“None of this is your fault. Do you hear me?”
“But-”
“None of it.” He reiterated. “What Derek did to you was unconscionable.”
“Owen? How can we move forward from here?”
“One step at a time, Unicorn.”
“How can you still want to be with me? After all of this?”
“It took me six months before I could tell Abigail that I loved her. With you it only took me six days. When I think about what I want my life to look like you're in it. It's as simple as that.”
He stood, reaching for my hand.
“Come on, let's get out of here and go get some ice cream and pickles.”
I laughed, and he tucked me into his side before kissing my temple.
“There's that laugh I love so damn much.”
The ride back home was silent. I knew that we were both lost in our thoughts. Both of us wanting to make things work, but neither of us really sure how. I knew that I needed to have a conversation with Derek, and it honestly terrified me. If he was willing to replace my birth control pills with placebos, what else was he capable of?
Never, in all the years that I've known him did I ever think of him as a vindictive man. It's funny how his true colors began to show after I found him cheating. I thought back to the first time he'd picked up my prescription for me. If my calculations were correct, it was nearly six months ago. Had he been exchanging my pills the entire time?
Mister Foster said that Derek had just met him. What if that wasn't true? What if Derek knew about Mister Foster for as long as Mister Foster knew about him? He'd been looking for his father for years. It would make sense that he'd find something.
When we arrived at my apartment a short time later, the last person that I wanted to see was Derek. Apparently the universe had other plans for me though. Before we had a chance to brush right past him, he spotted me. He was in the gym jogging on a treadmill. He smiled wide and waved me over, and all I could do was let out a little groan of frustration.
“You think that smile was for me?” Owen teased.
“I highly doubt it.” I rolled my eyes. “Do you think we can avoid him?”
“I highly doubt it.”
Sure enough, on our way to the elevator Derek came jogging towards us with a towel around his neck.
“Fancy seeing you here.” Derek said. “Are you alright? It looks like you've been crying.”
“I can't believe I'm saying this but... could you come by my place when you're finished up here? We need to talk.”
“Count on it.” He winked.
“Fuck boy.” Owen grumbled beneath his breath, as he bumped his shoulder against Derek's.
Derek laughed. “See you soon baby girl!” He yelled to our backs just as the elevator doors began to close.
I leaned back against the elevator wall, and Owen's fists clenched.
“Maybe I should just talk to Derek alone.” I said, hesitantly.
“There's no way in hell.” He said, as the doors sprung open.
He gestured for me to exit first, and I pulled my keys from my purse as I did. After getting us inside I tossed my bag down onto the kitchen table and opened the freezer. Finding the chocolate ice cream, I grabbed the container and then two spoons before setting it down on the counter. I handed Owen a spoon, and he smirked.
“I can't drink.” I said, with frustration. “So this has to be the next best thing.”
After clinking our spoons together, we sat down at the table and dug into the cool treat. I had no idea what I was going to say to Derek. But what worried me the most about our impending conversation was Owen. He practically bashed Derek's face in the last time he disrespected me. What would he do when we confronted him about switching my pills?
Thirty minutes passed, and we'd managed to eat nearly the entire container of ice cream. I had just put the remainder back into the freezer, when someone knocked on the door. Owen stayed seated, as I made to answer it preparing for the worst. Derek was standing on the other side with a bouquet of roses in his hand, and a satisfied smile on his face.
I opened the door wide, and ushered him inside. His smile quickly fell when he noticed Owen sitting at the table. He handed me the flowers, and I deposited them directly into the garbage can.
“Sit down.” I said, pointing to the table.
“What's this? An intervention?” He joked, as he took a seat across from Owen.
I sat on the end in between them, just in case I needed to be a buffer of sorts. The two of them were staring each other down like they were about to draw guns. The amount of testosterone revving up in the room was enough to drive even the strongest woman into a tizzy. Or maybe it was my pregnancy hormones?
“You were right.” I said, turning towards Derek. “I'm pregnant.”
“I could tell. You were glowing baby girl.”
“Call her that again, and I'll make your right eye match the left.” Owen said with a smile.
“It doesn't matter what I call her. You, and I both know that you're only a temporary distraction. Especially now that she's having my baby.”
“About that.” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. “I know that you switched my birth control pills for placebos.”
“I don't know what-”
“Before you try to deny it, I've seen a doctor. He's confirmed that they aren't real, and all it took was a call to the pharmacy in Raleigh to learn that there were no prescriptions in my name. I made another call to my physician's office, you know the one that gave you the free samples? Turns out they aren't allowed to hand those
