Chapter 38

„And?" Joe said impatiently.

„So..." He sighed, taking off his glasses and looking at Ann. "She's okay."

"Oh my god." Ann let out a breath she was holding and hid her face in her hands.

Joe pushed his head back and closed his eyes, trying to push the tears away.

"She's okay, but... Please, let this be a warning for you." The doctor continued. "If you continue to be under a lot of stress it could happen again."

"Yes, doctor." Ann said, sniffing.

"What do we do now?" Joe asked.

"Have some rest. That's all." He looked at Ann and then at Joe. "I trust you'll make sure she does."

"Of course." He nodded.

"Okay. That's all for now. You have my number, if anything happens again, please feel free to call. We may not have the luck to be in the same city again, but I have some friends around the states."

"Thank you, doctor. Really." Ann said, sighing.

"No need. I see how passionate you both are about this baby. Please take care of yourself, Mrs. Hart."

"I will. I promise."

They thanked the doctor again and left the building, not even thinking that paparazzi could be there. They were too caught up in their thoughts. They were so close to losing her. Something they never thought about. She's a real, fragile baby.

They quietly jumped into Joe's car and Ann closed her eyes, trying to calm down.

"Do you want to..." Joe started, but Ann stopped him.

"Just take me to my hotel."

He looked at her silent for a moment, before nodding and starting the car. Ann looked out of the window and onto the streets. She watched the people, the buildings, the cars, but her thoughts were somewhere else. She could feel tears building inside of her, but she refused to let them go in front of Joe.

They reached her hotel and Ann quickly got out, trying to get away from the awkward silence.

"Hey." Joe shouted after her, as she was about to close the door. "Call me if you need anything."

"Yeah, sure." She said quietly, not even looking at him.

She walked in the direction of her hotel, hearing Joe driving away just as she entered it. She rushed to the elevator and to her room, fortunately not meeting anyone on her way this time.

She sat back on her bed and hugged her legs. She rested her chin on her knees and looked out of the window at the view of the city.

She felt the wave of tears coming, knowing she wouldn't be able to keep them anymore. She hid her face in her legs and cried silently. She was all alone.

Not really, though. She had Willa. She was okay and the thought made her calm down a little. No matter what's going to happen, she had Willa. She had to take care of herself for her.

So she decided she was done begging Joe to tell Sophie about it. If he doesn't want to raise her together, she'll be just fine.

At least that's what she kept telling herself.

She decided that one person in particular needed a little bit of explanation. Josh.

She took out her phone and dialed his number.

"Hi." He said with a sigh.

"Hi." She responded. "I think I owe you an explanation."

"Ann, you don't need to. I don't know what's going with you guys, but I don't want to stand between you two."

"Please, just... Give me a chance to explain."

"Okay." He sighed again.

"Could you come to my hotel?"

"Sure, text me the address." He said, before hanging up.

Even though they met two times, she already knew she could trust him. That he was a good person and he didn't deserve this. She wanted to tell him the truth, so he can decide if he's okay with it or not.

Several minutes later there was a knock on her door. She sighed and got up to open them.

There he was, with a bouquet of red roses in one hand a bottle of wine in the other.

"These are for you." He said while giving her the flowers.

"Wow, they are so beautiful!" She gasped. "You didn't have to."

"Thought I owe you an apology as well." He shrugged.

"What? No, you don't." She shook her head with a frown.

"Can I...?" He said, pointing inside the room, as he was still standing in the doorway.

"Yes, oh my god, yes. Sorry." She quickly moved to the side, inviting him in.

"It's okay." He chuckled. "How are you?"

She closed the doors and gave him a weak smile. "Been better. Look, I..."

"Let me go first." He stopped her. "I may have overreacted. I think you're a wonderful woman and I mean, I don't know this guy, but he seems a bit... controlling. I was just worried about you."

"Yeah, he's... He can be a lot." Ann scoffed. "But he means no harm."

