Off Campus IV, Pt. 3
The Abercrombie Gang has settled into a comfortable routine, actually getting down to managing the hotel... when they're not bed-hopping or staging wanton, sexy parties. Steve's paramour from his and Cyan's former hometown, Amber, has been asked to sit things out for a while, while the core group catches their emotional breath in the aftermath of a mind-blowing first encounter between Amber and Ally, refereed by Steve.
Ally and Steve finally "christened" the big desk in the big office formerly occupied by Ally's father, taking spiritual ownership of the hotel, bar and café. The acquisition is complete.
=====
After another lovely breakfast with Cyan, Ally, Jen, Phil and Jess, I make my way to my office. Ally and Phil were waylaid, so it's just me at the moment.
Gail greets me with, "Ms. Griffith is in your office to see you."
"Thanks, Gail."
This is very unusual. Hannah is rarely at the hotel in the morning unless it was after an overnight party in the penthouse. Something is up.
I step in, closing the door behind me to find Hannah on the sofa wearing a particularly serious expression, more so than usual. She stands for a hug and solicits a confirming kiss. This is unusual, too. Yes, we are frequent intimate partners, but normally it's about the sex and not much of a "relationship" nature, though there have been moments.
She sits back down to talk.
"Hi. What's up?" I lead.
"A couple of things, Steven."
"Okay... where do you want to start?"
"First... Amber."
"Fuck. How do you know about Amber?"
"She came into the restaurant last week for a takeout for one."
"So? You wouldn't know her from Adam's housecat, Hannah!"
"She looked way too familiar. You know, Steven, you have 'a type'. Hang around you enough, and you can sense it from a mile away."
"And?"
"So I asked, 'You wouldn't happen to be one of Steve's, would you?' Her shocked look said it all. She answered 'yes' and started to cry. I told her I was, too. She knew my name. We hugged for a while, Steven. So..."
"So she filled you in, I guess."
"Yes. When were you going to tell us?"
"I expect she told you what the arrangement was. Cyan and Jen declared 'too soon' after she, Ally and I... uh... 'met for dinner'."
"She told me about that, too. She's one of us, Steven,
that's
for sure. Let her in."
"You know I want to, Hannah. But everyone will have to approve. Unanimous. Does Jess know?"
"Yes."
"Then why hasn't she said anything to me?"
"Jessica knows you work really hard to protect her. She's stronger than you think. You made her that way. She didn't want to preempt you on Amber. She's feeling real bad about not telling you, but
she
felt obligated to protect
you
by not forcing your hand on something you might not have been ready to do."
"Gosh. Wow. Okay. I guess it's time for a board meeting."
"There's something else."
"Go ahead..."
"I'm pregnant."
"Oh, sweetheart!" as I rush to embrace her. "Do you know who the father is?"
"Not you, Thad or Phil, so don't worry."
"Dammit, Hannah! I
am
worried! About
you
! So, who?"
"Pretty certain it's either Jason or Eric from the gym. Last month we dared each other into a naked workout, and it got out of hand."
"Okay, just
how
out of hand?" I challenge, furrowing my brow.
"Heh," as she cracks a wistful smile, "it was impossible to resist Jason's huge boner sticking straight up when he was lying there on the bench doing reps. I
had
to climb on... gawd, Steve,
you
know how much I like it cowgirl! Eric was spotting for 'im and got super-hard himself watching us screw, and had his own turn in me after Jace. Both came inside me. So I guess The Pill's not 100%. Been reliable up 'til now."
"Mostly yes, but it doesn't take much to upset the regimen. Didn't your gyno warn you about that? Anyway, no surprise about events, that was just you being you; you sure do like to fuck. Who else knows? Do those guys know?"
"You're the first one. Did a pee stick yesterday and another this morning, both positive. I should have had my period two weeks ago. Steven, what do I do now?"
"That, sweetie, is up to you. The question will be asked -- do you want the child? And everything that goes with him or her? Did you have plans to have children?"
"Eventually, yes. But not this soon. And with somebody I loved."
"I know this is really obvious, but not knowing who the father is until genetic testing happens is going to upset a lot of lives for a while."
"I know. But that's if I decide to keep it. And that's really in doubt at the moment."
"Jen can advise on having children; you know she has two. Cyan can help you with the other option -- she's had three. Do you want to bring this up with the board?"
"No! Not yet!"
"That's perfectly okay. I suggest this remain between you and me until you decide. But don't hesitate to ask for help, and don't put it off, although I know
you
won't. Morning sickness should start in about two weeks, so you have limited time before having to explain away 'not feeling well'. Food smells set it off, too, so that'll be a big problem with your job. Oh... don't forget the new law."
"Yeah. If I decide to abort, how?"
"Closest clinic is in Colorado Springs. You'll want a burner phone to make arrangements so there's no paper trail. The big stores won't sell burners to young women because of the law; they don't want to be sued. So try that bodega on 8th Street first."
"Okay."
"What about the board meeting we need to have about Amber? You're going to be on the edge emotionally for a while."
"You know me, I'll suck it up."
"Maybe, but the hormones are already pushing back. Expect surprising personality changes."
"But I sure don't want to miss a 'board meeting', Steve! Especially if there's an 'initiation' involved!" she laughs. "Just because I had 'an oops' doesn't mean it isn't still me under here!"
"The hormones will beg to differ. I had better be your proxy this time. The others will trust me with that, knowing that you and I keep it serious. Even the sex. Concentrate as much as you can on your decision while you're still rational."
"Why do you know so much about this?"
"Has something to do with hangin' around women, don'tcha think?"
She laughs, "No shit!"
"You're going to be okay, Hannah. Whatever you decide, we're here." I muse, "Besides, we're totally unconventional, right? Consider what it would be like raising a child in the context of the harem, with a half-dozen mothers. On the other hand, the poor thing would be an outcast everywhere else. You know how cruel kids can be."
"Yeah. He or she would be totally spoiled around here, tho'."
"Then there's the biggie -- consider the father. He likely couldn't handle our situation at all. There would be trouble, and the probability of your departure would be high. Thank you for being you, Hannah. I couldn't say that to the others. 'Cept Cheyenne."
"Oh... could Cheyenne help?"
"Probably not, 'cause of that fuckin' new law. She might have culpability even just talking to you. Tell you what, however. Let me talk to her since we already have established privilege."
"Okay. I trust you on this, Steven. I trust Cheyenne, too."
