Chapter 37

„Okay it's just a coffee date, so we don't want to be overdressed." She said rummaging through her closet. „I've got something."

She took out some jeans shorts and a white oversized shirt with black stripes. Ann put on the shorts and Sophie helped her style the shirt, buttoning it only half way up and tucking one side of it inside the shorts. For shoes she gave Ann her brown Birkenstock and a black baseball cap. Then, she did her makeup, which was a natural look with, of course, an eyeliner.

„Yes. Love that." She said, eyeing her. „Simple, but cute."

„I think you dodged your opportunity in being a stylist." She said, admiring how good her butt looked in the shorts.

„When I was little it was always my dream." She shrugged. „Glad I can fulfill it with you."

Ann pouted her lip and hugged Sophie, thanking her for all the help. She also lent Ann her sunglasses as the sun that day was very intense.

„Let me introduce you: Ann Hart's casual coffee date look." She said to Joe, pointing at Ann.

„Nice." He nodded, only looking up at them for a second from his phone.

„That's it?" Sophie said, throwing her hands in the air.

„Someone's not in the mood, I guess." Ann smiled, as he rolled his eyes.

„Well, off you go! Don't want to keep the boy waiting. Are you at least going to wish her good luck?" Sophie said to Joe.

„Yeah, whatever." He mumbled, his eyes plastered into the phone.

The girls looked at each other and shrugged. Sophie escorted Ann to the doors, wishing her good luck and hugging her goodbye. Ann quickly got out of the apartment complex and made her way towards the coffee shop that Josh texted her earlier. It wasn't far away so she decided to enjoy the warm weather and take a walk.

Once she reached the place, she gasped, seeing it was the same coffee shop she was with Joe. She sighed, thinking how out of countless number of coffee shops in New York he had to pick this one. She took off her sunglasses and walked inside, searching for the familiar figure. She smiled once she saw him sitting in one of the tables beside the wall. She slowly walked up to him, passing the lady behind the counter that was eyeing her the whole time, probably recognizing her from the day before.

„Is this seat available?" She smiled, catching Josh's attention.

„Oh, hey!" He quickly stood up and hesitated for a while on how to greet her, but Ann opened her arms, letting him know it's okay to hug her. He smelled amazing. „Here, sit."

„I'm so glad I could see you again!" She said, taking off her cap.

„Same!" He smiled back at her. „So... no friend around to steal you from me again?"

Ann chuckled. „Yeah, sorry again about him. He can be... overprotective."

„Is there something going on between you guys, or...?"

„What? No! Why would you ask that?" She frowned, feeling her heart starting to race.

„It just seemed you're very close." He shrugged.

„No, no, no." Ann laughed nervously. „Definitely not."

„Okay..." He chuckled, not really buying into her lies. „I'm going to get us some drinks. What would you like?"

She sighed and tried to remember what coffee Joe ordered, but he never said the name.

„You know what, I would prefer a tea." She smiled warmly as he nodded. „And... if there is a pistachio croissant available I would be really pleased."

„Okay." He chuckled, leaving to order.

Ann:You won't believe it. I met a guy yesterday at the party and he asked me out for a coffee!

Jin:Look at you! Now that's what I'm talking about ✨Is he hot?

Ann:Oh yeah.

Jin:Good luck 👌👈

Ann:JIN 🤦‍♀️

Jin:What? You could use some good distraction, girl.

Ann:BYE.

She sighed, locking her phone. He was attractive, but she could never sleep with him. It would be weird, while being pregnant with other man. Also, she didn't think anyone could please her the way Joe did. Her blood rushed, just thinking back on those carefree days.

„Here you go." She was brought back to reality with Josh placing a cup of tea in front of her and a croissant for each of them.

„Thank you." She smiled at him. „Believe me, those croissants are to die for."

„You've been here before?" He said, while stirring his coffee.

„Yeah. Yesterday, actually."

„It's one of my favorite places here in this city. It's so calm and quiet in here."

„Something that seems impossible in New York."

„You get used to it." He shrugged.

„I could never. LA is enough for me."

„So you're from LA?"

„Originally from New Jersey. But right now living in LA."

„A Jersey girl!" He raised his eyebrows. „Yeah, I can see it now."

Ann laughed as they continued to talk. It felt very natural and comfortable. She enjoyed it, feeling her jaw hurting from the amount of laugh they were having.

„I'll just use a bathroom real quick." She said, standing up.

She walked in one of the stalls, taking of her shorts and underwear and that's when she froze in place. There was blood on her panties.

She stood frozen, just looking at the red stain. She blinked a couple of times, before sitting down on the toilet and dialing Joe's number. It was the first thing she thought about doing, not giving herself even time to think what could that mean.

„What?" He said with a sigh.

„Joe, I'm... I'm in the bathroom and..." She tried to wrap her head around what to say, but she felt the panic attack coming.

„Hey, hey. Calm down. What's going on?"