"That's good." He nodded. "Doesn't mean I trust him, but we're getting there."

Ann smiled at him and sat on her hotel bed, patting a spot beside her. "Come here."

He raised his eyebrow at her. "Already? I mean at least tell me your favorite color."

Ann laughed, pushing her head back. She couldn't help, but notice how similar his sense of humor was to Joe's. She quickly pushed the thoughts away. He wasn't there. Josh was.

He smiled and sat down on the spot, not knowing what to expect.

"Can I trust you?" She said quietly.

"Of course." He frowned, taking in her hands.

"I want to tell you everything." She said looking down at their hands and then at him. "Everything."

"Okay." He said concerned.

"I don't know what's going to happen between us after this, but I just think you deserve to know."

"I'm listening." He said, getting more comfortable.

"I had a... thing with Joe." She sighed.

"Yeah." Josh nodded. "I mean, I could tell."

"I wouldn't even call it a relationship. A fling, maybe. We had to keep quiet, or I would get fired. It was really exhausting and toxic and I was really tired of the constant hiding. So we broke up. He got back with his ex and I tried to move on. But..." she stopped not knowing how to say it.

"It's okay." He squeezed her hand.

"Josh, I'm pregnant." She said, not being able to look him in the eyes. "With Joe. We decided to keep her."

He was silent, making her heart beat faster and faster with every second. Did she do the right thing by telling him? She only knew him a couple days. She immediately regretted her decision and tried to take back her hands, but he squeezed them harder, making her look up at him.

"Is this why you ran away?"

"I saw blood. I panicked." She said quietly, feeling her eyes getting watery.

Josh's eyes grew wide at her words. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes, she's okay." Ann nodded.

Josh nodded, looking down. "So, it's a she?"

"Willa." Ann smiled, as she did every time she heard her name.

"That's a beautiful name." Josh smiled, looking up at her.

"Look, I know it's a lot and I'll understand if you don't want anything to do with me. I just thought you deserved to know and please don't tell anything to the media, because-"

"Ann." He stopped her. "It was very brave of you to tell me. And I'm grateful you did."

Ann smiled weakly and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"So... I guess I have the whole bottle to myself." He laughed, getting up to open the wine.

"Wait... So, you're okay with this?" Ann frowned, not knowing how to understand that situation.

Josh sighed and turned to look at her. "You're too good to let go."

Ann could feel her heart sink. Nobody had ever said something like that to her. Not even Joe. And he meant that. He really did. She felt special, needed. Beautiful.

He sat back on the bed and placed his hand on her cheek, making Ann blush.

"It's a lot, yes. But... I think I can handle it." He chuckled. "You're worth it."

Ann saw his eyes sparkle, something she missed so much in Joe's eyes. She found it here. She couldn't believe it. She thought he would hate her and yet here he was, saying all those things to her.

"I just need to know one thing."

"Yes?" Ann asked.

"Do you still love him?"

Ann pushed her head down. Of course she did. She never stopped. But he didn't need to know that. On the other hand, she didn't want to lie to him.

"It's still fresh, so... I'm getting there." She said quietly, not knowing if he'll like that answer.

"That's enough for me." He said, caressing her cheek. "You're beautiful."

"You're handsome." Ann said back, chuckling nervously. She was never good at flirting.

He chuckled and studied her face, locking his eyes on her lips. Ann could feel the butterflies rising in her stomach. It felt so good. She forgot about everything. It was just them.

She got closer, their mouths almost touching. She closed her eyes as they breathed hard against each other's faces. She locked eyes with him and they both smiled, before joining each other in a passionate kiss.

It felt amazing. He was amazing. He wasn't forcing anything, letting her take control of the situation. He was caressing her cheek, her hair, her neck, while telling her between the kisses how amazing she was. Ann felt over the moon. And she wanted more.

