“We’ve been here before. You’ve said all this before. You let me in and then push me away, and every time you do, it hurts me more. I don’t know how much more I have left in me.”
He places his hands on my shoulders and turns me to face him. “Riggs told me to date you. Apparently, he did that with Anna and they worked out.”
I smile. “Umm, I don’t think Riggs is the best person to speak to about relationships.”
“The important thing is we both want it. I know I do . . . ”
I nod my head, because despite my wanting to stop loving him, I can’t. “Did you have sex with her?” I ask quietly.
“No. I promise. I don’t know why I brought her home. I think I wanted to push you away.” He rubs his thumbs over my cheeks. “I was an ass. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t do that again. I can’t forgive that.”
He places a gentle kiss on my lips. “I won’t. I know what I want and that’s you. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you.”
Cree
I spend the night with Eva in my arms and it feels right. This is where I belong. But I have to get my head right. I can’t keep hurting her. Michelle enters my thoughts and I feel that panic kick up a beat.
When the sun rises, I climb from Eva’s bed and leave her a note saying I’ll call her later. Riggs is having a party at the club and I want us to go together, but first, I need to pay Michelle a visit.
I sit on my bike and stare at Michelle’s house. It’s only seven a.m., so it’s quiet. I find her spare key under the pot on her back porch and let myself in. She’s so naïve.
She’s asleep in her bed alone. I’m surprised—I thought she’d have a new man filling Callum’s space already. I stand over her, and as if she senses me there, she opens her eyes and then scrambles away from me in a panic. “Morning,” I say brightly.
“Cree, my children are asleep in the next room,” she whispers. “Please don’t hurt me.”
“Get up,” I snap. She shakes her head and I reach across the bed, hauling her to her feet. I thrust a pregnancy test into her hands. “Do it.”
“What?” she gasps in confusion.
“I don’t want you to mother any of my kids. Do the test.”
She takes it and heads to her bathroom with me hot on her heels. She tries to close the door, but I stick my boot there to stop her. “Don’t pretend to worry about privacy and dignity now, after what you’ve done.”
“Cree, if I’m pregnant, it won’t show yet,” she mutters, opening the package.
“The women said it could tell from early on.”
“But still, it’s been a few days.” She sits on the toilet. “I can’t pee when you’re watching,” she hisses, so I turn my back. “What happens if I am?”
“You’ll terminate it,” I say bluntly.
“It’s not the baby’s fault,” she whispers.
“I didn’t want this. I didn’t want what you did,” I growl. “You’ll terminate it or I’ll go to the police and tell them what you and Callum did.”
“And I’ll tell them what you did to Callum!” she snaps.
“You have no evidence. I made sure that place was clean. They’ll think he’s running and you’ll get the blame.”
She flushes the toilet and hands me the plastic stick. “I meant something once, didn’t I?” she asks. I laugh and shake my head.
“You were an easy lay. Nothing more.” Her hand stings my face as it makes contact and I wince slightly. I grit my teeth and turn the stick over. “Negative,” I snap, throwing the stick to the floor. “I’ll be back next week to do the same.”
“Cree, you don’t have to. If I’m pregnant, I’ll tell you.”
“Next week,” I repeat. And I mean it. I’ll get her peeing on that piece of plastic every damn week until I know for certain I’m in the clear.
At the clubhouse, I take a seat by Riggs. “What’s this all about?” I ask, referring to the cookout he decided to have last minute.
“I don’t know. It was Anna’s idea.” He shrugs. “Things good with you and Eva?” he asks.
“They have to be, man. I can’t be without her. I’m gonna do whatever it takes to be with her.”
He gives me a knowing smile. “I get it. Trust me, I get it.” Anna shouts to get everyone’s attention. “What the hell is she doing right now?” he mutters, standing.
“I have some exciting news,” says Anna, smiling in Riggs’ direction. He looks confused. Everyone’s attention is on the pair. “I’m pregnant!” she announces happily. Riggs’ face goes through a range of emotions. Anna is swept up in hugs from ol’ ladies, but all I see is Riggs looking shocked and frozen. Eventually, Anna realises he isn’t jumping for joy, but before she can get to him, he goes into the clubhouse. She looks at me panicked, so I head inside after him.
“Congratulations, Pres,” I say when I find him in his office. He’s pouring bourbon into a glass. “Or not,” I mutter.
“We talked about it,” he mutters. “We agreed to wait.”
The office door opens and Anna stomps in. “What the hell?”
“We agreed to wait,” he snaps. “I told you to wait.”
“I didn’t do it on purpose, Riggs. I think my contraception pill didn’t work when I was sick.”
“Likely,” he utters dismissively.
“I should leave you guys—” I begin.
“Are you calling me a liar!” yells Anna.
“I’m saying that one minute I’m telling you no, and the next, you’re pregnant,” shouts Riggs.
“Fuck you,” she hisses and then storms from the room.
“Ouch,” I mutter, feeling awkward. “Do you really think she did that on purpose?”
“Yes!” he snaps.
“Honestly? You think your Anna would lie to you like that? She ain’t some club whore, man.”
