Infatuation (Petal 3) - Chapter 46 - Don't Touch. I Bite.

[itztigress3]

Chapter 46: Don’t touch. I bite.
POV:  Zac / Gabby
Word Count: 2618

September 30, 2009

We’d arrived in town yesterday afternoon so I got to spend some time with Gabby and kind of settle my nerves. I hated that her parents showed up and that she had to handle them alone, but at the same time I am glad that she got to do that by herself. She insisted she hadn’t gotten any owls or notes which was good also. Maybe the fucker had decided to back off. I tried to convince her she could just stay at home but she refused, having come with me this morning to Cain’s. She’d worn a bright pink shirt with ‘if you didn’t put it here, don’t touch it!’,

“Where is your opening act?” She asked.

“There not required to show until after the walk.” I said.

“You’re stagehand needs a lesson in how to set up your drums.”

She was sitting there readjusting them and hadn’t been pleased with how he’d done them, but I smiled and watched. I really did miss her being on tour with us, nightly or daily phone calls helped ease it but it never went away.

I sat down beside her as she adjusted. “How are you doing?”

She tightened another section and sighed. “I miss being with you, she misses it too. The body pillow Sierra got has helped. I miss you though.”

“Not much longer, four weeks. I tried to get you to come.”

Her smile was more smirk and I caught the potential meaning a shy too late.

“You didn’t try baby, you did.”

“I walked into that! But, I did try to get you to travel.”

“I’ve been okay though I mean, I expected worse and it hasn’t been that bad. What about you?”

“Aside from missing home cooked meals, sleeping beside you, being able to ignore your shirt.”

She smiled, she’d never bitten me for touching her but she had growled a few times. She didn’t even stop me now, but I didn’t tempt fate much. The baby moved the moment my hand laid there and she shifted a bit. Being on the road was good for reflection and thinking, where as being home was always busy and doing things, the road allowed for hours of thinking.

I really hadn’t let the fact that I was going to be a father truly sink in, but seeing her ever expanding abdomen as the little baby grew bigger and stronger. It really wouldn’t be long before that little baby will be in our arms. I felt her hand over mine and it kind of drew me back to the present.

“Drums are set up perfectly now, you won’t need to adjust.”

“What do you say we head to lunch? You and me?”

“Is it lunch already?”

“Yeah.”

“You don’t have to ask us twice.”

We got up and headed out side, fans were already lined up and a few actually stopped me for a picture or autograph. Considering hundreds weren’t here I did pause and sign a few things, took some pictures but it didn’t mean I didn’t see the ones that approached Gabby. She had taken one or two she used the camera for like a selfie, not capturing her stomach. But I did see her refuse to let them touch her. We finally made it down to Caz’s and got seated inside, because outside was nice but too open. We weren’t even seated well before she looked at me.

“Can we go somewhere else?”

“You love Caz’s, why would we go somewhere else?”

She sighed. “My parents are against the wall. I’d really rather not speak to them or have any interaction.”

I got her hand. “If they come to us, we’ll leave but we’re not going to change our plans because they were here. So, what do you want?”

She smiled some. “Chicken tenders, no fries but I want a larger salad.”

I submitted our orders and we waited, I almost wanted to get up and go say something to them but instead I sat here with her because I wasn’t going to see her for over a month.

“I considered flying in for your appointment.”

“But don’t you have a show that day?”

“Los Angeles, but I can come out and go back.”

“Baby, you don’t need to do that. You’ve been to them all so far, missing one won’t hurt you.”

“It might.”

Her head tilted some and she smiled. “It won’t hurt you. I was thinking about asking your Mom to go.”

“Mom?” I asked.

“Yes. There so excited and happy and she came over last week and saw the nursery and helped me make sure we had everything. Since you won’t be there and it’s just routine, I was thinking of having her go. They won’t be doing sonograms or anything but she can hear the heartbeat.”

“I think she’d like that.”

“I do too. Alright, it’s the end of the month Zachary. Do you have a list of names?”

I groaned. “It’s on the bus, do you even have a list?”

