I tell you, it won’t come true.”

Jalen smirked. “Well, considering you just got the best sex of your life, a spa day, and all this,” he gestured toward the decorations around them, “I can’t imagine what more you could possibly want.”

Rachel bit her lip, leaning into him, her fingers trailing down his chest. “I mean ... I wouldn’t mind another round later.”

Jalen let out a low chuckle, his hand gripping her thigh just under the hem of his shirt. “Greedy.”

Rachel just winked, before turning back to her presents. She grabbed the first gift bag and pulled out a neatly folded hoodie, one she had mentioned weeks ago in passing but never got around to buying. Her eyes widened as she held it up.

“No way. Jalen! You actually remembered?”

Jalen smirked. “You think I don’t listen when you talk?”

Rachel grinned hard, shaking her head. “I’m seriously impressed, and lowkey turned on.”

Jalen chuckled, watching as she dug into the next bag. Inside was a set of rare basketball trading cards, ones featuring some of her all-time favorite players. Rachel squealed, throwing her arms around Jalen’s neck and kissing him hard.

“This is insane! Do you know how long I’ve been looking for these?”

Jalen shrugged, smugly. “I might have a few connections.”

Rachel beamed, running her fingers over the cards before reaching for the wrapped box. She carefully tore off the paper, revealing a small, sleek black jewelry box. Her breath hitched slightly as she flipped it open. Inside was a delicate silver chain necklace with a tiny, elegant pendant in the shape of a basketball.

Rachel was speechless for a moment, her fingers brushing over the pendant before she looked up at Jalen, her expression softer now.

“You really went all out for me,” she murmured.

Jalen leaned in, pressing a kiss to her cheek, his hand slipping around her waist.

“You’re worth it.”

Rachel swallowed, something warm and deep settling in her chest. She had never had a man pay this much attention to what she loved and cared about.

She ran her fingers through his hair, tilting his face toward hers before kissing him slow and deep.

“I love you,” she whispered against his lips.

Jalen’s heart clenched. He cupped her face gently, his forehead resting against hers.

“I love you too, baby. Happy Birthday,” he murmured, kissing her again, sealing the moment between them.

Rachel let out a happy sigh, settling against him.

“This really is the best birthday ever,” she whispered, her fingers playing with the chain of her new necklace.

Jalen smirked, rubbing small circles into her thigh.

Elsewhere, Chrysti sat curled up on her couch, staring at the untouched glass of wine on the table in front of her as well as her tube of birth control pills. She had stopped taking them. She had been feeling off for the last few months and when she had gone to the doctor last week, they determined that the birth control pills were the cause and recommended that she stop taking them immediately. So, she did, but now it left her feeling more vulnerable than ever.

Her thoughts swirled like a storm, as she contemplated how this would affect her decisions to have sex and what her best options were going forward.

Besides the thoughts about her birth control, there were also the thoughts of Jalen. She wanted to see him again. Not only that, she wanted to embrace Jalen and let him love her the way he’s tried to, but she couldn’t. She knew better. It would be foolish to fall for him, suicidal even. She clenched her jaw, shaking her head to herself. He was a man, and she couldn’t trust men.

But Jalen was different though...

That’s what made this so damn hard. She had spent years building walls around her heart, keeping herself safe from disappointment, betrayal, and pain. Yet here was a man, with six women already, mind you, and somehow, he was still making her question everything.

She scoffed out loud. “Why is this even a question?!”

Chrysti ran a hand through her hair, frustrated. She had never met a man like Jalen before. He was strong but kind, protective but never possessive, dominant but always respectful, and the way he looked at her made her feel like the most special woman in the world.

Unfortunately, she had been fooled before. Men always turned on her in the end. Did it really matter how good Jalen was now? He’d eventually break her heart like the rest..., right? Chrysti stared at her phone, Jalen’s name on the screen, their last texts sitting there unanswered.

He had given her space, respected her boundaries, and never pressured her. She had appreciated that, but the fact of the matter was..., she missed him terribly.

Jalen stared at the ceiling, the soft glow of the digital clock on Rachel’s nightstand reading 2:07 AM.

Rachel was sound asleep on his chest. Her breathing was soft and steady, and her body relaxed in a way that told him today had been perfect for her. She deserved it.

Jalen’s mind, however, was far from at peace. His thoughts ran wild, one after the other, refusing to let him rest.

He thought about Megan’s divorce. Karla had built a damn near airtight case, but Chris was not the type of man to go down without a fight. If he ever found out Megan was pregnant, he’d try to use it as a weapon, not because he cared about the baby, but because he’d want to punish her for daring to leave him. Then if he somehow figured out that Jalen was the father then that would be a whole other problem. Jalen exhaled, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

His thoughts moved to Kristen. She was still adjusting. Adjusting to life after Rob, being pregnant, and, more than anything, sharing him. She told him she loved him, but Jalen could feel the doubt creeping in sometimes. She still struggled with the reality of their situation, even if she was trying to make peace with it. He’d have to check in on her tomorrow.