„Blood. There's blood." Joe was silent on the other side, making Ann panic even more. „What... what do I do?"

„Where are you?" He said.

„In the same coffee shop you took me yesterday." She said with a shaking voice.

„I'm coming." He said in a rush.

Ann quickly put on her clothes and left the bathroom, her eyes wide as ever as she felt her whole body shaking.

„You okay?" Josh said with a concerned voice, seeing Ann's pale face.

„I'm... I'm really sorry, Josh. Something came up, I have to go." She said, trying not to faint.

„Oh... Okay." He frowned, confused. „Are you sure you're okay?"

„Yeah, thanks for the tea. And the croissant." She smiled warmly at him.

„No problem..." He said, still confused. „Hey, did I... Did I say or do something wrong?"

„What? No, no, absolutely not." She reassured him. „It has nothing to do with you, it's just-„

She was cut off with her phone ringing in her hand, she turned it in her hand seeing ‚Joe' on her screen. She turned to look at Josh, who was looking at her screen as well and then outside on the street.

„You're friend is here." He smiled lightly, as Ann saw sadness fill his eyes.

„Josh, I..."

„It's okay. Go." He smiled, trying to hide the fact that it was not.

„I'm really sorry. I'll call you." She said, while running out of the coffee shop.

She knew she probably lost all her chances with that man, but right now she didn't really care. Her main focus in that moment was her baby. Her Willa.

She jumped in Joe's car and looked at him, seeing his petrified face.

„Call dr. Harris." He said quietly.

She quickly picked the number and put it on speaker.

„My favorite patient!" He laughed. „How can I help you?"

Ann opened her mouth, but couldn't find her words. She looked at Joe, but he immediately read her face, knowing she needs help.

„Hello, dr. Harris. Joe here as well."

„Hello!"

„We have a... situation." Joe sighed. „Ann saw some blood on her underwear."

„Oh my..." the doctor said a little concerned, making Ann turn her head at Joe. „Where are you right now?"

„New York, unfortunately."

„Would you look at that, I'm in New York as well for the weekend for a conference." He chuckled. „Okay, go to the hospital. I'll meet you there."

„Thank you, doctor." Joe said, hanging up and quickly joining the traffic.

Ann looked out of the window and felt her eyes getting watery.

„I'm scared." She said quietly, looking at the passing buildings.

„It's going to be okay." He said, placing a hand on her thigh.

„What if-"

„Stop." He said, looking at her. „It could mean nothing."

She looked at him, before turning to the window again. The fear that filled her body was so strong that she her whole body was shaking and tears were pouring down her eyes.

They finally reached the hospital and quickly got inside, seeing dr. Harris already there at the register. He noticed them and quickly ran up to meet them.

„Hello." He greeted them both with a handshake. „They have a room available that I could use, so just follow me."

They did as they got told, following him through the long corridors. He finally stopped at one of the doors and used the key he had in his hand on them. They got inside and he turned on the computer.

„First of all, I want to say that bleeding in the first trimester is totally normal and happens very often." He said, seeing how petrified Ann was. „It could be nothing, or it could be something. We'll do an ultrasound and see what's going on." He said while typing away on the computer.

„Thank you, doctor. For doing this." Said Joe.

„Oh, it's a pleasure." He smiled. „You're lucky I was here. Okay, Ann, please go change, like last time."

„Okay." She sniffed and got up to the small bathroom in the room.

She took off her shorts and underwear seeing the stain again. She looked at it for a while and then at herself in the mirror. She wondered what's going to happen to her from now on, if it is what she think it is.

For so long she wanted this. She wanted to get rid of this baby. But with time, she'd grown to accept her. And then love her. In that moment, she could not imagine losing her. She got so attached to her that it would kill her.

She placed a hand on her stomach and closed her eyes, saying a prayer in her thoughts. She was never a religious person, but in that moment she wanted to do all the things she could to save her little baby.

„I'm ready." She sighed, walking out of the bathroom.

„Lay down here, please." He gestured to the examination table next to the ultrasound machine.

It looked different than the one in LA. More modern and more expensive. Joe sat next to them and took Ann's hand in his. Ann felt how sweaty it was. She looked at him and saw fear painted on his face. He didn't want to lose her as well.

„Did you have a lot of stress recently?" The doctor said, starting the ultrasound machine.

„Yeah..." Ann scoffed, remembering the roller coaster of emotions that happened in the past weeks.

„I told you, you should avoid it. It's not good in your condition."

„I tried to get her to quit playing the shows, but she's stubborn." Joe shrugged.

„She can do that for now. But she needs to avoid any additional stress in her life."

Ann looked at Joe and he looked back at her, guilt painted on his face. He was the source of the stress and he knew that. The doctor quietly did the examination, watching the screen and being completely quiet while doing it. Ann could feel Joe rubbing her hand with his thumb and she closed her eyes, saying a little prayer again.

„And?" Joe said impatiently.

„So..." He sighed, taking off his glasses and looking at Ann.