Back to the Top (Ross Records) (3) (24 page)

“Isabelle.”

Only one person called me Isabelle and I spotted him right away. Short, stocky, with sandy brown hair and hazel eyes, Doc Dietrich, tour manager for Controlled Environment, stood with his hands shoved into his front pockets.

“Hey,” I said, smiling. “Thanks for picking me up.”

“No problem,” he said, slipping my carryon off my shoulder. “Let’s grab your bags and get going. The boys are on a shoot right now or else I’m sure Jake would have been here.”

We moved through the crowds, elbowed our way to the luggage carousel, and emerged from the airport reasonably unscathed. Doc ushered me to a dark SUV with tinted windows before heaving my luggage into the back.

Maybe it was the bright, blinding sunlight or the nearly suffocating heat, I didn’t know, but my head went light, spinning slightly, as my stomach lurched. Pressing my fingers to my temple, I closed my eyes, flinching when Doc slammed the back door. By the time he climbed in beside me, the sick feeling was waning.

“You feeling all right, there, Isabelle?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I said. “I’m pretty tired, that’s all.”

“Well, I can take you to the condo, if you’d like. I’ll just tell Jake when I run back to the video location.”

“No,” I said, forcing a smile. “I’m okay. Just take me to Jake.”

“No problem,” he said, starting the engine. “It’s a short drive.”

The air conditioning kicked on, making my head and stomach slightly better. I straightened in my seat, peering out the window at the tall palm trees and the impossible LA traffic.

I’d traveled several places with my family over the years but we’d never made it to the west coast. As the beauty and diversity crept past my window, I wondered why.

“We’re shooting in this old warehouse,” Doc explained. “Finishing up the first video. It’s really cool, too. Rob Ross brought in some old cars that are bad ass.”

“Sounds like it,” I mumbled with a slight smile. What was it about cars that turned grown men into little boys?

Doc was right – it didn’t take long to get to the warehouse. My heart stirred, anxious to see Jake again, but I wasn’t prepared for the horde of people gathered behind the yellow caution tape placed several feet from the entrance.

“Fans,” Doc muttered as he lowered his window, waving a badge at a security guard. The guard nodded us through and Doc cursed as he maneuvered through the crowd. Once we were close, he killed the engine and then turned to me. “Let me come around to your side, okay? I’ll walk you in and then throw your luggage in the rental van the guys are using.”

“Thanks,” I said as he climbed out of the car and hurried to my door. Once it opened, he took me by the arm, ushering me, with the help of a security guard, toward the door. Several people recognized me and began shouting my name. It was almost cool, but my head was pounding and all I wanted was a cold drink of water and to see Jake again.

“This way,” Doc said, releasing my arm as soon as we made it inside. The cool, dark corridor helped to beat back my headache and I couldn’t wait to be in the same room as Jake.

Doc opened a door and I stepped inside a huge, open area filled with the old cars Doc was talking about. Camera crews milled about, adjusting cords and repositioning tripods, waiting for the action to start again.

I paused, my eyes scanning the room until I spotted Nick, Ronnie, and Matt, sitting on the hood of an old Ford, staring at three men engaged in a heated discussion: Jake, Rob Ross, and Rob’s partner, Chad.

“What’s going on?” I whispered to Doc.

He waved them off as he opened a cooler and snagged two water bottles. “It’s nothing. They argue all the time. Artistic differences, or some crap.”

He handed a bottle to me just as my head began to spin again. The bottle slipped between my fingers as everything went black and I crumpled to the floor.

Nineteen

A light glowed through the murky water as I struggled to swim upward, desperate to break the surface. Warbled voices penetrated my ears, the volume growing as I grew closer to the surface. Finally, my eyes opened and my senses were immediately assaulted with tangy disinfectant, annoying beeping, and scratchy sheets.

I was in a hospital. Wonderful.

“Iz? Are you okay?”

Jake’s pale face appeared in my vision, his brows drawn, lines around his mouth.

