Time Bomb

Four am came a lot earlier than I remembered it ever coming, maybe it was the fact that I was carrying a baby but early mornings just aren’t my friend. I rolled over ignoring the fact that Alex was trying to wake me up so we could go to Rian’s. I felt his arms wrap about me as he lifted me up.
“I don’t like mornings anymore.” I said wrapping my arms around his neck
“Baby you never have.” He chuckled that sleepy chuckle that I’ve always loved.
“Lexy.” I whined.
“Yes my love?” He asked
“I want to sleep forever.” I said
“I can leave you here.” He said
I tightened my arms.
“No you will not leave me here.” I said
“Then wake up?” he asked
“Just carry me.” I said
“How am I supposed to carry you and the bags?” He asked
“Because you’re so strong.” I whined.
He chuckled again and he carried me out to the car, he set me into the back seat and closed the door at my feet. I watched him walk around the car and climb into the front seat.
“Lexy...” I whined.
“Yes whiny butt?” He asked
“Can I have coffee?” I asked
“I mean you’re only allowed to have one cup a day. Do you want to waste it now?” He asked putting the car in gear.
“Hmmm.” I hummed.
“Yes or no baby?” He asked
I whined for a solid minute before I came up with my answer.
“Yes, yes I do. It’s four am and I’m awake.” I whined.
“No, you’re not getting it right now.” He said
“What?” I asked sitting up.
“I’m not getting it for you, you’re just going to fall asleep on the bus and then when you wake up for it you’re going to whine about how you wasted your one coffee a day.” He said
I huffed at him and climbed over the center console and plopped into my seat.
“Am I wrong?” He asked
“Of course you’re not…” I said
He smiled.
“Am I wrong?” I mocked him
He reached over and grabbed my hand and squeezed it, I rolled my eyes at him and he picked my hand up and kissed it.
“You’re gross.” I said
“How am I gross?” He asked
“You don’t know where my hands been.” I said
He looked over at me and I tried to keep my straightest face but he started to wiggle his eyebrows and I broke.
“God.” I said
“What?” He asked
“Just, you’re perfect.” I said
“Shut up, no I’m not.” He laughed.
“True.” I laughed.
“Go to sleep, you’re mean today.” He said
I huffed and leaned my head against the window, I watched the dark surroundings pass by quickly as Alex pushed the gas pedal down.
When Rian’s house came into view I sighed, we had about a half an hour until the bus got there which means I could potentially nap. Alex put the car in park and I pulled on the door handle and pretty much fell out of the car. I heard my favorite sound come from Alex’s chest as I trudged into Rians house.
“Oh wow, you look like crap.” Zack said
“Fuck you Merrick.” I snapped.
“Oh, okay. Someone is feisty this morning.” Rian said
I shot him a look and Alex laughed.
“She’s mean today. Maybe I should leave her here.” He joked.
I looked at him and pointed my finger in his face.
“That’s the second time you’ve said that this morning Alexander William.” I said
His eyes grew wide and Jack walked into the room he smiled at me and then looked over at Alex.
“What’s going on?” He asked
“Mrs. Gaskarth over here is being a meany butt.” Rian said
“She’s with child.” Jack said
“And?” Zack asked
“I don’t think you understand. She’s tired and pregnant she’s going to be a bitch.” Jack said
I nodded.
“Jack where did this wisdom come from?” Zack asked
“Mack was pregnant too.” He said
I looked over at Alex and he just had his eyebrow cocked.
“What? I remember things.” Jack said
“Uh huh.” I hummed.
“Go to sleep.” He said pointing at me.
I nodded and sat down on the couch with Alex, I leaned my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes.
“Mama bear.” I heard someone whisper.
I opened one eye to see Jack’s face in front of me.
“What?” I asked
“It’s time to get up.” He said
“Is the bus here?” I asked
“Oh mama you’re on the bus. It’s about noon.” He said
“When… what?” I asked sitting up.
“Alex carried you onto the bus and put you in your guys bunk.” Jack said
I nodded and swung my legs over the side of the bunk.
“Help me down.” I said
He reached and picked me up and helped my feet land safely on the floor.
“Why is our bunk up so high?” I asked
“It’s not really that high, you’re just small.” He said
“Fuck you Barakat.” I laughed.
We walked into the main room and everyone was up and doing something wither on their phone or computer, besides Alex who was in the kitchen stirring a cup of coffee.
“For my love.” He said holding it out to me.d
I grabbed the mug with both hands and brought it up to my face, I smelled the amazing scent and looked up at my husband.
“You’re the best.” I smiled
“I know.” He said
I reached up and kissed him softly on the lips, he smiled at me and wrapped his arm around my shoulders.
“So, the guys pitched in on some stuff.” He said
“What do you mean?” I asked
“Well, there is a container of regular coffee and since we all know you love your coffee Zack here bought a container of decaf so you can drink that after your one caffeinated one.” He said
I looked over at Zack and pouted my lip out.
“You’re my favorite… I’m sorry for yelling at you earlier.” I said
He smiled.
“It’s okay, you didn’t mean it. Tired Ryan is an asshole but tired pregnant Ryan is so much worse. We’re just going to let you sleep.” He said
I nodded and took a sip of my coffee, the warm liquid slid down my throat and into my now happy tummy.
“So little miss pregnant.” Rian said
“Yes?” I asked
“Are you going to be a watcher or a helper these four months?” He asked
“I’m going to help until my belly is too big.” I said
He nodded.
“Why?” I asked
“Cause we like having you here to help.” He said
I nodded and brought the coffee mug to my mouth again, this was the only downside so far about having a baby… I’m a pot of coffee a day drinker and now I can only have one cup of actual coffee a day.
I looked around at all of my boys, thankfully it was just going to be us and Pierce on this bus because I don’t know if I could handle four bands on the same bus the farther along I get in my pregnancy. Vic was sitting on the floor in front of the TV with the Xbox controller in his hand waiting on Tony to sign in from the couch. I sat down in the open chair and placed one hand on my belly and rubbed little circles, I looked up at Alex and he smiled. In the two weeks from deciding I was going on tour to now my belly had gotten a little bigger, Alex was so excited to watch me grow. I took another drink and watched all of the boys do their separate things, I loved my life.
When we got to the first show everyone on the bus was buzzing, just buzzing with excitement. We were in Columbus, and I was pretty excited too, yet also starving. We all piled off the bus and into the back of the venue; A Day to Remember and The Wonder Years were also waiting back there for us.
“Who’s this cutie?” I heard behind me
I looked back and smiled.
“I’m Jeremy McKinnon.” He said
“Ryan Gaskarth.” I said.
“You’re the wife! I’ve heard so much about you from the rest of the band. I didn’t know you’d be here.” He said
“Yes I’m the wife, and good things I hope.” I said
“Yes good things.” He said
I smiled.
“You’re cuter than I thought youd be.” He laughed.
“I don’t know how to take that.” I said
“I didn’t think you were ugly, you’re just really pretty.” He said
“Thanks.” I said
He nodded and walked away.
When the show was over I helped pack up all of ATL and PTV’s things back onto the bottom of the bus.
“Should you be doing this?” I heard a voice.
I looked back and it was my dad.

Notes

Coming back strong?