Chapter 11
CHAPTER 11
The next day I did some last minute packing. The movers were scheduled to show up any minute. Footsteps sounded and then Matt walked into the loft.
“Matt.” I tried to hide my surprise.
“You and Jackson took off so quickly on Wednesday. You didn’t even say goodbye,” Matt’s voice sounded sulky.
“Was your mom okay?”
“Yes, she was fine.”
We stood there looking at each other.
He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry I jumped out of the way. It was more instinct than anything. I didn’t mean to put you in danger.”
He seemed sincere. “That’s okay. It all worked out.”
“So has Jackson gone back to Virginia?”
“Yes, he left yesterday.”
He looked over at the boxes. “I got your texts about you moving out. That’s why I’m here.”
I stared at him, feeling a sense of anxiety grow in my stomach. “Okay.”
“I want to give this another shot. We need to make a go of this. ”
“Matt.”
“No, hear me out. I mean it, Emily. I think that the last two months have been crazy. Crazier than anyone could handle, but that doesn’t mean we have to keep reacting to the crazy. I love you, and you love me.”
“Matt,” I floundered. Why was it always so hard to be upfront and straight with this man?
“I didn’t realize just how scared and alone you felt until you publicly proposed to Jackson.” He gave a half laugh. “I mean, you put the guy on the spot there, but you need to know that you aren’t alone here, Emily. I’m here for you, and I want us to get married. I know we can have such a beautiful life together.”
He was convinced that this is what was going to happen. Matt had unfaltering confidence.
“Jackson and I got married.”
He stepped back and slowly shook his head. “No.”
“We went to the courthouse yesterday.”
“You’re telling me that you’re actually married.”
“Yes.”
Matt’s face flushed. His lips pulled back, and he snarled. “Well, that was a very stupid thing to do, Emily.”
“Matt….”
He rolled his shoulders. “You think Jackson wants a wife much less a baby? When I suggested to him that I was willing to step in as a father and to marry you, he couldn’t get on board fast enough.”
I felt my heart freeze into a solid lump. “He told you that?”
Matt gave a sharp laugh. “You still don’t get it, do you?”
“Get what?”
“The only reason why Jackson messed with you is that he was trying to get to me. It's been like that my entire life.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Jackson only dates blondes. Tall, leggy blondes.”
I lifted my chin a notch. The blood pumped wildly through my veins. “So? ”
“So, you're a tiny redhead. No offense, but you would’ve never been a ping on his radar. You want to know why Jackson and I are at odds? He’s not a nice person. He came into my life when I was seven and our family never recovered. He’s been trying to ruin my life since the day I met him.”
“You’re lying.” My lips felt numb.
He laughed harshly. “Why would I lie about that? Have you ever asked yourself why I have never brought up his name or invited Jackson to be part of our lives? You've no idea what you are dealing with. I can’t believe you married him.”
“Jackson is the father of this baby.”
He shook his head in disgust. “No, he isn't. He merely donated his DNA and impregnated you. But that man will never be a father to that child. You need a heart and some emotions to parent a child. Jackson has neither.”
I took a few deep breaths while his harsh words sunk into my body. Cold fear snaked up my back.
“Why would he marry me if he didn’t want to be part of this child’s life?” My argument sounded weak to my ears.
Matt shook his head. “I knew you were naive, but I didn’t realize that you were such a fool. Jackson wants to fuck with me. And it doesn’t hurt that he married someone that has more money than he knows what to do with. Sure hope you signed an ironclad prenup.”
My eyes widened in shock.
He rolled his head. “You did it. I tried to protect you, but you’ve got nothing but heartache and pain ahead of you. It devastates me that I couldn’t save you.”
I stood there for a long time after he walked out.
Jackson: How did the move go?
Beth sat on my couch beside me and listened to me pour my heart out about everything that had happened, including my shotgun wedding and my last conversation with Matt.
“Matt's a dick,” she said decisively, but I could tell that she hid her worry.
“Do you think I made a mistake? What if Matt is right? I mean, what do I know about Jackson?”
“I hate that Matt is still fucking with you.”
“What if Jackson did all of this to get back at Matt?”
We stared at each other for a long moment. She squinted. “Well, to get someone pregnant and marry them is a pretty elaborate plan to mess with someone else. He could have just beat up Matt or something.”
I let out a big breath. “You’re right.”
“Besides, Jackson was nice right from the get-go. He fixed your car, and he helped you with your wedding.”
I dropped my face into my hands and moaned. “But why would someone like Jackson even want to marry someone like me? It makes no sense that he even slept with me in the first place.”
She reached out and touched my arm. “When you’re with him, what does your gut say?”
I tried to remember. I loved how protective he was. How after I had been attacked he had sat and watched me sleep. How he was so playful with Chloe. This is a man who picked up a broken, sad dog off the side of the road. “He saved Chloe from imminent death.”
She nodded. “Yes, he did. Matt would have driven on by, but Jackson went out of his way to save your dog.”
I looked around the room. “And he saved my life too.”
“Yes, yes! These are not actions of a cold-hearted guy. Plus he got punched in the face standing up for you at your wedding.”
“Yeah.”
She rubbed my arm. “Don’t let Matt get in your head. He's just a jerk about all of this. ”
I looked around the loft in anguish. “What if Matt is right? What if Jackson married me for my money?”
She sighed and gave a little shrug. “I don’t know the answer to that. He doesn’t seem like the type to me.”
I inhaled. “I just feel so weird. It’s been three days since he left and now he is gone. When he’s around me, it all makes sense. When he’s gone, I’m constantly questioning everything.”
She patted my hand. “The moment you get out there, things will get easier. Everything will be perfect when you get there.”