“Fine,” I mumbled, sitting up. “Why am I here? What happened?”

“You passed out,” Jake said, lowering the rail to sit on the bed beside me. “Scared me, sure, but you scared the shit out of Doc. He said he didn’t think you were feeling all that great on the ride over but he didn’t think much of it at the time.”

“It’s not his fault,” I said as Jake helped me to scoot further up the bed. “What’s going on? What’s wrong with me?”

A tiny smile toyed with Jake’s lips. “Well, nothing serious. Doctor says you’re dehydrated and probably exhausted.”

“I am tired,” I said. “But not enough to have to go to the hospital.”

Jake took my hand, leaning over to kiss my cheek. “I missed you.”

“I missed you, too,” I said. “Now, is that all? Can I get out of here?”

Before Jake could answer, the doctor came into the room, carrying a laptop. He set it on a counter, folded his arms over his chest, and smiled.

“Miss Ames, glad to see you’re awake. How are you feeling?”

“Okay,” I said. “My mouth is so dry.”

“I’ll have the nurse bring you something in a few minutes,” he said. “Has Mr. Johnson explained everything to you?”

“No,” Jake said, making my heart still.

“What is it?” I asked, squeezing Jake’s hand.

“You’re dehydrated and suffering from exhaustion,” he said. “Also, you’re pregnant. I’d say about six weeks.”

My mouth opened but no words came out. Pregnant? My mind fought the idea, my head running wild circles.

“Wait,” I said. “Pregnant?”

Jake squeezed my hand this time. “Yes.”

“But…oh,” I said. “I haven’t had a period for awhile. It thought it was stress…”

“Well,” the doctor continued, “everything seems fine, but I’ve called OB and they’ll be down with a portable ultrasound. The OB will check you over and give you more information. If you have no questions, I’ll leave you two to talk.”

I shook my head, biting my lip. The doctor shook Jake’s hand, ruffled my hair like I was a child, and left, taking the laptop with him.

“Iz, you don’t look happy,” Jake said.

“I just wasn’t expecting this,” I said. “I mean, I always thought we’d be married before we had kids and even then, not right away.”

He kissed my cheek, concern lurking in his eyes. “Yeah, me, too. But obviously life has decided to play its own way and not ours.”

“I guess,” I said, fighting tears. I didn’t want to break down in front of him. He was concerned for me, it wasn’t hard to tell, but there was excitement in his eyes, too.

“Hey,” he said, lowering his voice. “It’ll be okay. We’ll figure it out. Don’t worry.”

Sure, it would work out, it had to, but not how I’d wanted it. This wasn’t how I’d wanted things to be. I was supposed to have a degree, be married to Jake, and then start a family.

Running his fingers through my tangly hair, Jake kissed my cheek. “Just relax, okay? Let the doctor check you out and then I’ll take you to the condo and you can rest. We’ll work out all the details later.”

“Okay,” I said, forcing a smile. Leaning back into the pillows, I closed my eyes, waiting for the obstetrician to come in, hoping it wouldn’t take long. I wanted to get out of there and go somewhere where I could privately contemplate this new twist in my life.

It didn’t take long for the OB to come down, do an ultrasound, and give me an exam. She was an outgoing woman, eager to answer any questions and ready with a list of obstetricians back in Chicago. When she finally released me, assuring us that everything was fine, I quickly dressed. Carrying a prescription for prenatal vitamins, the doctor once again warned me to take it easy, drink plenty of water, and get some rest.

To my utter embarrassment, hospital policy stated that I had to leave the building, via wheelchair. Jake walked beside me as a nurse wheeled me to the doors. Feeling totally humiliated, I wasn’t the least bit prepared for the circus of press waiting in the parking lot.

“Damn,” Jake muttered as he whipped out his cell phone.

“Why don’t you pull the car up here,” the nurse suggested, shielding me from view with her body. “We can wait here. The press isn’t allowed to come any closer.”

