BBW ROMANCE: BWWM Romance: A Cowboy’s Southern Comfort (Military Cowboy Pregnancy Romance) (Interracial Army Contemporary Fantasy Romance Short Stories) (9 page)

How could he do this to me? Eve thought, curling up in bed. Her eyes staring at the blank screen of her cell phone. We always talked things through… what if… what if he fell in love with her again?

The idea made Eve’s heart sink like a rock as tears formed in her eyes. It would not have been the first time this would have happened to her. But Ash was supposed to be different. She loved him. And she had been sure he felt the same.

While Chelsea had told her to just call him back after two days of silence, Eve’s pride and anger had prevented her from doing so. And after a week had passed, it seemed continuously pointless and awkward to do so.

“Well it’s even more awkward and stupid to give up just because you guys had a misunderstanding,” Chelsea had said, while taking a drink of tequila. “Besides, you two are way too cute together to break up. It’s a total waste.”

Be that as it may, it certainly did not change the fact that they were no longer talking.

With a large sigh, Eve decided to get started on her studying. These days burying her nose and mind in her books and assignments were the only way to stop herself from thinking about Ash. And at this rate she was poised to end up on the Dean’s List. Still, the consolation prize did little to fill the cold space left in her life. 

Anxiously tapping her pencil on the desk, Eve dropped it onto the floor. Groaning, she bent over to pick it up under her bed. In doing so, she caught sight of the dust-covered Ouija board box.

No way… Eve thought, biting her lip. I couldn’t… not after ignoring him for so long. Especially after what happened the last time…

But as she sat, looking at her still blank phone message box, Eve contemplated the consequences. Colton was not a bad spirit. He was just lonely. Like I was before Ash… like I am now.

The temptation for companionship too high, Eve turned off the lights and lit a candle. Taking out the familiar board and planchette, she took a deep breath before asking, “Colton, are you there?”

For five minutes, the air was still. Just as she was about to give up, there was a reply.

HELLO EVE.

The dorm room was empty and quiet. Chelsea was gone for an away game. It was the perfect time to try this. However, as Eve lay back on her bed, her heart was still pounding in fear.

Focus, Eve. This won’t work if you aren’t calm, she told herself. You have to let go of everything. Be at one with the universe. Focus on just meeting him. But this was much easier said than done.

After successful reconnecting with Colton, it was not long before the relationship took off like a rocket. Rather than be painfully awkward, their conversations simply picked up where they left off. And it was not too long before Eve found herself laughing like she had not in weeks.

Even so, her desire for a deeper connection continued to haunt her. And after another trip to the library, it appeared that she found the perfect outlet: astral projection. It was supposed to be a calming, enlightening experience. A way to travel throughout the invisible spirit world that surrounded the physical seen by humans.

Though Colton was equally excited about the idea, both were a bit unnerved by the potential harmful side-effects. If her soul was gone too long from her body, Eve could die – her soul cursed to wander the spirit world forever. Additionally, other malicious spirits could also possess her if she gave them enough power.

Despite all these dangers, Eve could not back down. She was sick of being a fearful mouse; it was time to take a risk on something.

It was this final realization that caused all her muscles to relax. Slowly, but surely, Eve could also feel the sensation of something being peeled away. The feeling started from her toes and fingertips, traveling through her extremities, until finally reaching the areas of her chest and mind.

With one final breath, Eve gasped as she felt her soul leave her body. Looking down, she saw a pale girl with black hair and pajamas lying on a small bed in an empty room. She had actually done it.

Looking around for Colton, Eve found that her spirit was able to either float on its own, or walk on the ground. Curious, she tried to step through a closed door. And to her shock, it worked. Excited, Eve then went on to her roommate’s room, and then their neighbor’s. But with each additional foot away from her body, she started to feel faint.

It was then that she felt a hand touch hers.

“You shouldn’t travel too far so soon,” Colton said, his face riddled with worry. “Your body’s starting to feel cold.”

“Colton…” Eve whispered. It was like a dream. She had thought about meeting him in person so many times, but now here he was. A six-foot tall, striking man standing right next to her.

“Come on, Eve. We need to go back,” he said, taking her by the hand.

Once back in her dorm room, Eve did feel much better. “Sorry… I guess I got a little too enthusiastic. But this is amazing. You could see the whole world this way!”

Colton shook his head. “Trust me, Eve. Being a spirit is not a very pleasant experience. We’re fortunate that we did not meet any bad ones. This university’s full of them.”

“Do you fight with them?” she asked worriedly.

“I try not to, but I think I’ve managed to keep them from hurting people. Especially you,” he said with a grin.

“A gentlemen to even beyond the end, then?” Eve said cheekily. “I suppose you have never even watched me change.”

He gave a sly smile. “Mostly…” Colton’s face then became serious for a moment, as he placed his glittering hand on her face. “Eve… I missed you. When you left… I… could almost feel myself disappearing... as if I had no purpose here anymore… And in case that ever happens again… I just want you to know that I… I love you.”

The honesty struck a chord with Eve. And if it had been possible, she would have certainly started crying. I don’t deserve your love, Colton. She had abandoned him for weeks, and yet he still was just as sweet and caring as he always was.

“Oh… Colton,” Eve whispered, getting closer to him. “I… I love you, too.”

Unlike last time, it was her that initiated the kiss – as well as much more.

There was no real way to describe the feelings and sensations Eve’s spirit felt during the rest of the night. She tried many times afterwards in her journals and such, but there was nothing she could really say except that ‘you had to experience it yourself’. This much she could say: it was much more intense than any physical sex was capable of. Not only were you more intimate than anything imaginable, but you had no limitations.

