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The three of us.
One day at a time.
FOUR
SHAW
“Where the hell have you been?” Lizzie spits out as soon as the apartment door clicks shut. I swallow hard, trying to fight the urge not to tell her to fuck off, but knowing I’m about to hurt her stops me from arguing with her further.
“I asked you a question, Shaw. I called the office; they said you left this afternoon. Have you been with those men again?” I grind my jaw at her reference to my friends. My best friends who are like brothers to me. She knows they don’t approve of her, so she’s constantly trying to drive a wedge between us, hating any time I spend with them and not her, causing a constant bone of contention in our relationship, or lack of. She stands from the couch and walks toward me, so I move into the kitchen area and pour myself a scotch. “Shaw!” she shouts, forcing me to spin and face her.
I down the drink and swipe my hand over my mouth, slamming the glass on the counter as I steel myself.
Here goes. “I’ve got some bad news.”
Her blue eyes search my face, and her hand moves to her mouth in shock. “Oh god, have you lost the business?”
“No.”
Her eyes bulge further. “The holiday rentals?”
Annoyance bubbles inside me at her concern about the materialistic aspects of our life, a common occurrence in our relationship. “Well, what is it? Spit it out.” Her patience is wearing thin, as always.
I clear my throat. “I’m ending things between us.”
Lizzie swishes her blonde hair over her shoulder with a confident, mocking laugh. “Really, Shaw, this again?”
“Permanently,” I add, hoping she realizes the severity of the situation.
“Mm.” She muses while moving toward me. Her long talons find my shirt buttons and she pops them open. I grip her wrist to stop her.
“Lizzie, this is serious.” I grit my teeth at her refusal to accept my words.
“I know and so are we.” She bites into her plump lip playfully. In the past, I would’ve been aching to feel it being worked out over my cock, but now all I want to do is push her away from me.
“I got another girl pregnant.” She stills and sucks in a sharp breath that causes pity to lance through me. “I’m sorry.”
She steps back, stunned, her eyes wide. “Sorry?”
I drag a hand over my head. “We were broken up. I hadn’t slept with anyone for months.” She stares back at me in silence, so I continue on. “I am sorry. Really fucking sorry, Liz.” I stare into her blue eyes, hoping she can see the honesty in mine.
Her lip curls up at the side menacingly, and her eyes narrow with a scowl. “Can she get rid of it?”
My heart sinks on her words.Is she for real?“No,” I snap back.
“Is she too far gone?”
In all honesty, I don’t know the cutoff point for those procedures. But Emi has a bump, and besides, there’s no way I’d even consider getting rid of my own flesh and blood. The thought alone sickens and angers me, causing my body to lock up with tension.
“She won’t be getting rid of the baby,” I say with confidence.Over my dead fucking body.
“But if you could, would you?” Her words sear into me. She’s not getting this. There’s no other option, even if I was prepared to consider any other way.
“Lizzie, she’s pregnant and I’m marrying her.”
Her pupils dilate as I stand still and wait for a tirade of curse words, the overload of emotions to dispel from her.
Instead, the sharp slap against my cheek stuns me. My hand moves to my face, shocked at her outburst. She’s always been volatile, but this is the first time she’s physically lashed out.
