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She sits on the small couch that Hayden slept on last night, and I can tell she’s not bullshitting me. Veronica was a hateful, vile human being toward me, but as she sits here, she looks so broken and vulnerable that I can’t help but feel sorry for her. Guilt washes over me, and I try to replay each moment I had with Hayden last night. He was cautious with me, but was he too cautious? Because he was seeing Veronica? It’s not within his character to chase after one woman while being with another, but then again, I don’t really know Hayden anymore. Not like I used to. Plus, the ultrasound doesn’t lie. It’s clear as day that she’s pregnant.
“Okay,” I say, coming to terms that they’re going to be in each other’s life forever no matter what. It all makes sense why she was so protective of him last night, and I feel like a total bitch.
I walk over to her and hand over the photo.
“You’ll stay away from him?” she asks, meeting my eyes. A glimmer of hope flickers in them, and she’s right. I can’t be the woman who destroys a possible happy family. In a sick, fucked-up way, I feel as if I deserve this for what I did to him.
Now we’re even, I suppose.
I search her face and nod. Veronica stands and wraps her arms around my neck. “Thank you, Savannah. Thank you for understanding. I’m going to tell him the exciting news as soon as I leave here.”
No words form. She thanks me again and walks to the door and turns and looks at me without saying another word.
When Veronica leaves, I feel as if I can’t breathe because the weight of everything is sitting on my chest. I’m actually living in one of my nightmares. Sadness and loss courses through me, and for the first time since I broke up with Hayden, I’m feeling as if he’s really slipped through my fingers for good. My heart breaks into pieces as I hurry and grab my phone and head to Donny’s room.
Tears stream down my face as I take the elevator a few floors up. As soon as I make it to his room and knock, I try to suck in a deep breath and stop crying, though it feels damn near impossible. He opens the door and gives me one look before pulling me inside.
“What the hell?” He searches my face. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?”
He leads me over to the bed and tries to smooth out the rustled blanket and sheets. I sit and look up at the ceiling and try to find my words.
“I need to get the fuck out of here, Donny.”
He sits next to me. “Honey, tell me what’s going on.”
“Veronica just came to my room.”
His face contorts, and he narrows his eyes. He’s always hated her as much as I do.
“And she had an ultrasound with her and told me Hayden is the dad. I have to stay away from him, Donny. I can’t be the reason he ruins what he has going on with her.” I place my face in my hands, and he rubs my back. “I knew lying to him would eventually catch up to me, but this is so fucking cruel.”
He pulls me into his arms, and I cry on his shoulder. “The truth always comes out, Sav. Are you sure she wasn’t just fucking with you? It’s Veronica. She’s a bitch.”
I push away from him. “I saw the ultrasound. I saw her name on the corner. I saw the date. It was real, Donny. As real as me sitting here in front of you right now. But she hasn’t told him yet, and she’s afraid me being here is going to mess with what they have.”
He tucks loose strands behind my ear. “We’re only here for a couple more days. Maybe you should go visit your parents for a little while? Take a drive. Clear your head. Schedule a massage, pedi and mani, and then the next thing you know, we’ll be on our flight home, and you can forget about this damn town.”
Donny shoots me a smile, and I hear the water in the bathroom turn on.
My eyes widen. “You’re not alone?”
With a laugh, he shrugs. “What can I say?”
I slap his arm. “Who’s in there?” I whisper. “The bartender?”
“Guilty!” He snickers.
“Oh my God. I should’ve known.” I chuckle lightly. “I wish I had your love life. A new hottie every weekend.”
“Girl, it’s exhausting.” He flashes an amused smile as I stand, and he stands too. “Are you going to be okay?”
Donny gives me a look of concern, and my head begins to pound harder. As if he reads my mind, he hands me the complimentary bottle of water and some travel Tylenol. “You need this more than me right now.”
