His glossed-over eyes beg me to give him a chance to prove what he is saying is true. I want to believe him, but I can’t. He lost my trust when he left my bed to run into the arms of another woman. I don’t want to live my life like that, constantly wondering what he’s doing or who he’s doing it with. No matter how much I love him, insecurities and distrust would eventually eat me alive.
Furthermore, my mom only agreed to pay my overdue rent and school fees when I proved I had scheduled an appointment with the clinic. I was days away from being homeless and living on the streets. I can’t bring a baby into that environment.
“I’m sorry, Nick, my decision has been made.”
“Your decision orhers?” His voice is an angry snarl. When I delay my reply, his fists clench. “You can’t let them do this to you; you can’t let them do this to us,” he yells furiously, startling me. “You’re letting their money manipulate you!”
After a final glare that relays his disappointment, he storms out of my room as quickly as he entered it. Warm, salty tears stream down my face as I collapse onto my bed.
Seconds later, I hear shoes scuffling across the ground. Hopeful it's Nick, I lift my head from the mattress. It isn’t who I am hoping, but it's better than no one.
“Does he know?” Emily’s face is washed with concerned.
I nod. “He’ll never forgive me.”
When she wraps me up in a firm hug, I cry uncontrollably in the arms of my best friend.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Nick
When I storm out of the cabin, the first thing I spot is the baseball bat Slater carries in the saddle bags of his Harley. With my anger at a point it’s never been, I secure it in my hands. When Taylor’s attempt to buy me off failed, she clearly switched her focus to her daughter. I never took Jenni for being shallow. Although her parents are loaded, she didn’t flash her wealth in anyone’s face, so to say I’m shocked she’d kill a baby—our baby— to maintain her luxurious life is an understatement. A major one.
Eager to expel some of the anger tearing me in two, I rush toward Jenni’s expensive pride and joy. The crack of the bat on her windshield gives me an intense amount of satisfaction. My swing is so strong, her windshield shatters into millions of tiny little fragments.
Satisfied it’s beyond repair, I make my way to the driver’s side door. Someone shouts, “What the fuck are you doing? Stop!” from behind my shoulder as I slam my bat into the side window.
Adrenaline pumps through my veins, making me feel invincible when it explodes upon impact with my bat. “They can’t do this. I won’t let them!”
I move around Jenni’s car, seeking my next target. Noah’s dark eyes track my every move, but he doesn’t say anything. What could he possibly say? He’s confused about what’s happening, and I’m a major part of it.
Noah’s worry grows when I snarl, “They can’t force her to do it!” I swing the bat with enough force, the passenger side window of Jenni’s BMW is destroyed with one hit. It breaks like my heart—shattered beyond repair. “They have no say in what she does! It’s her fucking body!”
When I lift the bat to take a hit at the back rear window, I’m suddenly slammed from the side. Noah plows me into the grass, his hit so hard, the bat is dislodged from my hand.
Noah rolls off me, clutching his winded lungs. “What the fuck, Nick?”
I remain quiet, facing the pitch black night. Wetness glistens on my cheeks, and my chest aches like an elephant is sitting on it.
My neck cranks to the side when Noah asks, “Jenni?”
Just hearing her name breaks my heart even more. “I love her so much it hurts.” I want her to be my wife and the mother of my children. I don’t want her to kill our baby.
“She's going to kill our baby,” I force out through the violent churns of my stomach.
“She’s pregnant?”
Noah’s dark eyes glisten with worry when I nod.
“Can you ask Emily to talk to her? She’s the only person Jenni will listen to. I don’t want her to kill our baby, but without your help, I won’t be able to stop it. Please, Noah. I’ll do anything you ask if you do this one thing for me,” I plead, aware that if anyone has the ability to get through to Jenni it will be Emily.
Sensing we’re being watched, Noah’s attention shifts to the cabin. Emily is standing near a window on the second floor. She looks like she’s been crying.
After taking in a shaky breath, Noah returns his eyes to mine. “I’ll try.”
He doesn’t sound confident, but it’s better than the hope I was clutching only moments ago.
Chapter Forty
