Runaway Love

"Run, Josie, but you can't hide. I'll get my girls no matter what."

Pain slashed across ribs as a foot connected with the muscles in my back. I heard footsteps that moved around my body. I curled into a fetal position, expecting the next blow to be to my abdomen. I had to protect the girls. As I tightened my curl I realized my legs met my chest not my belly. Alarm raced through me, my belly was flat. Where were my girls?

"Looking for these?" Josh's voice called from in front of me.

My gaze shot to his voice, where he was holding two bundles of pink in his arms. How? This didn't make sense. I didn't recall blacking out. How?

"You will never see them again, not after you ran and tried to raise them like a slut with two other men. Men who you will never see again."

I sat up quickly, my hands going to my belly. Still pregnant. A kick met my hand, reassuring me they were fine. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and saw that I was on the couch, where I had fallen asleep after work. I wanted to be rested for my evening out with the girls.

I sat up with my feet on the floor, and stretched as I stood. I realized that Sean and Oliver were watching me from the breakfast bar.

"You alright?" Sean asked, looking concerned.

"Yea, why?"

"You just shot up quickly, like you had another nightmare." Oliver stated.

"Just a crazy pregnancy dream." I waved them off. "I have to pee again, and get ready."

I walked to the bedroom and did my business. I went through my closet, settingling on a pair of jeans with a solid short sleeve shirt and light sweater. Lately, I found that I was alway hot. Pregnancy had turned from an icicle to a heater.

Walking back to the main area of the house, I caught the guys watching me again. I ignored them and put on a pair of ankle boots. I grabbed a water bottle from the fridge and made sure my wallet was in my purse. I turned to face my men. "Well, I guess I'm off. I won't be gone too long, I'm pretty tired." I leaned on the breakfast bar.

"Would you like me to drive you? I have stuff I can do at the office, so I won't just be waiting outside." Sean offered. "That's sweet, but I'll be ok. I'll grab a cola from the bar and that should be enough." I smiled and gave him a kiss. "Don't forget to text. We love you." Oliver said as he claimed his good-bye kiss.

I spent the time driving thinking of names for the girls. So far I haven't had any luck in finding anything I liked. It helped to pass the drive, without distracting me from my driving. The downside to being so short is that the belly was closer than I liked to the steering wheel. Eventually I would have to stop driving, I won't be able to not get stuck and reach the pedals with how quickly my belly was growing.

I parked at the local bar and walked inside. As I got closer to the door I heard a noise from beside the building. I looked in the direction but didn't see anything. Probably just someone taking the trash out, I told myself.

I went inside and instantly saw Sally and Sarah. I smiled and made my way to them, weaving between the tables. I sat down with a groan and took in my friends. It so nice to have someone to have a girls night with. "Hi, ladies. Have you ordered?"

"No, we were waiting for you." Sarah said.

"I don't mean to be rude, but I think you got bigger since work." Sally laughed.

I couldn't deny her, I felt like everytime I looked down I had grown. I smiled and rested my hand on my belly. My little one kicked at my hand.

"I know what you mean, I swear if just sat and watched my belly I could see it grow!"

"What can I get you ladies?" Our waitress asked. I looked to her and saw her name tag said Chloe.

"I'll have a burger and fries with a draft beer." Sarah ordered.

"Oooh that sounds fantastic make that two!" Sally requested.

"I'll have the same, but can I get a cola instead of beer?" I asked leaning back.

"Sure! I'll have your drinks right out to you." Chloe said she turned on her heel to get our order in.

Chloe returned just a few minutes later with our drinks and a reminder that our food shouldn't be too far behind them. We laughed and talked for awhile, each sharing about our week. There was nothing super exciting, one of the downsides of a small town is routine days aren't much to talk about.

"Have you thought of any names yet?" Sally asked as she took a bite of her burger.

"I have, but I haven't settled on anything. I keep getting stuck on M names, but I find faults in everyone I think of. A name is a big decision. They will carry it for their life. I don't want them to be picked on, or critisied for their names. That said, I've seen some crazy names online for kids."

"I've always liked the name Olivia, calling her Liv for short." Sarah suggested.

"What if some starts calling them Olive?" I said with my nose scrunched. Both of the women started laughing.

"Addalyn has always been a name I like, Addie for short and no food nick names possible!" Sally added as she munched a fry.

"Addalyn could definitely be a contender! I do like the name. I could see an Addalyn May. Actually, I think I really like that. I may have to steal that name. I still have a few months before we have to be settled on something. Which reminds me, Oliver brought home the paint today, and they were going to paint this weekend. I wanted to pick out a rug to lay on the carpet before I started really decorating. I thought it may make a nice focal point in the room, do either of you want to ride out and look at rugs next weekend? I would love an extra set of eyes and someone to bounce ideas off of."

"I'm totally in! I'm so excited to have two little nieces running around. I've already decided I'll be the favorite aunt." Sarah claimed between fries.

"I think you get the title anyway being the only aunt." I pointed out.

"Hey! Just remember I can buy the noisey toys and hype them on sugar before sending them home. You need to be nice to me." She pouted.

We finished our dinner and got our check. After paying, we visited the restrooms and walked to the cars. We barely made it outside when I heard Sally gasp, and Sarah grabbed my arm.

"Isn't that your car, Josie?" Sally asked.

I turned and looked, my heart sinking taking in the site of my destroyed car. Someone had slashed all the tires and broked a mirror and the windshield. They had also keyed 'slut' into the hood. "Josie, let's go back in and sit down. You look like you've seen a ghost." Sally said, ushering back into the warm bar.

She sat me down a table before leaving but quickly returning with a glass of water. Chloe came hustling over before Sally could even set the glass down.

"I've called the police, is anyone hurt?" she asked, holding the phone to her shoulder.

"No. Just the police would be fine." Sarah said, sitting beside me.

"I called Oliver, he and Sean are on their way. They want us to stay in here until they get here. Sam is on his way from the office to take a look and chat with police." She said grabbing my hand and rubbing it.

I hadn't even noticed it was shaking. I couldn't think of anyone who destroy my car except for on person-Josh. Questions raced through my mind. *Was he free? Had he hired someone?* I couldn't concentrate on much. I heard people talking and moving around me, but nothing sounded clear. I kept coming back to one thought. He knows where we are, and that I'm pregnant. Maybe Sweet Haven wasn't the safest place for, even with Sean and Oliver-maybe it time to start somewhere new.