CHAPTER FIVE
"Jason, can we talk?" Elizabeth approaches our table hesitantly.
I roll my eyes but don't speak. Jason pats my hand reassuringly as he stands. He follows her outside and I steam. We were finally discussing where this…thing…we've been doing for the past month is going and she just has to come and ruin it. And Jason…he just had to go outside huh? What are they talking about that I can't hear?
I see Jason gesturing towards the door and I wish I could be a fly on the wall. He's tense; I can see that. Elizabeth is gesturing towards the door then she reaches up to touch his face. That's it. I'm on my feet and out the door. She's the mother of his son but I've been the woman having my back broke for the last 38 days and nights straight. I have rights damn it. Wait is that right? I do the math quickly. Yep, 38 days and counting. We've had sex every damn day. There is something missing in that picture.
Jason and Lizzie are staring at me but I'm too distracted by my discovery to notice. Jason touches my arm lightly. "Carly? You okay?"
"What?" I shake out of my haze. "Yeah I'm fine."
Elizabeth purses her overly lip glossed lips. "Can you excuse us?"
"No." I barely look at her. "Jason, I need to go."
He nods. "Okay. Elizabeth, I have to go."
"But Jason…"
He shakes his head. "I don't want to keep hurting you Elizabeth. If Jake needs anything…call me. Outside of that, we have nothing to talk about."
I take his hand. I can't help it. He squeezes my hand reassuringly. Liz looks down at our clasped hands and realization dawns on her face.
"You and Carly are…" She whispers sadly as tears appear in her eyes.
Jason looks down at me and a smile crosses his lips. "Yes, we are."
"I don't understand." She says quietly. "How can it be too dangerous for me but okay for Carly?"
I can see the pain in her eyes and as much as I want to flaunt our relationship in her face, I don't. I know what it's like to watch Jason with someone else and while I've been on the receiving end of her taunting, I won't rub it in. I'm better than that. Jason makes me better than that.
Jason tucks me under his arm and kisses the top of my head. "Carly has always been a part of my life. She knows the danger and she makes the choice to be with me."
"I accepted it too. You wouldn't let me." She protests.
Jason shakes his head. "It would have been pointless for you to place yourself in jeopardy for nothing."
"Not for nothing." She cries. "It would be for us, our family."
Jason squeezes my waist. "I love Jake but we were never a family Elizabeth. Carly and I have been a family for years, you know that."
"She hurt you. I was there. I helped you heal." She glares at me. "We helped each other heal. We fell in love."
I tense up. "We know all the shitty things we've done to each other over the years Lizzie. We've forgiven and moved on. You should try it." Jason presses a soothing kiss to my temple.
"Jason…"
Jason has had enough. "You asked for closure that day at the loft. I thought I gave it to you. I'll say it again. We can't be together. Move on with your life and find someone else to love."
"Do you love her or are you just sleeping together?" Liz looks at me with loathing but I'm curios to hear the answer to her question.
Jason frowns. "Who I love and who I sleep with is none of your business." Liz smirks at me and Jason sees it. His expression turns hard. "But for the record, yes I love her. I've always loved her and I know I always will."
"Let's go home." I take his hand and lead him away from a crying Liz.
"Are you okay?" I ask as we ride back to my place.
He squeezes my hand which he's kept a grip on since we left Liz at Kelly's. "I'm good. It's about time Elizabeth moved on. I can't make her happy and I know she can't make me happy."
"Hmmmm." I murmur. "Can anyone make you happy, Jase?" I'm partly teasing but I really want to know.
He smiles to himself. "It's funny. The person who makes me craziest is also the person that makes me happy. I guess she just has that talent."
"Talent?" I laugh. "That's a new word for it."
He laughs. "I've decided the best approach is acceptance."
"So does that mean you'll stop talking me down from my brilliant plans?" I tease.
He laughs loudly. "No."
"Didn't think so." I kiss his cheek. Gawd, I feel like a giddy school girl with this man. It's like I'm sixteen again in love with the high school quarterback. Only this time I don't have to crush from a distance. Jason is here and he's mine.
We arrive and run straight upstairs. Jason lifts me up at the door and we crash inside wrapped around each other. "What time does Morgan get back?"
"He's staying the night with Bobbie." I reply breathlessly as I try unsuccessfully to get his shirt and pants off at the same time. It's like I can't get enough of him.
He stops my hands and sheds his clothes with deliberate slowness until I give a very unlady like growl of frustration. He laughs and strips quickly. I flip him off and he smirks.
"I'm ready when you are."
I laugh as we land on the bed. "You know I think your sense of humor has gotten seriously warped over the years."
"I'm just happy." He admits quietly. "I've fought this for so long. I've tried to do the right thing for everyone else without allowing myself to do what was right for me all these years and it feels good to break free. I'm free Carly and I'm doing what I want to do. I'm able to claim my woman like I've wanted to all these years. I have the business and its prospering more than ever."
I kiss his chest. "I knew it would. I had no doubt you'd be better at running the business than Sonny could ever be. He's too emotional and hot headed for a cold blooded business. Not saying you're cold blooded but you know when to show emotion and when to use logic."
"It's okay." He strokes my hair. "In a way, I am cold blooded. Things are black and white for me when it comes to this business."
I stay quiet for a moment before I say, "I know the only reason you took it from Sonny was because of me and the boys. Sometimes I wonder if I'm gonna get you killed Jason."
"I took it because Sonny was gonna get us all killed. He was becoming reckless and making dangerous choices on a daily basis." He lifts my chin. "You didn't force me to do anything Carly. I wanted you and the boys away from him but it wasn't my sole reason for doing what I did."
I bite my lip as I study his face. "Do you want out?"
"No." He admits quietly.
I nod and resume my position on his chest. "Okay."
He rolls us over so he's on top of me. "Do you want out?"
"I trust you to keep us safe and I trust you to know when you can't and to get us out of harm's way." I reach up and trace his lip lightly.
He bites my finger with a small smile. "I love you."
"I know." I wink at him. "I love you too."
After he's conked out next to me I slide from under his arm and creep into the bathroom. Taking the small box from the medicine cabinet I hold it in my hands and contemplate how it'll change things. He says he wants us to have a child but saying it and it actually becoming true are two totally different things.
"Just take the test Caroline." I mutter as I open the box. "What ifs later."
It doesn't take five minutes. I see the digital pregnant sign instantly. A grin busts out across my face and I have to cover my mouth to keep from screaming. I'm pregnant…with Jason's baby. After all these years I never thought…I have to go. There's one person I want to share the news with and it can't wait.
It's a long drive and I kick myself for not waking Jason before I left. Hopefully he'll be sleep when I get back but somehow I doubt it. I just…I couldn't wait.
I walk into his room and take a seat next to the bed. I reach out and ruffle his red hair…my baby.
"Guess what Mr. Man? You're gonna be a big brother again." I whisper as tears run down my face.