AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes, it will.” I don’t know what exactly smoking will or won’t do to my baby, but I know that they advise women against smoking while they’re pregnant and that’s enough for me. “Why are you smoking anyway?” I sit at the table with her. “You never did before.”
“I can’t drink and I have to relieve stress somehow.”
My gaze snaps to hers. “Stress? What stress?” It takes everything I have not to ask that in a way that will piss her off.
“Like how you always leave when we get into arguments.”
“I leave? You kick me out, Lila. You left me at the fucking doctor’s office. I wouldn’t leave if you didn’t demand I get out. Half the time you threaten to call the cops on me if I don’t leave. If that’s stressing you out, quit telling me to go.”
Lila ignores that. “And we have to figure out a name, babe.”
“His name is Sawyer Nash Hart.”
Surprise flickers over her features. “You’ve found a name already?”
“Yep.” I take another bite of my sandwich. “Like it?” I don’t really care, and she did say it was my decision, but it is her baby too, unfortunately.
“I don’t know yet.” There’s a frown on her face, so I’m guessing it’s a no.
“Well, you told me I could pick his name and I have, so you don’t have to stress about that anymore. What else?”
“I’m already over this whole being pregnant thing.” One hand goes to her belly.
Laughter bursts free. “Sorry, babe. There’s still about five months to go. You made sure you got this baby, so better strap down and endure what you signed up for.”
Her eyes narrow at me, but she doesn’t say anything. At least she doesn’t deny it. “Give me the cigarettes back.”
I exhale hard. She’s fishin’ for a fight now. Things were going decent until I had to point out she did her best to get pregnant on purpose. Guess I’ll never learn. “I’m not giving them to you. You’re not allowed to smoke. You’re not harming Sawyer.” Maybe if I use his name, it’ll make him even more real to her and she won’t fight me on this. And then I say words that will damn me for far longer than I can imagine. “Whatever you want me to do to keep you from smoking and anything else I don’t like, I’ll do.”
Lila smirks, which turns into a full-blown grin. “That slut you have in South Carolina?” My mouth opens to object. “Don’t try to deny it, FC. I followed you down there yesterday and saw her run to you like you’re in some romantic movie. Get rid of her once and for all or get the fuck out of my apartment and I’ll make sure you never see your son.” She even pulls her phone out and shows me pictures she took of Idaline running toward me and our embrace. There’s even some of us walking to her door. “You want me to make sure I do my part for this baby, then get rid of her. And I want the lock off your phone, so I can know for sure, any time I want to look.”
If my glare could kill, Lila would be in hell already. I stand to throw what’s left of my sandwich in the trash. “I’m going to work. I’ll end the friendship before I get home.” She snorts when I say friendship. She thinks I’m cheating on her and I’m not. There was one kiss, but that’s it. I have time before I have to officially clock back in, so I pull the shittiest move possible and I text Idaline.
If I call her, she’ll have questions. Questions I can’t answer. I thought I hated Lila before, but nope. My hatred for her is at an all-time high now.
But then, a quick solution hits me and I call Idaline.
“FC, hey. I don’t have much time left before I have to get back to work.”
“That’s fine. I only have a minute. I can’t explain and I won’t be able to, but I won’t be able to come back and see you or talk to you through my phone anymore. I guess Justin and Grandpa McAllister will get what they want after all.”
Idaline makes a sharp, small gasp. “What?”
“But we can write letters. It’s that or nothing.”
“Why would it be that or nothing?”
“I can’t explain, Idaline,” I tell her quietly. “But for a while, if we want to keep talking, that’s the only way I can do it. Under no circumstance should you call or text me.” I can’t stand telling her that because what if there’s an emergency and she needs me? Thanks to my bitch of a girlfriend, I can’t go to her.
Idaline has the same thought. “But what if I need you right away? I can’t call?”
My soul whimpers and dies a little as I give her the only answer I can. “You have your family and Justin close by.”
“They aren’t you, FC,” she whispers, her voice cracking.
“I’m sorry, Idaline. I really am, but I’m between hell and a hard place. There’s nothing I can do right now.”
She sighs. “Okay. I’m writing a letter tonight then.”
