As Zayn drives us back to town, all I can think about is how his idea actually worked. Unlike the drive to, this one is quiet. Not the terse, boring sort, the serene, content one. We are going at a slightly accelerated pace, thanks to Zayn banishing Newt to the backseat with Pokello and he doesn't seem to mind at all what with him cuddling up with his wife and filling the van with their snores.

The radio is playing some top forty shit because apparently, Meghan is into that stuff but she has it at a low volume that I am grateful for.

Travis is right beside me and for once, he isn't asleep. He is sat facing the window with his back leaned against my side, watching the world whoosh by as we go. His right hand is in my left one and he absently plays with my fingers. Sometimes he squeezes it lightly and I don't think I have ever been happier.

   We get dropped off first and as soon as we get our suitcases out, Zayn zooms off, no goodbye from any of them fuckers. Travis laughs at my angry pout and helps with one of my bags. I rush to take it back because he can barely walk with his ankle still in bandages but he pays me no mind and continues wheeling it up the driveway.

I don't notice her until we are almost at the front door where she is sat and as soon as she sees us, she slowly rises to her feet.

"Ingrid".
Her face is its new cloak of uncertainty as she looks from me to Travis.

"Hi Jake, Travis". He waves gently, his stance a collected calm.

"How long have you been sitting there?" I ask.

"Not long. I tried calling but your number wasn't connecting and I had nowhere else to go. I see you just got back from a trip, I'm sorry about the welcome surprise Jake but I need to speak with you".

"Why? Is everything okay? The baby?" I can't help the panic in my voice.

"The baby is fine". That is a bit of a relief but she didn't say everything is fine.

"Why don't we take this inside?" Travis suggest and proceeds to open the door. We bring our luggage into the foyer and I usher Ingrid to the living room but Travis doesn't follow, he excuses himself to go unpack so he can drop in at his garage.

     Ingrid takes a tentative seat across from me and I really cannot get used to seeing her like this.

"You are really freaking me out, Ingrid. What is wrong?" I lean forward in my seat and in her typical character, she dives right in.

"I am homeless, Jake".

"What? How?"

"Apparently, my parents mortgaged the house to pay for Brett's tuition and we've run out of time and I do not have nearly that amount of money and frankly, I don't think I want to keep living there, Brett moved in with a friend months ago already. I have gotten a job, two jobs but__"

"You can't be going through all that stress in your condition".

"All I need is a place until I can get mine. I can't contact my NGO, I just can't. I tried a shelter for the weekend but it's not safe and I didn't think you'd like knowing that I took your baby there".

"I wouldn't".

"Look Jake, I apologize for being such a mess with a new problem everyday but you are the only one who can help me. I am not asking you do it as an obligation, I'm asking for a favor as a friend and I will pay you back, no matter how long it takes".

"But it is my obligation".

"This would have happened whether I was pregnant or not".

"If it were just you, I'm sure you'd have sorted yourself out easily and I'd have still helped out as your friend". She smiles sadly and it is all that is keeping me from screaming out in frustration. This is not what I had planned to return to.

"Can you give me a minute? I just have to speak with Travis".

"Of course. Do what you need to do and please let him know how sorry I am for intruding".

"It's fine. Can I get you something to drink? Whisky? There should be a bottle hiding somewhere". She chuckles lightly and I stare at her in question.

"I'm pregnant, Jake".

"Right, alcohol is bad for mommies. How could I forget? Just hang tight". I tell her before going off to the bedroom I share with Travis where he thankfully is, unpacking. He faces me with a look of concern as I walk in.

"Everything good?"

"No. Not really". I move in and take a sit on the bed and he sits on the dresser so we are face to face.

"What's up?" He prompts.

"She got evicted. She has nowhere else to go".

"Nowhere?"

"Nowhere". I sigh and drop my head into my hands, running my fingers through my hair. "I don't know what to do Trav".

"Can't you pay off the debt?"

"She doesn't want to go back there. Bad memories. I could book a hotel though".

"That isn't a permanent solution, not to mention too expensive. Besides I don't think she'd be comfortable".

"An apartment then".

"You know it's not easy to find one around here, it's gonna take some time to find one suitable". His voice is calm, too calm.

"Fine then I can check her into a hotel until I can get an apartment ready".
He sighs shortly and rub his eyes.

"You don't got to do that Jake, we got enough room right here. She can stay".

This is what I had been avoiding. She can't stay, she doesn't have to, she shouldn't. It is not fair to him, rubbing my indiscretion in his face like that.

