Why the fuck did I wait so long…
Chapter 18
Lacey
21weekspregnant.Babysize – Carrot
Why does no one talk about the fact that, when you are pregnant, you get wind and bloating that make you feel like a hot air balloon? Don’t get me started on the heat; every morning, it feels like a furnace is heating my bed, made all the hotter by Cole draping his arm over me.
I gently move said arm away from me, and ever so slowly, I inch out of the bed until I’m slinking onto the floor like some cat burglar. I sneak a peek back at Cole, making sure I haven’t woken him, then I run to empty my bladder before Peanut wakes up and starts the Irish jig in my stomach.
Someone pounds on my front door as I’m finishing up, so I make my way through my apartment, sure it’s the bailiffs withhow hard they’re knocking. My jaw falls open as I look through the peephole. On the other side is Ted.
I unlock the door and yank it open before he can start banging again. “What the hell do you want?” Am I a cranky bitch? Yes. Does he deserve it? Also, yes.
His eyes narrow as his mouth lifts to one side. “Is that any way to talk to the father of your child?”
“You texted me telling me you didn’t want anything to do with the baby.” I cross my arms over my chest and give him my best ‘fuck off’ look.
“Maybe I’ve changed my mind.” He lifts his shoulder in a shrug.
“I’m not buying it, sorry. You’re not usingmybaby as a pawn in whatever game you're playing. Now, please leave.” I start to shut the door, but he puts his foot in the way and pushes it open. I silently curse myself for not waking Cole.
“Now, now, Lacey. Don’t start getting nasty on me; that won’t end very well for you or your new boyfriend. Which reminds me, you have a pretty nice set-up with him. I did my research – the owner of Peterson Construction is very nice, wealthy…” I snort, but he carries on. “It seems like if you want me out of the picture, and I’m guessing you do…Well, I think I should be compensated for that, don’t you?”
“Are you fucking kidding me right now? You think I’m going to give you money that doesn’t belong to me, by the way, let’s make that very clear! Do you think I’m going to use my baby as a pawn in your sick game and pay you not to be in her life? Is that your whole plan?”
He moves forward, and for a moment, I’m frozen in fear. There is no way I can move fast enough away from him, and I don’t know this man, not really. I could try screaming for Cole, but the minute I do, what would Ted do?
“I could have sworn I heard her tell you to leave.” Cole’s cold voice floats between us, and Ted snaps his eyes up as Cole walks towards us with just his pyjama pants on.
“I’m done here anyway.” Suddenly, his bravado seems to disappear, and he starts to retreat.
“You’re done when I say you’re fucking done. Get outside, now.” He doesn’t sound like my Cole; this Cole is cold and demanding.
“Cole, just leave it…” I try to bring him back and grab at his arm, but he shrugs me off.
“Stay inside, Lacey.” He strides out of the door and follows Ted.
I’ve never been good at being told what to do, so I follow him.
He catches up to Ted outside and spins him around before he can open his car door. Ted throws a punch, but Cole is quick, ducking, then bringing his fist into Ted’s stomach with such force that the latter doubles over, gasping for breath.
Cole grabs the scruff of his jacket and tilts Ted’s face upwards. “I am only going to say this to you once. They are my girls now. You don’t come near them. You don’t contact Lacey. You will never, ever have anything to do with that baby. And if you don’t listen and you choose to come back and threaten her again, then I will make you pay. Do you understand me?”
Ted can’t speak but nods, his eyes wide and scared.
Cole lets go of his jacket and opens the car door for him, an act that is completely at odds with how he just threatened the guy.
Ted starts his car and peels out of the car park. Cole watches him go, then turns to find me standing there gawping at him.
“I thought I told you to stay inside.” He must realise how that sounds the minute he says it because he shakes his head. “Sorry, I just meant–”
“I know what you meant, relax, Cole. But I didn’t ask for your help. I could have handled that.”I absolutely could not havehandled that,but the stubborn part of me won’t let him fix everything for me. What about when he leaves? What do I do then?
“I do not doubt that you could have handled it. That isn’t why I jumped in.”
“Oh no? Why did you then?”Jesus, Lacey, stop being a bitch with him.