"Woah, woah." He laughed against her lips as her hands traced down his shirt. He pulled back from her and smiled. "Let's not rush, okay?"

"Yeah." Ann laughed nervously, brushing through her hair. "Sorry."

"You don't have to apologize." He chuckled. "I get it, I'm irresistible."

Wow. She thought to herself. How could she find herself a literal copy of Joe? That didn't help at all.

"You're unbelievable." Ann laughed, shaking her head. He smiled, placing a kiss on her forehead and standing up to finally pour himself the wine.

Ann heard her phone vibrating. She took it, seeing it's a massage from Jin.

Jin:We're down at the bar area for a round of pool if you're down.

Ann:Who's we?

Jin:Don't worry, Joe's not hereBut he got the memo

Ann:I'm with Josh

Jin:YES GIRL!!!Come down, I want to meet him

Ann:We'll see

Jin:Too busy? 😏

Ann:Yeah, rightI told him

Jin:WHAT?!Wasn't it supposed to be, I don't know, A SECRET?

Ann:Long story 🙄

Jin:It's always a long story with you 🙄I'm waiting

"Hey, my friends from the band are down at the bar area. They're asking if we'll join them?" Ann asked, placing her phone down at the nightstand.

"Sure, if you're down then I'm down." He shrugged.

"Yeah, I need something to get my mind off today." Ann sighed, standing up. "Let me just quickly change."

She put on some leather pants and a black loose shirt. She fixed her makeup, ruined from the tears from earlier and got out of the bathroom.

"Wow." He nodded, looking her up and down.

"Come on." She chuckled, as they left her hotel room.

They rode down the elevator to the bar area that was at the ground floor of the hotel and she saw Jinjoo, Mark, Nick, Kevin, Priyanka and Danielle there. They all turned their attention to them.

"Guys, this is Josh." Ann said, introducing him.

Everyone greeted him one by one and Pri and Danielle gave her a thumbs up, which made her laugh.

"Want to join us?" Nick said to Josh. "We're just starting a new round."

He looked at Ann uncertain, but she nodded, letting him know it's okay. "Sure." He laughed nervously.

Ann walked to the girls that were standing in a group, watching the boys play.

"Well, well, well." Said Pri with a smirk. "Is this official?"

"It's... fresh." Ann shrugged.

"He's fine, girl." Jinjoo said, sipping on her drink.

"Isn't it the guy you were talking with in the club?" Danielle said.

"Yes." Ann smiled.

"Nice." Danielle nodded with a smirk, giving her a high five.

They talked for a bit, as the boys continued their game. She watched how good Nick and Kevin were treating Josh, making him feel comfortable. Ann caught eye contact with him from time to time, making her smile every time.

The game came to an end. Of course Nick won. They all moved to the bar and Josh walked up to Ann.

"You want something to drink?" He asked, lightly stroking her arm.

"No, thank you." She smiled, looking up at him.

"There you are!" Kevin shouted, making Ann and Josh turn their head as to who was Kevin shouting at.

Of course. Joe and Sophie.

Kevin and Nick went up to them, giving them a hug, but Joe caught eye contact with Ann. He eyed Josh and quickly turned his head, trying to look unbothered.

Sophie noticed them as well and opened her mouth wide. She ran up to them and hugged Ann.

"It's him!" She shouted quietly into her ear.

Ann laughed as Sophie pulled back and shook her hand with Josh.

"Hello, Sophie. Joe's girlfriend. Nice to meet you."

"Oh." He raised his eyebrows, now realizing who she is. "Josh, nice to meet you too."

"Joe!" Sophie screamed and waved at him to come over. "Sorry about him. He's an ass sometimes."

Ann scoffed as Joe walked up to them.

"Hey, man." He shook his hand with Josh.

"Hey." He smiled politely at him, but Joe didn't even look at him.

"I have a perfect idea!" Sophie clapped her hands. "Double date!"

Ann's eyes grew wide as she locked them with Joe.

Great.