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Zoey: One reason would be that I’m pregnant.
Me: I know, Zoey. I have to go. The plane is about to take off.
I hate her. I felt guilty for feeling that way. The last three months had been hell. Cale had pretty much left town the day after we “met” at JJ’s. Monica had somehow hooked back up with Jack and the two of them had come to the conclusion that Zoey had always known about Cale and me. Jack swore she planned the pregnancy because she’d sensed that Cale was about to dump her. The only part of this whole crazy thing that kept me somewhat sane was that I knew Cale didn’t truly want to be with Zoey.
I sighed. I didn’t really want to believe that Zoey, someone I called my friend, would be so evil. Bitchy, yes. But not evil.
Then there was the sex thing. All I could think about was Zoey talking about Mr. Hot Pants fucking her all over the place. That wasn’t the Cale I remembered. Even though it was a one-night stand, he’d been sweet, romantic, tender. His words echoed in my ear as I closed my eyes. I could almost feel his lips on my skin.
“Ugh, oh my God. Stop this, you idiot!” I said to myself, trying to think of anything other than Cale Blackwood.
I heard a laugh and felt my heart begin to beat harder in my chest. “Do you always talk to yourself while you’re alone on a plane, Maddie?”
My eyes snapped open. I couldn’t believe what I saw: Cale. Standing in the aisle.
Great, two years of wishing him to appear and nothing. Now he’s going to start showing up everywhere.
“What are you doing here?” I asked. My words came out ruder than I meant.
His smile faded slightly. “I’m flying back home from Alaska.”
The image of him screwing Zoey against a wall popped into my head.
“I’m sure Zoey will be happy to have you home. She’s been sex starved.”
Cale’s smile completely vanished as he turned and started to sit in the seat opposite of me. “Yeah, I’m sure she’ll be happy.”
I watched him take the seat across the aisle from me. “Are you kidding me? You’re sitting there?”
He looked all around him, then down at his ticket. “It appears I am. Do you have a problem that, Maddie?”
His smug smile made me even madder. Now I’m mad that I was mad for no real reason. I rolled my eyes and looked away.
We didn’t speak the rest of the trip. I tried to read a book, but I could feel his eyes on me. I hated the way it made my body feel.
When the plane landed and had finally taxied in, I leapt to exit the plane as fast possible. But I felt a tug at my wrist. I let out a gasp. It felt like a million bolts of lightning rushing through my arm where his hand touched me. I looked down at his hand on my arm.
“Why did you leave me that night, Maddie? Why did you walk away?”
My chest started heaving as I looked into his beautiful, emerald eyes. The crowded plane seemed to fade away. I swallowed hard and closed my eyes briefly before opening them to stare up at him.
“Because I was scared to death.”
He tilted his head and looked at me with a questioning look. “Scared of what?”
I gazed quickly at his lips before looking back into his eyes. “Of how quickly I fell in love with you.”
Cale’s eyes lit up with fire and I pulled my arm from his and began walking away. Again.
I was starting to get good at walking away.
MONICA AND I sat on the deck drinking mimosas.
“Aren’t you glad you took me up on the morning drinking?” she asked with a smile.
I nodded my head. “Yes I am.”
Monica glanced across the lake. “Have you seen him lately?”
“I don’t really want to talk about Cale.”
She snickered and said, “I’ll take that as a yes.”
I sat back in my seat and sighed. “He’s everywhere. I swear. I go to the store and there he is. I go to the car wash, there he is. JJ’s to grab a burger and, bam! There. He. Is. And next to him, always, is Zoey.”
“Did I tell you that I ran into her at Mulligan’s a few weeks ago?” Monica said. “Jack told me that every time Cale leaves town, Zoey goes out, pregnant or not. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was screwing around on Cale.”
I looked at Monica, disgusted. “Oh God, don’t say that. She’s pregnant!”
My cell rang and Zoey’s name flashed on the screen. I knew I was her only friend, and it killed me to feel the way I did about her. I took a deep breath and answered.
“Hey, Zoey. How are you?”
Monica rolled her eyes as she picked up her phone and sent someone a text.
“Hello there, stranger,” Zoey said. “It sure would be nice to see you, especially since you live practically next door.”
Guilt ripped through my body. “I know. I’ve been so busy with traveling lately. I’m headed to Florence, Italy in the next few days.”
Zoey let out a pathetic sigh. “Jesus, it must be nice to jet off around the world like you do. I hate my life right now.”
My mouth dropped open and I hit the speaker button, signaling Monica to listen in. “Zoey, you’re pregnant. You should be reveling in this.”
“Really? You think so? I feel like shit, Cale doesn’t want to marry me at all, this baby is slowly killing me, and all of this bullshit just to—” Zoey cut herself off.
I sat there stunned. Monica didn’t flinch. It was like she wasn’t surprised at all.
“Just to what?” I asked. It was silent on the other end of the line. “Zoey? Are you okay?”
“I’m just tired. Cale had me up all night with one orgasm after another. God, he just never stops. I mean, do you know how hard it is to have sex with your belly swollen at seven months pregnant? On the kitchen island, because your boyfriend wants you now?”
I felt sick to my stomach. “No, I suppose I don’t.”
Zoey laughed. “Or course you wouldn’t. If Cale wasn’t such a good fuck, I swear I’d probably tell him that I need a break from sex.”
“Zoey, is there anything else you and Cale do other than have sex? I mean...can you not talk about anything but screwing?”
Zoey giggled. “Why, Maddie Powers! Are you jealous of my relationship with Cale? It’s too bad you can’t find someone like him.”
Monica stood up and was about to grab the phone, but I quickly picked it up and took it off speaker.
“Anywho, darling, my mothe
r is coming for lunch today. I really need you here with me for support.”
I shook my head and laughed nervously. “You need me where?”
“Here, at the house. My mother and father will be here for lunch, and I can’t face them all alone. They just started talking to me again and I don’t want to ruin things. Please say you’ll come over for lunch.”
“Um…to Cale’s house?” I asked.
“No,” Zoey said. “To our house.”
I bit down on my lip as Monica asked over and over what was wrong.
“Uh, I don’t think I’m going to be able to make it.”
Then I heard her start crying. Aw, shit. Guilt raced through my body yet again.
“Don’t do it,” Monica said, pointing at me.
“Maddie, please! Please don’t abandon me. I feel so alone. All Cale wants is sex, my parents are treating me like I’ve sentenced myself to death…you’re all I have left.”
I rolled my eyes and dropped my head, defeated. “What time do you want me there?”
“Damn it, Maddie,” Monica said as she walked into the house.
“Oh, Maddie you’re the best! They’ll be here in a few hours. I’m getting more and more tired the further along I get. Can you come over soon and help me get ready?”
Cale must be out of town I thought. That’s why Zoey needs me there.
“Let me change really quick and I’ll be right over,” I said.
Zoey thanked me again and hung up. I slowly walked back into my house to face one very pissed-off Monica.
“Why do you let her do this to you?” she asked.
I shook my head and tried to push past her. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“You let her torture you. You and Cale are the only fools who don’t see what she’s doing.” Monica grabbed my arm. “She’s playing you. She’s always been jealous of you, Maddie. And when she found out Cale’s name that day in Starbucks, she must have put two and two together. I mean come on—Cale isn’t a very common name. She planned all of this. Cale was going to leave her. Especially after Jack admitted he’d lied to you.”
