Chapter 148 - A SURPRISE FOR JACY

"Jacy." I heard someone calling for me, but I was too busy trying to sleep to wake up and actually hear them. "Jaaacccyyy." They called for me again, and I just couldn't bring myself to open my eyes. "JACY!" They yelled for me this time, and I could hear the anger that was the voice. "WAKE YOUR ASS UP NOW!"

"Leave me alone, EZ!" I tried to roll over, but that wasn't exactly an option when I had a giant belly in my way. Not to mention, EZ was holding onto my arm and wouldn't let me roll over.

"I most certainly will not leave you alone. It's noon, and you need to wake up for the day. NOW!" He was tugging on me now, trying to get me to sit up.

"The baby wants me to sleep." I protested as he tried to force me to actually be awake, or semi conscious. All I wanted was to sleep until this baby was out of me.

"The baby also wants Mommy to eat and shower. You don't want to deliver looking and smelling like a hobo, do you?"

"I don't know, maybe I do."

I pulled the blanket back over my head and tried to ignore his chipper tone.

"Alright, that's it. I'm going to go get the hose. I will wake you up and see that you get a shower all at once."

I heard him start to walk toward the door, and for a second, my heart started to race as I panicked.

"Ugh! EZ you're such a pest at times." I finally sat up and saw him standing with his back against the wall.

"Yes, but I am an effective pest. Now stop loafing around and get out of bed. We're going out today."

"Why do I have to go out?" I groaned. "Don't I get a break because I'm pregnant?"

"No, you don't. In fact, I need to see to that you have one last day out with me before you deliver that baby. I mean, come on, Jacy baby, it's already October ninth. You can have that baby at any time now. I want one last hurrah with my girl before she becomes a mom and leaves me behind forever."

I listened to his fake melodramatic whine as I worked on getting to my feet. It really had become a chore for me to get to my feet lately. In truth, the way the baby was sitting made me stand funny, and I didn't like it. I was ready to just have this baby now and get it over with.

"Come on EZ." I groaned as I finally got off the bed. "You know you will be here practically every day. You will probably raise the baby more than me anyway." I laughed. "Honestly, I am not even certain you will let me see my baby, ever."

"Oh puh-lease." He dragged the word out slightly. "I won't be THAT bad. At the very least, I will let you have visitation. I mean, you'd have to see the baby if we're going to be hanging out together."

"Oh, gee, thanks for that." I shook my head as I laughed at him. "I am so glad that you won't stop seeing me once you get your hands on my offspring."

"Well, I have to keep you around for a little while at least, what if I want to have a second baby? Where else will I get one from?" We were both laughing now as I made my way into the bathroom.

"I'm going to change your name to Rumplestiltskin."

"Well, I'm magical enough." He laughed. "Now hurry up before I curse you."

Thirty minutes later, I was sitting in the passenger seat of Bastian's truck. He had gotten himself one shortly after EZ had been attacked so that he would be able to get around quicker. Of course his owl form would be the fastest way to move, but that would also get him caught very quickly. So, a truck it was.

Bastian was driving us to go shopping. I was mortified by the very thought of that. However, when we got to the mall, we didn't head toward any of the stores that I was expecting. Instead, we headed straight for the one place that I liked to go.

The little shop was not frequented by the vast majority of people in the mall. It was a place that we rebel types liked to go. It had leather jackets, motorcycle boots, and lots of other things that EZ said were clichèd. I didn't care. I was happy to be there.

"Why are we here?" I asked him as soon as he took me in there, waddling as I was.

"You will need a new jacket for when you're not pregnant anymore, right? Plus, I saw that they sell infant jackets here." There was a glint in EZ's eyes.

"Wait, seriously?!" I would definitely have to get one for the baby.

We spent about half an hour or so looking around the stuff at the store before I got a call from Kyle.

"Hey babe, when are you coming back? I'm making lunch."

"Oooh, lunch." He had caught my attention. "I'm done shopping now, so I guess we can come back."

"Alright. I will finish cooking and have it ready by the time you get here."

"Thanks. See you soon."

Bastian drove us back to my place immediately, and we headed up in the elevator. I could smell a lot of scents that had come and gone recently. There were a lot I knew, and a few that I didn't, but every single one of them seemed to have gotten off on my floor.

What the hell was going on here? I didn't know, but I was going to find out. I needed to be on my guard.

Before I could open the door though, Kyle came out to greet me. He was all smiles and seemed to be filled with excitement.

"What did you do?" I asked him with an apprehensive tone.

"I have no idea what you are talking about.." He grinned at me.

"Uh huh. Sure you don't. Who is in the house?"

"Just come inside, my love."

I heard a chuckle coming from EZ and Bastian, and I knew that this had all been a set up. Damn them. What the hell did he do?

When Kyle took my arm and led me inside, I could smell almost two dozen people, give or take. This was a setup. I needed to get away, but it was too late. They had me surrounded. I had no choice, but to let them lead me to my doom.

Oh Goddess, it was worse than I thought. They were throwing me a baby shower. Why? Oh Goddess, why did they do this to me?

"Jacy!" Laurell came running up to me for a hug, standing to the side of my large belly.

"Jacy!"

"Jacy!"

"Jacy!" All three of EZ's sisters did the same, added their arms around me as well. 

To go with these four ladies, there was EZ's dad, Jason, Oliver, and Sebastian, along with the kids Annaleise and Walker. Aside from them, there were a lot of others: Ronnie, Winston, Jazmine, Deek and Laremy of course, Baxter and his team plus their wives. Honestly, the only ones not mated and married here now were Baxter and Deek.

I was set down in a chair where everyone could see me, and then the party started. The one good thing was that Kyle really had made food so I did get to eat. The bad thing was that I was the center of everyone's attention, and I was being forced to open presents in front of all of them.

I will admit that most of the baby stuff was really, really cute. I would not admit it out loud, but I would admit it to myself at least. No one else had to know that I was actually liking some of this stuff. That would just ruin my reputation in front of all of them.

I also noticed that Kyle was smiling happily throughout most of the party. Both he and EZ had been playing the hosts to the party, so they would take turns sitting next to me and doing what needed to be done. EZ did most of the hosting though, and Kyle did most of the sitting next to me and grinning. That was worth it too. I will admit it, again only to myself. But still, seeing that adorably happy look on his face did fill me with a little bit of joy. OK, more than a little bit.

As the gifts were opened, I noticed that a lot of the stuff that I got were the things that had been picked out by me at the store when I was forced to start shopping for the baby's things. I didn't know what was going to be the best option so I went with a neutral palette of nature colors.

One thing that I hadn't picked out, that Kyle had gotten for me, was an adorable little onesie that the baby would probably only wear once. I loved it though. It was purple and black with green lettering that said 'BABY'S FIRST HALLOWEEN'. It was simple but so adorable.

In a way, I was glad that they had done this for me and the baby. But I was still really mad about having been ambushed with it as well. I mean, I was not into having this many people around me all that often. At least it was all over now. At least I could go back to my life of peace with Kyle. Well, as peaceful as it was while we waited for the hammer to fall.