"She is not going to. I'm going to figure something out".

"No need to make things hard for everyone Jake. She can stay until you can get her an apartment". He tries to play it off as cool but it has to be bothering him.

"Are you going to be okay with it? For real". He sighs and gets off the dresser, slowly approaching me.

"Honestly? I don't know but she is going to be the mother of your child and she is your friend, we can't just leave her out on the streets or in some hotel. She needs a home".

A home. This is our home, mine and his, my child's too, so in extension, Ingrid's as well. At least for the time being. Travis is in front of me now and I grab his hands.

"I am so sorry".

"Stop apologizing". He instructs as I kiss his knuckles.

"It's not going to be for long, I promise. I am going to start looking for a place today, right now, I'll call everyone I can, I promise".

"Hey". He grabs my chin and tilts it up so I'm gazing at his face instead of ranting into his abdomen.

"Don't worry about it, take your time. I'll be fine". He leans down and places a kiss on my head. "Everything's gon be fine". I squeeze my eyes shut and try to believe it, try to envision it but all I see is everything falling apart. This is not how our lives was supposed to turn out.

     I leave Travis to finish up with his unpacking but I don't go back to Ingrid immediately, instead I make a detour to my tiny home office. I hate to call it that, I'd call it a study but there are hardly any books here, just a desk, chair and laptop that I use to connect with my fitness clients who stay out of town or the country. My manager picks after five rings.

"Mr. Levinson, I have been expecting your call". He drawls, taking his time to pronounce every word and I can imagine his short potty frame in a thick suit.

"Why? And why are you calling me that again? Call me Jake".

"Well, your team starts practice this evening. Did you forget?"

"Not until thirty minutes ago". I recently got signed by a local football club that I have been excited to play for and since Travis brought it up last night, I've been stoked about our first practice but right now, all those things can sit at the back of my mind.

"That's besides the point Ben, I need you to help me with something".

"Yes Jake, I already asked for bigger shirts, elastic, no drawstrings". My hands curl into fists at his self appreciative drawl.

"That is__ so thoughtful Ben, thank you but that's not what I need. I mean it is but not right now, right now I need you to get me an apartment".

"Why do you need an apartment? You have a home".

"I_ It's for someone else".

"Are you sure? Did something happen Jake? Is it Travis? Did he throw you out? I thought only women do that but I guess it makes sense since he is like the woman in your_"

"Travis did not throw me out". My tone is clipped.

"Oh".

"And he is not the woman in our relationship".

"Oh. Are you saying_?"

"Stop that train of thought right there. Can you get me an apartment Ben?" The man can be frustrating.

"How soon do you need it?"

"With the speed of the flash". It's ironic since the man talks like a tortoise, if tortoises could talk.

"I do not know what that means but I am going to assume it is urgent so I will look into it and get back to you".

"Thank you Benson".

"Of course. Be good at practice, we are getting paid a lot of money".
I end the call and resist the urge to fall into the seat. I can't think about all these, I just have to move.

     Ingrid looks a little calmer when I walk into the living room and she tries to banish hope from her face as she looks at me.

"I just spoke with my agent, he is going to help find an apartment, shouldn't take long". She sighs in relief.

"Thank you so much, like I said, I will definitely pay you back".

"No, you will not. For the meantime, I hope you don't mind staying here". Her eyes widen and she laughs oddly.

"You know I can't".

"Why?" She searches my face for something and when she doesn't find it, she stares at her thighs.

"I'm not staying in your house Jake. I'll be fine at the shelter for now".

"You said it was dangerous, Ingrid. Come on, don't be stubborn". God knows I have enough of those sort of people in my life already.

"See it as a way of getting the baby acquainted with the environment. They are going to call it home one day". Confusion flashes in her face and she rises to her feet.

"Jake__"

"I am sorry I asked not to be a part of this process earlier, it was a shitty thing to do. Sorry for abandoning you".

"Oh my God, is that what this seems like? Jake, I didn't come here to guilt you into agreeing to be a part of this child's life".

"I know you didn't. I'm just trying to do the right thing here and even as I'm not exactly sure what that is, letting you parent alone certainly isn't right".

She stares at me for too long.
"What about Travis? How does he feel about this?"

I swallow down a lump in my throat.
"He understands".

"Really?"

"Yes". She smiles gently.

"He really is something special". I can't help but smile too, even if it's a little because he is.

"He is".

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This was supposed to have been out since Thursday.
My apologies.
It doesn't affect future updates though, we are back on schedule