“It’s in my bag at the venue.”

“It’s very long…” I said.

“Seriously?”

“Twenty names…but some I picked in case you didn’t want to use Skye.”

“Well, let’s be honest twenty is a good number. I have thirty.”

“So we have fifty potential names?”

“Well, maybe less if we both chose some that are the same.”

The plates came and we dove in. She’s gotten sweet and sour sauce with her chicken tenders. When she tensed I perked up and moments later her parents walked by but never said anything. I watched them go downstairs and then leave.

“Maybe they decided to listen to you.”

“It wouldn’t matter if they didn’t, I have no plans to change my mind or accept them. I can’t. Shawn understand that’s while he has feelings for them in some manner, I don’t.”

“Considering what he told you, I can’t blame you.”

Once we finished lunch we headed back to Cain’s, the uphill walk was harder for her now so we did stop a few times.

“Are you going to be able to complete the walk?” I asked.

“Oh yeah.”

We met the guys back inside and by now the opening acts were here so she got to meet them. Clearly none of them believed me that she was my wife until now. People seriously needed to get over shit! We did the walk at three and as we were walking she stayed with me. Yet, I kept her near me and I noticed the multiple times she fended off hands of women who just wanted to touch her. I hadn’t thought that would be a problem but clearly it was and I did understand that reason she had provided now.

“You okay Gabs?” Ike asked.

“Yeah, just I felt a little like a petting zoo.”

“Sorry.” He said.

“It’s okay Ike.”

She sat to the side as we did our sound check and watched. I could see her actually mouthing the lyrics now so that was a plus. Once sound check was over she and I met on the bus and exchanged lists. She even made copies of them so we’d both have the full lists, turns out there were three names we liked together. Skye was the first one, having been the top of the list. The next two were Hazel and Annabelle.

“Seriously? You listed Abigail and Sierra?”

“I do like the names and the guys were helping me by just tossing them out.”

She shook her head and crossed them out. But the others? I saw lot’s of conversations going on about them.

“Hey, I was thinking as much as I like the idea of California for our anniversary, what if we did something closer to home?” She asked.

“Closer?” I asked.

“Yeah. I mean, I’ll be 36 weeks then and I don’t think riding that far will be worth it. Let’s limit it to the state of Oklahoma.”

I laughed. “I’ll find something, I have time to plan.”

“Well…I kind of want to see the botanical gardens in the city.”

“We can do that, not a problem.”

“Are we doing the holidays at the house?”

“Christmas for sure, baby will be here by then and I’d rather not carry her out in the colder weather.”

“What about Thanksgiving?”

“I think we can travel for that if needed, I mean we are asking them to come to us for Christmas, so we can
compromise.”

“I just wanted to have an idea of the plans ahead of time.”

I smiled. “No problem. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah. Tired, but that’s rather common now a days.”

“Finished any paintings?”

“Oh yeah, during the day it’s about all I do. Um, I have several dozen done actually. I haven’t really sent many to Debbie though. I have added to the website under a standard price. Two actually sold the day I added them, so she’s sending people there and I think some fans have shared also.”

“You didn’t add any of us?”

“No. I did however make a note that there would be some available, I have several that are done and I wanted you guys to chose the one that goes up.”

“Nice, well, I’m sure we can do that. You can do it sooner if you want by sending us pictures.”

“I could. Yours is done but Taylor and Isaac gives me problems and I want to make sure. Shawn goes next month to get the dragon done. Made an appointment the seventeenth.”

“Are you going with him?”

“I am, it’s a freebie day to whoever was going to stay. He seems pretty adamant about the size and wants me there.”

I smiled. “It’ll be good for you and him both are you staying for the show?”

“Of course. Stella and Nicole are taking me home, Jack has to work tomorrow so he’ll be asleep when I get there.”

“Okay.”

We had dinner delivered because walking anywhere was not an option now. Thankfully Lucas was willing to deliver taco’s which was great for everyone, Gabby included. I then had to get ready for the show.

-Gabby-

I didn’t realize how much I’d just miss him and I was enjoying today so much. Lucas however made me uncomfortable because he kept staring at me.