In fact, it was this that made her body’s heartbeat drop dangerously low from her extended absence. It was only the ever watchful Colton that allowed her to get back in time to survive. And even though the pain of her soul’s snapping back in was excruciating, the continued high afterwards made it all worth it.

I need to do that again, she thought, slowly falling into the depths of sleep.

***

As Eve bent over the toilet for the fifth time today to wretch, Chelsea stood at the doorway, tears in her eyes.

“Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!” the cheerleader cried, biting her manicured nails. “This totally cannot be happening! You’re EVE! There’s no way you… I mean of all people… There’s just no way…”

With trembling knees, Eve accepted the girl’s hand as she got up. “I didn’t want to believe it either, Chelsea. But I already went to the doctor… and took tests…” she said weakly, wiping her mouth with a rag. “I’m pregnant. That’s just the facts.”

“But how?! You told me this was impossible before you left to go!”

Eve shook her head. It was not impossible; it was just not very probable. Apparently there was just around a 0.00001% chance of it. Eve had known from a very early age that she had a high likelihood of being infertile. On top of that she had been using an implant birth control to regulate her sporadic periods since her senior year in high school. In addition, on the only night that she had had sex with Ash they had used a condom. But even with all this, the doctor had told her that she was pregnant. And two different pregnancy tests from the drugstore both appeared as positive. There was no doubt about it, she was eating for two now.

“Oh man! If this could happen to you with all that crap then…” The cheerleader’s brown eyes widened as big as saucers. “I have to go to the drugstore,” she said flatly, running out of the room.

Once alone, Eve sat on the bathroom floor, trying to keep herself together. She had no idea what to do now. Luckily the school was still in vacation, but classes would start in ten days. How could she deal with these symptoms? And how could she deal with a child after it was born? Eve had thought about abortion, but she did not think she had the stomach for it.

Eve obviously could not tell her parents. She could try telling Ash, but just the thought of calling him out of the blue to tell him about this made her nauseous again. Eve knew she would have to eventually. Even though he may not believe her, she knew that the only person she had had sex with was Ash. Well, the only one except for…

She shook her head. That did not matter. If it was nearly impossible for her to get pregnant normally, than this certainly could not be the product of a ghostly sexual escapade. Eve had not even been in her body! Or had she?

Now that she thought about it, near the end she had not wanted to release her soul from his to return. (The pleasure was much too gratifying to give up easily.) The result had been a confusing, painful mishmash of both soul and body. But, honestly, that could not lead to impregnation. That was just stupid.

Then again, nothing about anything she had done with Colton made any logical sense. Most people could never even say they had conversed with a spirit. Eve had had multiple extended conversations with him – and much more. If only Eve had someone to talk to about this, but the only one who knew anything about this was the potential father. No, it would have to be another source.

Going to her computer, Eve tried to research the matter only to be given dead ends and obvious hoaxes. With a sigh, she decided to see if there were any good mediums in the neighborhood. In an old town like Montclair, the tales and documents of ghost sightings attracted them like flies to honey. And while Eve doubted that any of them might be legitimate, and if they were there was no chance that they might take her claim seriously, this was her only chance to get some solid advice.

As expected, there were approximately fifteen mediums within a three mile perimeter alone. All of them had ratings that were three stars or less – like that was any more of an accurate assisting factor. Just as she was about to expand her search, Eve noticed that one was near the Quigley Café where she first had a date with Ash: Madam Nia Ibori.

The two had almost gone into the small shop for kicks after having way too many espressos, but Ash had not wanted to bother, claiming that she was respectable and should not be disturbed with trivial things. Being the most serious about the subject, Eve had believed him. She could only hope that she was not laughed off the premises immediately.

***

Well Madam Ibori had not laughed at her as of yet, but Eve could see that the urge to throw her out anyway was in her dark brown eyes. The fortune teller had been gracious enough to hear her story, but only because she had paid a hefty fee and the place had been deserted all day. And as much as the old woman hated to have her time wasted, she still needed to eat.

“What you are telling me is ridiculous, child,” Madam Ibori said stiffly. “There is no way that a spiritual interaction, even one as intimate such as that could result in a pregnancy. It just is not feasible.”

“You’re telling me that in all the years and places that you have been a medium-fortune teller that you have never heard of this? Or at least even heard a rumor about it?” Eve asked. “Surely there has to be at least one.”

The woman mused as she placed hand on her chin. She then eyed her carefully up and down, as if trying to determine her sincerity. After several uncomfortable minutes of this, she finally answered, “I may have something in my records. I can also try to get in touch with some old friends. But I make no promises. For now, I advise you to go to the university and try to research yourself. There is a book by a colleague of mine, Aglow, that may have some information as well.”

Nodding, Eve got up to leave. With a sigh she said, “I can’t believe one Ouija board led to all this.”

“Child, the spiritual world is no game,” the woman said indignantly. “You are astronomically fortunate that the spirit you have grown attached to is not malicious.” Madam Ibori shook her head. “You have no idea how many such entities roam the forests and empty buildings of this town, looking for any chance to possess some hapless fool.”

“I know,” Eve said solemnly. “I guess I just don’t understand why Colton and I have such a strong connection. I barely have to even try for us to talk using anything.”

Madam Ibori shrugged. “I cannot read auras, but if I had to make a guess, I would say that you both share a similar one. Added to that, you mentioned you both were lonely souls when you met.  That should be more than enough.”

Eve thanked her for her time and then headed out.

As soon as the shop was deadly quiet again, Madam Ibori immediately went to her phone. Turning the sign at the door to CLOSED, she got one of her contacts on the line. “I have one for you,” she said eagerly. “Oh yes, I am quite sure that this is a good one. Better yet, it was even by one of your old members.”