Nodding, phone still pressed to his ear, Jake jogged through the doors, ignoring the shouts and questions being hurled his way.

“I don’t see how you can stand it,” the nurse said, crossing her arms over her chest.

“It’s not easy,” I mumbled, clutching the arms of the chair, hoping Jake would hurry. Even though two sets of sliding doors stood between me and the parking lot, I still felt as if I was on display, like the reptiles in the large tanks in a zoo.

Finally, a dark SUV pulled up to the doors – the same SUV that picked me up from the airport. Jake jumped out and hurried around to open the passenger door. Pushing me through the doors, the nurse quickly delivered me to Jake, her eyes darting left and right, just waiting for a reporter to step on forbidden territory.

“Thanks,” Jake said to the nurse.

“Take it easy, Isabella,” she said as she turned back to the hospital, pushing the empty chair.

As Jake helped me into Doc’s SUV, relief flooded my body. It didn’t last long as I rested my cheek on the window, watching the beautiful scenery flash by as Jake carefully drove me to the condo he used when in town.

“I can’t wait to read about what’s wrong with me in the tabloids,” I muttered.

Jake snorted. “Doc was supposed to release a statement saying that you were taken to the hospital due to exhaustion and dehydration. That’s all.”

“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “The tabloids will make something up.”

“Let them. We know that truth and those that matter will know the truth, too. I haven’t told anybody about the baby, yet,” Jake said. “I thought we could tell them together.”

I managed to keep from moaning aloud, but I couldn’t control the turn of my stomach. Everyone would have to know. They’d find out sooner or later, anyway, I supposed, and it was probably best if Jake and I told them. But I hadn’t even dealt with it yet – I didn’t want all sorts of congratulations and celebrations.

I caught Jake glancing my way and forced another smile. When he gave me a wink, I could tell he was fighting excitement – for my sake.

“You can tell the guys, Jake,” I said, releasing a small sigh. “But make sure they know to keep it quiet. I’d like to tell my parents before they hear it on some tabloid show or something.”

He took my hand. “Of course, angel. No problem.”

With one last, wane smile, I turned back to the window, biting my lip as I tried to figure out what I’d tell my mom and dad.

When we pulled up in front of the condo, Jake helped me out of the truck (totally unnecessary) and led me inside. As soon as we stepped through the door, Nick was on his feet, rushing forward to take my hand.

“Are you okay, Iz? You scared the shit out of us.”

“I’m fine,” I said, giving his hand a squeeze before sitting in a nearby chair. “Everything is fine.”

“We’re having a kid,” Jake said, no longer able to keep it inside.

I endured the hugs and kisses, cheeks aching from my fake smile. Jake brought me a bottle of water, beaming like a little boy who’d just received a new bike for Christmas. I let the celebration continue around me for a few minutes before quietly excusing myself, claiming I needed to lie down for a bit.

Jake showed me to his bedroom where the guys had piled my bags. I climbed into the bed, closing my eyes as soon as my head hit the pillow. Jake sat next to me, smoothing my hair off my forehead.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I said. “Just a little overwhelmed.”

“I’m sure,” he said. “Listen, Iz, I don’t want you to worry about any of this. I know you and I know you’re wishing we were already married. I remember in high school how you told me that you used to want to wait until you were married before having sex.”

I smiled at the memory, recalling it vividly in my mind. Yes, at one time, I’d thought that I would save myself until marriage. But when Jake and I got together, I didn’t want to wait anymore. He did, however, make me wait until I was out of high school.

“I know,” I said, snuggling into the pillows. Jake crawled onto the bed next to me, draping an arm over my waist. “Jake, it’s fine, really. I just need a little time to get used to the idea.”

He placed a kiss on my forehead. “How about if we get married?”

The smile I gave him was genuine.

“I’m serious,” he said, causing my eyes to open. “I’ve been meaning to ask you, but I wanted it to be better than this.”

His earnest face and the hope shimmering in his eyes tugged at my emotions. My heart swelled before turning flips in my chest.