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“Please remember that you love me,” he says, giving her his best smile.
She doesn't look happy, but she goes into his arms anyway. “You're so lucky that's true.”
AN HOUR LATER, I'M standing outside, smoking a cigarette. Zayn is with me, talking about all the big things we have going on in our lives. Carter and Jace just bought houses and moved in with Tye and Paige, Zayn is currently planning a wedding with Amelia, and I'm having a baby with Kennedy. They're all such monumentally life-changing things, and yet none of us are freaking the fuck out.
Don't get me wrong, being responsible for another life is terrifying. There are times when I think about it and my stress level skyrockets. But then there are other times, like now. Times when I think about how incredible it will be to have a family with Kennedy, and everything else fails to matter as much.
“You and Kennedy seem good today,” he says, stating the obvious.
I can't help but smile as I exhale, a cloud of smoke filling the air around me. “Yeah, we do.”
“Think you two will end up getting back together before the baby is born?”
It's a question I've asked myself hundreds of times, but I don't think I've figured out the answer yet. I'm hopeful, of course, but things are complicated. The only thing I'm focused on right now is regaining her trust. The rest is just an added bonus.
“I'm not sure,” I answer honestly. “But I know I won't give up until it happens.”
A wide grin stretches across his face. “Domesticated looks good on you.”
“Says the one who's engaged,” I clap back.
The two of us laugh, finding irony in it all, until the smile drops off my face when I see Alec coming our way. I thought this fucker left a half hour ago, when it became clear Kennedy wouldn't spend the entire time only paying attention to him.
“Hey, man,” he greets me, like we're old friends. “The party is still going, I see.”
It's obvious he's trying to get to me, but I won't let him. “Yep.”
“That's good, that's good.” He nods and Zayn gives me a look, wondering what the fuck is up with him. “By the way, it's good to see you in a better mood. That coke really works magic, doesn't it?”
My whole body runs cold as Zayn's eyes meet mine. He turns his attention to Alec, his demeanor cold as stone.
“What coke?”
“Z, it's nothing,” I protest.
Zayn holds up a hand to stop me from talking. “What fucking coke?”
Alec chuckles. “He's right, Z. It's nothing. Easton just seemed like he needed a little pick me up at Carter's place, so I gave him some. I can get you some, too, if you want.”
“Oh yeah?” he asks, but Alec is too stupid to notice the venom in his tone.
He takes out his phone. “Yeah. My buddy has the best shit you'll find around here. Let me get you his number.”
Zayn smacks the phone right from his grasp and it falls to the floor. Before Alec can react, he grabs him by the collar of his shirt and gets inches from his face. Alec watches him with wide eyes, and I glance back at the house to make sure Kennedy isn't watching this.
“Take your life-ruining connections and get the fuck out of here,” he sneers. “If I ever catch you giving him even so much as a goddamn Advil, I'll turn you and your buddy into roadkill. Do you understand me?”
Alec nods rapidly and as soon as Zayn releases him, he takes off running away from the house. I lean my head back against the house and watch as he starts to pace back and forth.
“Zayn, it's not—”
The way he looks at me sucks the words right from my mouth. “Don't you dare say another fucking word. This day is important to Kennedy, and we are not about to ruin that.”
“But—” I try again.
“The fuck did I just say?” he growls.
I clamp my mouth shut because he's right. Regardless of the fact that I didn't even use the drugs, just the idea of a possible relapse would wreck Kennedy. Hell, that's the only reason I'm not currently slamming Alec's face into the curb right about now. No part of me believes his act. He's pissed off that Kennedy is making her way back to me, and now he's trying to sabotage it. And depending on how this goes, he may just succeed.
Zayn presses a couple buttons on his phone and brings it to his ear. I don't even need to ask to know who he's calling. There's only one possible person it could be in a time where he thinks I'm spiraling back into a world that almost killed me the first time.
“Vaughn,” he says, dread filling his tone. “Yeah. It's a code black.”
