Chapter 30
Erin
“It was great talking to you too. We’ll chat soon,” I said, hanging up the phone on another client. Organizing meetings was my least favorite part of my job. I hated making the phone calls and pretending to be excited to talk to a bunch of stuck-up men that didn’t know I existed. I hated it even more when I wanted nothing more than to hide out in my living room with a bottle of wine.
I groaned, setting my phone back on my desk before I rested my head against my hands. When there was a quiet knock, I looked up. The door opened, and Amy walked in. She had a sympathetic smile on her face—the same smile she’d had on her face since the entire office heard me yelling at my sister.
“There are two gentlemen here to see you,” she said. I ruffled my brow, already dreading the interaction. I wasn’t sure who it was, but I was sure that I didn’t want to be sociable.
I sat up straight when Darren and Blake turned the corner. Two gentlemen. Jacob wasn’t with them. “Thank you, Amy.”
When they walked into my office, I stood up. Amy left, letting the door close behind her, and the silence in the room hung thick between us. Blake was the first to talk, stepping forward and opening his arms for a hug. “There she is,” he said, wrapping them around me.
I bit back tears when Darren put his hand on my back. “What are you guys doing here?” I asked, stepping back and straightening my spine.
I offered them my best everything-is-perfectly-fine customer service smile and clapped once, leaving my hands clasped. Darren tilted his head to the side. “We couldn’t just sit by when Jacob is hurting so much without you,” he said, shrugging. “And maybe you’re hurting too.” He casted a glance at the wadded-up tissue left on my desk from the tears I had mopped up before my phone call.
I nodded but looked down. “I just don’t know that I can do it.”
“Do what?” Blake asked, dropping into one of the chairs across from my desk and kicking one leg over the other. He made himself at home. “Do you believe it’s not his baby?”
“Yes, I do. It’s just—”
“Look,” Darren started, putting his hand on my shoulder. “I’ve been friends with Jacob for a long time, and I’ve never seen him as happy as he was with you. He definitely wasn’t ever this happy with Liz or any other woman. He’s different with you.”
Blake nodded excitedly, agreeing with every word. “He’s right. You’re good for him. He’s miserable without you, Erin.”
Tears stung my eyes, and I blinked, hoping to clear them. “He is?” My stomach twisted in knots, and my lungs were tight. I couldn’t get a full breath thinking about Jacob in pain.
Darren nodded. “He is. He’s in love with you.”
I’m in love with him too. “I know he is.” I sighed. “I really appreciate you guys coming all the way here to see me. It’s just not that simple. He’s my sister’s ex-boyfriend, and now she’s pregnant. Whether it’s his kid or not, things are just really complicated. I don’t want to put him in a situation that hurts him more. I couldn’t live with myself if I did.”
Blake and Darren nodded. They weren’t unfamiliar with the drama that followed Liz anywhere she went. When Blake stood up, I knew they weren’t staying long. They didn’t have to. “That man would do anything for you,” he said, smacking Darren on the back like an unspoken signal it was time to leave. “Don’t just let him go.”
I nodded, watching them walk out. The door closed behind them, and when it latched, my breath caught in my throat. That man would do anything for you. I let the tears roll down my cheeks. Maybe it was up to me to prove I’d do the same.
Should I go over there? I looked at my car keys hanging on the hook by the front door, deciding Darren and Blake had been right. Don’t just let him go. I grabbed my purse from the table and snatched the keys off the hook, determined to get to Jacob as quickly as possible. We needed to talk. I needed to apologize.
I threw the door open, faltering in my first step. Liz stood on the other side with her fist raised, ready to knock on the wood slab that was no longer there. Her mouth dropped open in shock before it stretched into a wide smile. “Good timing!” she cheered, taking a step forward. I planted my feet.
“What are you doing here?” I asked her, trying to breathe quietly so she wouldn’t know how fast my breaths were coming.
Liz rested her hands on her hips. “Why don’t you ever seem excited to see me?”
“Because I’m not excited to see you.” I didn’t have the time for this, nor did I have time for the guilt that roiled in my stomach when Liz’s smile fell. I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat. “I’m busy.”
She looked at the keys in my hands and my purse slung over my shoulder. “Busy with what?”
“I’m heading out.” I wasn’t going to tell her I was going to see Jacob.
Liz sighed. “I was hoping we could talk.” She pushed past me, forcing her way into my house. Gritting my teeth, I closed the door and turned to face her.
