An Inconvenient Flame

The night was winding down and the waiters were gathering last minute dishes. The waitress that had served them all night held an expression that intrigued Jade.

Jason was off talking to Liam, Elijah and Oliver when Jade approached her. "You okay, hon? You've been smiling all night and now you're not. Did something happen?"

"I really like you. You seem like a great person from what I read online. You don't deserve this on your big day." Jade looked at her confused. The waitress looked around before handing Jade her phone.

Right there on the cover of TMZ in big bold letters 'Elizabeth Holland PREGNANT with Jason Taylor Tatum's baby.' Jade was confused, but as she read the words over and over again, she wanted to faint. She told herself to keep it together and keep reading for more information.

The article went on about Elizabeth telling Jason she was pregnant a few weeks after he had gotten married and that the baseball star had met up with her a few times to discuss it.

Eventually he told her to abort it as soon as possible. There was actual audio included of Elizabeth and Jason arguing and Jason saying to her that she had better abort the baby 'or else.'

Jade didn't know how to feel. She wanted to cry. She wanted to scream. She wanted to throw up. Ultimately, she felt a numbness wash over her. The waitress looked at her with sad eyes and Jade made a note to ensure she got an enormous tip.

"Can you get the redhead over there for me?" She nodded her head and went over to get Jenna. The two came back and the waitress showed Jenna what Jade had read.

"What do I need to do? Tell me what you want done and I've got you." Jenna said ready to ride. "Get me out of here." Jade whispered earning a nod. The waitress showed them a back exit that led to the private parking lot where their cars were parked. Jenna had her purse and James' keys.

They were on the highway in no time. Jenna didn't like how quiet Jade was. She knew her best friend was raging on the inside or quickly crumbling under the weight of her anxiety. Neither was good.

"Gem, it's going to be okay. I know it doesn't seem like it now, but it will be okay. We'll figure out a plan and move however you want." Jade felt so many things, but stupid was the biggest one. She wasn't really mad about the baby. It came before she did though the media didn't know that.

She was mad about the blatant lies Jason fed her when her gut told her something was wrong. The shutting down of any discussion pertaining to his moods. Hell, even the nightmare at this point. They all made sense now.

She felt like an idiot and she was not that. Jason had proved to be a liar. Elizabeth told the media that they had met multiple times to discuss things. That was multiple times he lied whether under the guise of him being at practice or hanging with Luis.

Jade feared as the negative self talk drowned her how many other things were being hidden from her by her husband who had promised to be open and honest. Jason promised to be nothing like her father and he was proving the opposite.

Like her father he lied. Like her father he was having a child with someone else. It was too much to deal with and on the day that should've been the happiest. She felt sick and wound down the window for some air.

"Can I stay at your place for a little bit?" Jenna nodded as she looked at her. "However long." Jenna looked back at the road as she thought it all over. "Grounds for a divorce or just a Melnik beatdown? I'm just asking so I can get my stomping boots ready." Jade let out a small chuckle despite herself.

"The baby was conceived before he even knew me. It hurts not being the one to give him his first child, but it is what it is I guess." Jenna shook her head. "Don't do that. Don't try and use logic to invalidate your feelings. This baby may not have asked for this but it's going to impact you and your marriage forever. That sucks and it's okay to admit that."