“Oh.” Bertha didn’t seem very excited. “I’ve been getting tired so quickly lately. I’m not really sure if I’m up to going out.” She stifled a yawn. “As a matter fact, I could use a nap right now.”
Ellis was worried. “Should I call Dr. Lawrence?”
“Oh god, no. I’m just full and a little sleepy. Can I take a raincheck on dinner and maybe we can do brunch another day?”
Ellis stood to help his grandmother from the table over to her bed. He lifted her as if she weighed nothing and placed Bertha gently into the center of her downy comforter while calling for Vanessa. She appeared in no time. Ellis pulled a light afghan over his grandmother while Vanessa took her blood pressure.
“Everything looks fine, Ms. McKenna.”
“Thank you, Vicki.” In a matter of minutes, she’d fallen asleep.
Ellis eased out of the bedroom to make alternative arrangements. This day had been reserved for his grandmother. If she didn’t want to go out, her wish was his command.
Chapter 10
Dylan Carpenter hated going to these strip mall fitness centers, but after he and Haven broke up, he could no longer afford their gym fees. Granted, he took care of most of the bills but her part-time job money did allow for a few perks. It was among many other things he’d taken for granted during their relationship. If he were honest, Dylan knew Haven made their apartment a home. What man could resist a good woman, a home-cooked meal, and a hot body that was always ready to accommodate him? It was her desire for the home life she never had that attracted him to her in the first place. That, and she was fine as hell. Still, his soul was always restless. Dylan cared for Haven, but he also loved women—lots of women. As long as he was paying most of the bills and came home to her, he didn’t understand why anything else would matter.
Dylan figured he’d get on the treadmill while waiting for one of the bench presses to open up. Tragic. That was another problem with these kinds of places. All types of random people, who weren’t serious about working out, took up too much time and space. Well, not everyone. The cutie on the machine opposite him kept giving him the eye. She smiled coyly, and Dylan returned it.
As he programmed the machine, his mind wandered back to Haven. She occupied quite a bit of real estate in his head lately, probably because he was ready to go home. They had never been apart for this long. Usually, a few phone calls, flowers, and just the right amount of contrition was enough to get things back to normal, but this time Dylan wondered if he’d pushed her too far. Maybe he had gone too far too. Maybe it was just time to move on.
It had been embarrassing as hell showing up at his best friend’s house after three in the morning wearing a towel and a coat. Zach laughed at him for a week straight and probably wouldn’t ever let him live it down. As much as he loved Zach and Andrea, they reminded him of why he would never get married. They had the house, the baby, and the damn dog. Both of them walked around like zombies with a baby crying morning, noon, and night.
His own daughter would have been only a year older than theirs. His chest tightened at the thought. Dylan wasn’t going to pretend to be a great philosopher, but sometimes things happened for a reason. Losing his daughter hurt, even though he was pissed when Haven first told him she was pregnant. He might have been an asshole, but he was human.
At the time, she had two years of school left, and he sure as hell wasn’t ready to be a father. Dylan was stressed out enough trying to figure out how they were going to take on more expenses when they were barely making ends meet. Granted, Haven had a part-time job, but it wasn’t enough. If her scholarships didn’t cover her entire tuition and books, she would have had to do it like everyone else and go back to school part-time. But, back then, Haven was ambitious and eager. She wanted her business degree.
It took Dylan a couple of months to get over the anger and shock of becoming a father. There was a part of him that felt like Haven had been trying to trap him into marriage. Ultimately, he knew better. She was too driven and did not want to be like her mother; then she lost the baby. She changed so much after that. His mind went back to that day.
Dylan sat on the edge of the bed looking at the screen of his cellphone. “She’s been calling and texting me all day. Damn.”
Jocelyn crawled over to him, got up on her knees, and leaned over his shoulder. “I guess she’s missing her man.”
“Don’t do that, Jocelyn. I told you we’re not together-together. Our situation is complicated—she’s seven months pregnant. I can’t just kick her to the curb with no job.”
“A woman doesn’t