“Oh, did you want to drop another bomb on me? What is it this time?” I dropped my purse and keys on the entry table, throwing my hands sarcastically in the air. “Not only are you pregnant, but it’s twins! Is that it?”
She crossed one arm across her body and grabbed her elbow, looking away from me. “Actually, I’m not pregnant.”
“What? What do you mean?” My hands were shaking, and I held my breath waiting for her explanation. “You lost the baby?”
Liz shrugged nonchalantly. “I mean I’m not pregnant. I wasn’t ever pregnant.”
My vision blurred, and I put my hand against the wall to keep my balance. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. “You made it up?” She nodded. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“Oh, come on,” she said, raising her arms halfway. “Don’t act like it’s that big of a deal!”
I closed the distance between us, stepping towards her quickly until she was backed against the wall. “Not a big deal?” I shrieked and hovered my face close to hers. Liz’s eyes widened, and she gulped. “You can’t fake a pregnancy! You had a sonogram photo!”
“You can print a picture from the internet really easy, Erin. You’re so gullible.” Liz giggled, putting her hands on my chest and pushing me back. She ducked from between me and the wall.
“Why would you do something like that?” My voice clung to my throat and my pulse echoed in my ears.
Liz rocked her head from side to side and then shrugged. “I figured if I told him I was pregnant, I could get him back. Jacob always took care of me. I didn’t have to work or worry about rent with him. He’s a good man.”
I spun to face her. “What kind of person fakes a pregnancy to manipulate a man that wants nothing to do with her anymore? You’re the worst kind of person. I’m ashamed to call you my sister.” My words were like daggers, and tears I didn’t feel pity for gathered against her lower eyelids.
“What is the big deal? Why are you so mad about this?” Her lip quivered, and I turned away.
I reached for the small bowl holding change and miscellaneous small items, flinging it across the room. The metal bowl hit the wall and landed on the floor with a loud clang, accompanied by the clatter of the coins. My chest heaved. Liz’s eyes got wider.
“You could’ve ruined his life!” I screamed, and Liz took a step back.
Then her eyes narrowed. “What, are you into him or something?” She glared at me, and her jaw clenched.
“Yes.”
Liz moved away from the wall, rushing towards me. “What do you mean, yes?” She put her hand in my face, using her pointer finger to appear dominant. “Are you fucking my boyfriend?”
“He’s not your boyfriend,” I said, taking a deep breath in an effort to remain calm even though my heart was pounding against my chest and my hands were shaking. “You cheated on him, remember? He always deserved better than you.”
“Better than me?” She threw her head back and laughed, and the sound made my skin crawl. “And you think you’re better than me?”
“Yes.” I planted my feet when she pressed her chest to mine. I put my hands on her shoulders, forcing her back a step. “You were never good for him. I love him.”
Her nostrils flared and the muscles in her jaw rippled when she ground her teeth together. Liz closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “You love him?”
“More than you ever did.” I looked her in the eyes when I said it. I had no reason to be ashamed of that.
“You bitch.” Liz reached her hand out, and I felt the sting of her palm against my cheek before I saw it coming.
I snapped, a red filter fogging my vision. “How dare you?” I snarled, closing my hand around the front of her neck and forcing her back. She took a step back for every step forward I took until I held her against the wall. Her eyes widened when I tightened my hold, squeezing her neck. “You have been nothing but trouble for too long.”
Liz grabbed my wrist with one hand, making a fist with the other and swinging it at me. She made contact with my cheek, and I dropped back when my eye started to water. I lunged forward, grabbing her shoulders and slamming her into the wall.
“You’re done. This is done. I don’t want anything to do with you ever again. You’re dead to me.” I pulled her away from the wall and threw her back against it. “Do you understand me?”
“Are you serious?” She pushed against my hold until she could get her hands against my shoulders and force me backwards. “You’re going to choose some man over your family?”
I shook my head. “No. You’re not my family. You’ve done nothing but use and take advantage of me for years. I’m done with you.” I dropped my arms and stepped aside, pointing at the front door. “Get out of my house.”
“You’ve lost your mind.” Liz took a hesitant step forward.
I laughed. “I’ve never been more clear-headed or confident in a decision in my life.” My voice was low and sharp, and I held my ground. I didn’t move to walk her to the door or ask her to stay. I wanted her gone. “I don’t ever want to see you again. Don’t call me. Don’t talk to me. Don’t even look at me when we pass on the street.”
“I can’t believe you,” Liz said when she got to the door.
I crossed my arms. “Well, believe it. I’m done letting you ruin my life. Get out.”