And when I felt like I was an old cardigan

 

"I'm not down with this," Ivy was right in Jay's face.  Somebody was moving in with him? Where in the hell did he find time for that? She wanted to scream, but she didn't. She hugged herself and did her best to remain calm.

Yes, she'd been a hellcat lately. She guessed. She wasn't sure why. Dan hadn't said much about it, but possibly winter was wearing thin and she just needed spring. Of course, she doubted that was the answer to anything. But Jay was seeing someone. She winced. "Who is she?"

"Um, we work together," He raised a hand as if he was just pulling answers from the air and then trying to make her agree with him. 

"You work with her?" She gave him the eye. Of course, she really couldn't dictate who Jay might see, but had he thought about our baby Hope?

"She..she won't be babysitting Hope," he then promised. "I'll be with her all the time, when..when she's here."

Ivy winced more hating the idea of this happening, but from what she could see...it already had. The new her had things already here. The food she liked, a pillow here and there. Even a candle.

"How long have you guys been together?" She gave him the eye that he'd better not lie. She was not in the mood.

"Not long," he licked his dry lip. He made it sound as if it happened this week, but she doubted that. He could really move quick. She remembered. She wiggled her lips, wanting to be furious. 

"You can't let anything happen to Hope!" She pointed her finger and went right to his chest. Maybe a good fight was all she needed. But she grabbed her coat. She had to leave and baby Hope had to stay.

"I just don't understand," now Slater was giving Jay a hard time. Maybe he was the idiot. But Jay felt it important to be here for Lindy. He wasn't sure he could make anyone understand. Yes, he'd been with Lindy and it was an experience. Honestly, he'd never quite experienced anything like it. It was hard to say which one of them was crazier. But he was here for her and he hoped she could still keep her job. 

"Maybe, maybe this is all I deserve," he finally squinted hard, thinking he'd messed up so many times. He had to get it right this time. But it was confusing at the moment and he just wanted to make the best of it.

"You get mixed up with women so easily, when did that start?" Slater made a face of disgust.

"Stop making me sound like a gigolo." Jay fretted. He'd already made Ivy mad and that ship was practically on the other side of the ocean now. No way would they ever get back together.

"Do you even like her?" Slater wanted to know about Lindy.

"Of course I do." He guessed they were friends. He hoped so. "Look, she needs me..and you know, we're kind of like family." Jay gritted a smile. Her father had called. At least he'd meet the man his mother fell in love with in high school. Still, he wasn't sure if he should mention his mom to Lindy's father. 

"Kind of like family?" Slater shook his head. "I'm beginning to think you were born to be a gypsy. Just when I thought 'Oh Jay's really got it together' you go and do stupid shit like this."

"I never said I was the sharpest tool in the shed." He went to get Hope off the floor before she made it to the bathroom. She really was a busy girl these days. Who knew she might be walking soon.