Chapter 25 #2
“Not an option because you’d feel guilty, or you feel it’s morally wrong?”
“I don’t want an abortion because I want my baby. I don’t care if they don’t. I do.” Tears stung my eyes.
She reached over and placed her hand on my womb. “Then we will figure it all out together. If neither wants to help or be there, I’m here. We’re having this baby, and you will be this bomb pharmacist and a mother.”
I pressed her hand against my belly and exhaled a shaky breath.
A SHORT TIME LATER, she pulled into the parking lot.
I noticed Chelsea’s and Grey’s car, and my heart dropped briefly before I regained strength.
They were together. Carter was my priority, and he would remain that way.
The baby was Carter’s, and I refused to entertain the possibility of Grey as the father.
“You can stay in the car. I won’t be long. All he needs is underwear and sweats.”
My sister nodded, and I hurried up the stairs.
I rushed to his bedroom and packed clothes and toiletries in his backpack.
I left the condo, and I headed to the stairs.
But my soul wouldn’t rest if I didn’t confront my friends about their secretive behavior.
That they both stood me up without any explanation.
I stormed back to our condo, walked in, and heard grunts and moans from our bedroom.
Grey and Chelsea were having sex. My stomach roiled, and I held it.
This time, it wasn’t the baby. Then I heard Chelsea cry out in pleasure, and I dropped Carter’s bag and stumbled over it, hitting the coffee table.
The noise must have scared the couple, and I heard scrambling in the other room.
I waited with balled fists, ready to go the fuck off.
Chelsea peeked out, sweaty, and her hair a mess.
“Oh...didn’t expect you home.” Chelsea frowned when she looked at my fists. “What’s wrong?”
“It was your voice I heard through the walls. You fucked Carter, and now you’re with Grey,” I accused, unable to calm myself.
The door behind her opened wide, and Carmello, her ex, wearing only unbuttoned pants, appeared scowling. “What did you say?”
“Carmello? Um...” I was at a loss for words. “I thought...thought maybe something was going on with Grey. I guess I was mistaken.”
He pushed past Chelsea and stared at me. Pissed. “Grey, too? Is she still fucking around with Carter? I know that’s your girl, but she promised they only flirted and kissed. That he didn’t mean anything and that he’s your man. Is it true?”
“I’m not fucking Grey or Carter. I only want you,” Chelsea pleaded as she pulled on his arm.
My prideful friend wouldn’t beg a man who cheated on her, so I asked boldly, “Why do you care if you cheated on her?”
“I never cheated. I caught her with Carter in his truck.” Carmello’s scowl grew deeper, and he grabbed Chelsea by the shoulders and shook her hard. “You lying bitch. Fake ass bitch. Still trying to fuck over me.”
I tried to snatch him around the waist to pull him from Chelsea.
I didn’t want Carmello to hurt her. When he continued to yell and shake her, I punched him on the back multiple times, screaming for him to stop, to no avail.
Then I felt someone jerk me away, and before I could react, Grey scooped his arms under Carmello and pressed against his shoulders with such force that Carmello let Chelsea go, who fell to the floor in a sobbing heap.
Grey continued to hold Carmello, his voice strong and firm, “Calm down, and I’ll let you go. Can’t let you hurt her because you’re hurt.”
I looked at Carmello, who struggled against Grey’s sure hold and still held on to anger.
“She’s not worth it. You don’t want a charge.
I don’t know if she’s still fucking around with Carter.
Didn’t know they were involved until now.
And yeah, he’s supposed to be with me now.
I need to go bring his family his bag. He was injured on the field.
Not even sure how bad. He might be on the way to the hospital.
I can’t deal with any of this.” I picked up his bag.
“Carter was hurt?” Grey immediately released Carmello and grasped my hand. “Hey...wait...let me go with you. I can’t let you leave upset like this.”
I shrugged his hand off. “Really? Because you seem pretty comfortable leaving me hanging. Last night and then today. I’m good.”
When I took a step toward the door, Grey blocked my path. “Please. Let me explain. I was trying to protect you from this.”
“Then you failed,” I hissed. “Danielle is waiting for me downstairs."
"I'll follow you in my car. Come on, let me be there for you," Grey pleaded.
Carmello had stormed back into the bedroom, probably to get dressed, and Chelsea was still on the floor, wailing and crying that she was sorry.
Everything was so fucked up. My life was a fucking mess.
I glared at Grey, "Can’t deal with either one of you anymore.
I’ll get Darryl or Danielle to get my stuff. I'm out of here.”
Grey grabbed the door when I swung it open. “I know you’re confused, betrayed, and worried about Carter. Please don’t make any decisions until everything settles down.”
“That’s the thing, I am calm. Unbelievably calm. You were supposed to be my friend first. The only one I believed incapable of causing me pain. I always believed you had my back and would tell me the truth even if it hurt.”
He shook his head. “You were so caught up in him. You couldn’t handle this hurt, Darren.”
“Well, guess what? It happened, and I have to deal with it, don’t I?” I slammed the door on a wounded Grey. And for once, I didn’t give a fuck.