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But I just wanted Laney in my arms, and I was sick of these obstacles.
“If she comes back, tell her I’m looking for her,” I said as I turned to go.
“I’ll tell her to call you, Mr. Roads,” the big guy said.
Goddamn it all to hell. How in the fucking world had I managed to leave without my phone? I’d never been so absent minded before. Maybe I was lovestruck and had lost all semblance of common sense.
“I’ll be back at her house waiting,” I told them.
They nodded, still looking guilty. I wanted the information, but I sort of wish they’d stand up for her more. Tell me to get the hell out before they call the police, would be more like the answer I’d be looking for. Once Laney was mine, I’d protect her better than anyone else.
Back at her cottage, the scene was still the same. When the rain stopped pounding, I got out and stretched before trying the front door. To my surprise, she’d left it open. After making a beeline for her landline, I picked it up and dialed my cell.
“Uncle Ethel!” Ethan answered.
“How the fuck do you have my phone?” I could hear him chewing, and I wanted to barrage him with my misdirected anger.
“Dude, chill. George dropped it off. You never change your code.”
“Are you at my house, Ethel? Eating your fucking pizza on my white couch?” I hollered into the phone. I was taking my frustration out on my brother. It wasn’t fair, but he made himself an easy target.
“Maybe.”
“You have your own house!” I shouted.
“Yeah, but whoa, this was Grandma’s house and it has nostalgic value for me. Pizza tastes better here.”
“Why are you answering my phone?”
“Why are you calling if you don’t want someone to answer it, you douche? Plus, your girlfriend is here, so I was trying to keep her company. You let her eat pizza on the couch.”
I fisted the hair on my head, almost stomping my foot in rage. “Laney is at my house? Put her on the phone, you little piece of shit!”
“Not my fault she’s here,” I heard him mutter as he passed the phone.
“Laney? Are you okay? What are you doing at my place?”
“I wanted to talk to you, but you weren’t here. Then I got sick and it rained, so I laid down. Before I knew it, it was late and your brother was here. Where are you?”
“At your cottage, waiting for you to come home,” I said, defeated. I was four hours away from my Cherry again. There were so many things I wanted to say to her that I couldn’t say over the phone. “I shouldn’t have left without saying goodbye. Will you wait there for me? I don’t want you to drive.”
“I can wait. Can you bring me some pajamas and maybe a change of clothes? Oh, and a toothbrush too. Can you feed Billy and Imelda? I left in a hurry.”
“We must have passed each other on the road. I’ll take care of everything—don’t move. Pass the phone back to my asshole brother, Cherry.”
“He’s sweet.”
“Don’t trust him. Never mind, you can trust him. Just don’t—Christ, just hand him the phone.” She passed the phone, and my heart settled finally, knowing she was safe on my couch. “Take care of her. I expect a good report. Don’t do anything dumb, or I’ll kill you. And don’t move a muscle until I get there.”
“Believe me, Ed, I wouldn’t miss this shit for the world.”
18
Laney
I fell in and out of a fitful sleep, but every time I woke, Ethan was there with me. He wasn’t doing much, just sitting in the reclining chair watching television or playing video games. But his presence was comforting, and I was glad he came over. I looked at the clock periodically and counted down the time to when Edison should be arriving back home.
“How long has Edison had this house?” I asked him.
“Close to ten years. It was our grandmother’s house, and he bought if after she died, with profits from his own garage. He was eighteen.”
“Ah-ha. That explains the decor. I couldn’t see him putting up that flowered wallpaper. But the house has its charm.”
“Is he the father of the baby?” Ethan asked me candidly. He eyed the test that was now resting on the glass coffee table between us.
“I don’t know if that’s any of your business.”
“Sure it is. Am I going to be an uncle?”
I grabbed a couch pillow and pulled it over my face. “We haven’t even had the talk yet, about dating or our relationship. He doesn’t know yet. I came here to tell him.”
Ethan nodded, looking unaffected.
“He’ll probably think I ruined his life,” I said. The magazine with the article about Edison being an eligible bachelor was sitting next to my pregnancy test. I flipped it over so I didn’t have to look at his glossy photo on the cover.