“Hey Lucas, do you have any tattoos?”

He looked shocked I had asked something and giggled some. “I do.”

“I’ve never seen any.”

“I have one on my side, I’d strip down and show you but I have like two shirts on and one is tucked in. I’d imagine no one here wants to see that.”

“What is it?”

“I have a big tree on my rib cage, took several hours to complete.”

A tree? I wondered if this tree was like a dog wood tree with pink flowers. “Is there any others?”

“Nope. Don’t you have tattoos?”

“Heart and key, hidden of course.”

They had stretched some in the last few months but they still looked good. He smiled at me.

“Do you have a favorite animal? I’ve wondered because you really don’t focus on one when you draw. I saw your drawings on the website.”

“Uh, not one particular no. Do you have a favorite animal?”

“I like birds, the freedom they represent when they fly. No particular one.”

I was glad when the show began, I moved to the audience because I had promised Chloe I would stand with them, her and a few of her friends were about mid-way.

She jumped when I touched her arm. “I didn’t think you were joining.”

“I told you I would. The guys should be on in a few minutes.”

Her friends seemed shocked that I was standing there. Shawn had made me realize something, he wasn’t perfect by any means but I did look up to him. He was older and wiser and I often called with problems now. I wasn’t perfect, I never claimed to be. But if she wanted to ask me about drugs or sex or whatever then I’d answer her because I definitely did not want Chloe following my lead in those areas.

“Gabby this is Helen and Karen.”

I smiled at them, waved even and they seemed shocked.

“How are you?” She asked.

“I’m good. I can’t stay the whole show, I need to get to the back before they go off stage.”

“That’s fine. I saw you earlier when you got lunch. I tried screaming but people were all around you both.”

“Yeah, we got pulled off a bit headed for lunch.”

“Do you mind?”

“No.”

Chloe was always respectful when I was around, she asked anytime she wanted to feel the baby move. Which, at the moment she was pretty active. So Chloe got to feel her move some. I let her friends only because Chloe knew them but everyone else had to back off. Chloe and her friends stayed around me, not venturing far and Chloe made sure I was safe here. A few fans tried to break until I looked at them, clearly not expecting me here and they moved away. I bid them farewell when I knew they were close to the end, but I told Chloe to wait by the bus. She’d only ever gotten to meet Zac, she hadn’t gotten to meet the other two. After the encore they came back and showered while stuff was being broken down and repacked.
I really didn’t want him to go but I knew he had too. I made sure Chloe and her two friends got to meet them and take pictures before they got to the bus. Zac helped me on and they waited until fans were gone before we got back off. Taylor and Isaac again seemed to be easy to let go but it really took everything I had to walk away and get in her car.

“Few more weeks Gabby.” Stella said.

“I know.”

She took me home first and they made sure I was inside and safe before they left. I left Jack a note to let him know I was back and then went up-stairs, I was worn out from the day. I changed into pajamas and settled in with my pillow. I was just about asleep when my phone signaled a text, assuming it was Zac I got it.

It’s nice to see your ever expanding abdomen but it should be our baby, not yours and his. He is ungrateful, unfaithful, he is not worthy of you.

I read the message several times before realizing that it wasn’t Zac. This was the man sending the owls.

I belong with Zac. We belong together. I love him and trust him, your little childish games won’t change my mind.

Games? You think I don’t know what you’re doing? You keep thinking that you’re all hold up safe and sound in the house. You thought that at Heather’s….and I was there for hours…

Too coward to do anything.

Several minutes ticked by before I got the next message, this one with a picture. I’d suspected that he’d put me to sleep and I even suspected he’d at least touched me. My suspicions were right, picture of his hand on my breast.

Not cowardly Gabriella. The only thing stopping me is myself. If I wanted you, I could walk in and take you. I just don’t want that bastard of a baby…but…I also cannot harm something that is part of you.

I wasn’t entirely sure that he alone was stopping him. I didn’t reply and I just put the phone on the counter but that made sleep a little more elusive.