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“Wait, wait,” Rhys held onto me, keeping me from committing a crime. He held me behind him, and turned his attention back to my mother. “Say what you need to say. Then get the hell out of our lives.”
“Alone,” she seethed, like he had missed the point.
“No. Ash can hear whatever you need to say.”
“Ugh, Rhys, you’re so hard headed. Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“Spit it out,” he yelled. His arms were shaking with anger and his body was stiff. I held on to his belt loops and pressed my head into his back to stay connected with him while we waited on Melanie to stop being dramatic.
“I’m pregnant!” Her voice sounded excited, like she had just yelled surprise at a party. “You’re going to be a dad, Rhys-y. We are having a baby.”
My head lifted from his back but I couldn’t move, or risk looking at her. That sick feeling I had was returning and threatening to choke me.
“Please leave,” he said calmly, taking me by surprise.
“I want to show you the sonogram.”
“Leave. I will have my lawyer contact you tomorrow.”
“Rhys!” She yelled. “This is what you wanted and I am making it happen for you!”
“I want Ash,” he said evenly. “If you are pregnant with my child, I will be a good dad, but I won’t be with you.”
“Rhys!” She yelled again, this time higher. I wanted to roll my eyes and ask her what happened to “Rhys-y” but I stayed hidden behind him and continued to let him handle her, still in complete shock that he was asking her to leave.
“Ash? Pack a bag, baby. We’re going to my place. The codes have been changed and security has been notified. We’ll go there tonight to make sure we have privacy.”
“You bastard! You were supposed to be happy. I have been calling you, texting you, and waiting for this moment. All of this is for you!”
I moved as Rhys instructed and packed a bag. Melanie would have access to my apartment as long as she wanted to, and could knock to her heart’s content. But Rhys’ place was where we could hide away and let this entire ordeal settle down.
Melanie opened the door and looked back at me while I shoved clothes into my soccer bag. “You were always the problem. I found him first, and you know damn well you stole him from me.”
“Love you too, Mom.”
She screamed again, and tightened her coat around her waist. I could hear her heels clicking as she made her way down the sidewalk to her car. Rhys closed the door softly and turned back looking haggard and exhausted. We stared at one another, so much more to be said, and both too exhausted to start.
“I’m ready,” I whispered, slightly unsure if I should even go with him. He needed the chance to think things through. Melanie just left a bomb at his feet, and he hadn’t had time to process the explosion that was bound to come from it all.
At the same time, I didn’t want to run from him the way she had. I was stronger than her, and until we agreed that he had to focus on Melanie, I was going to stay by his side.
He licked his lips and looked around the room, nodding. Grabbing his keys and phone, then my bag, he opened the door and let me walk out first.
Melanie was still in her car, on her phone, and she watched as Rhys opened the passenger door for me. He leaned down and kissed me, then made his way around the front of the car. He didn’t spare her a glance, but I knew he saw her as well.
The quiet drive to his apartment was intense, and by the time we got there, I was too tired to say anything at all.
Rhys helped me undress and slipped one of his shirts over my head. Then he lifted me into his arms and placed me gently into his bed.
“I need a minute,” he whispered. His eyes were begging me to understand, and I did. I needed a minute as well. Being together, and talking when we were both so tired and overwhelmed, would lead to nothing but trouble.
“I know.” I touched his cheek and let my hand fall to the pillow beside my head. He sat next to me for a minute, watching as I tried keeping my eyes open.
“Sleep.”
I felt him lift from the bed and heard the door close. My eyes threatened to spill more tears, but I held off and begged the sandman to spare me.
ChapterThirty-Eight
