Author: Teresa Mummert

“But I’m not…I mean…I can’t be” My memory was going thinking of all the encounters I had had with William. My heart sank as I realized we hadn’t always been safe when we got caught up in the heat of the moment and William was blaming me. I bit my lip and stared at him, unable to form words.

“Now” he hissed, his eyes darted to mine and back to the wall behind me. I jumped at his angry tone and grabbed for the stick on the counter. I was mortified. Pregnancy had never crossed my mind. I reluctantly took the test and sat it back on the countertop next to him. My eyes overflowed with tears as I pushed passed him with my shoulder. I began to frantically gather my things wanting desperately to get as far away from all of this as possible.

I glanced behind me towards the bathroom before dragging my things out the door. William didn’t try to stop me. I fumbled with my phone as I made my way to the sidewalk in front of the building. I was in a strange city thousands of miles from everyone I knew with no where to go. I hopped into the first cab that pulled up.

“Where to?”

“A hotel, something inexpensive…but safe” I choked out between sobs. The cabby nodded and pulled away from the curb. We drove for about ten minutes before pulling up outside of hotel.

“Thanks” I said, whipping my tears and handing him some money from my bag. I dragged my things into the hotel, paying with an emergancy credit card.

My phone never rang that night. The next day the I awoke feeling like I had been ran over by a truck. I flipped through the phone book and got the number for an airport to schedule my trip home. I could barely breath, barely think. My heart sank as my thoughts automatically went back to William. I needed to get out of this place before I lost my courage and went running back to him. I scheduled a flight for a few hours away and set off to wait at the aiport. The time flew by and before I knew it I was on my plane headed back to Florida. I slept away the entire trip after spending the night before awake and sobbing.

Chapter Thirty-Two

The plane landed and I stepped out in to the airport. I wrapped my arms around myself and waited for my bags as I stared off into nothing. I gathered my things and stepped out onto the sidewalk. I had nowhere to go. My aunt was not expecting me home for days. I grabbed my phone and looked the screen. I had no missed calls, no messages. I sighed as I scrolled through the small list of numbers on my phone.

Can you do me a favor?

I clicked send and waited for a response. A few minutes later my phone rang and I smiled nervously as I answered.

“Hey, Jeff” Everyone else I knew was on vacation celebrating graduation. Jeff had mentioned that he would have to stay behind. We talked for a few minutes.

“Thanks, I really appreciate it.” I sat down on the curb and waited for Jeff to arrive. I slipped a flat orange container from my purse and pushed a tiny pill through the foil and popped it in my mouth. I realized that I was on the sugar pill week of my birth control, but I took it anyway to keep routine. My stomach was twisting in pain. I closed the pack as I thought of William. If he had known I was on the pill he wouldn’t have flipped out the way he did, but in a way I was glad it happened. He had turned cold and heartless at the drop of a dime. I couldn’t be with someone like that. Jeff’s car pulled up to the curb and he grinned from ear to ear when he saw me. I smiled back, trying to look happy. He jumped out of his seat and quickly took my bags, loading them into his trunk.

“That should do it.”

“Thank you, Jeff. You really helped me out here.” I smiled. He gave me a one armed hug. I almost pulled back from him but it was nice to have someone care for me. I turned up the radio as soon as we got in the car to avoid the awkward conversation as to why my eyes were puffy and red and I needed a place to stay.

“This is it.” He said, pushing open his apartment door. It was small and dark but he kept it clean.

“It’s nice” I smiled. He scratched the back of his head.

“My roommate is gone for vacation, so if you want you can take his room he won’t mind.” I nodded my head as I looked down the hallway.

“Thank you, Jeff.” I drug my back back to the room and sat it on the bed before walking back into the living room.

“So…” He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked at me.

“I’ll explain it over a beer, okay?” I held up my hand, not wanting to let my thoughts linger on William.

“Deal” Jeff flashed me a smile and grabbed two beers from his fridge, making sure to open my bottle before handing it to me. I chewed on my lip as I pulled my legs under me on the couch. I took a long sip as Jeff stared at me.

“So?” He said, trying to get me talking. I explained my situation, leaving out certain details like names and sexual habits.

“Wow” His eyes looked down at the floor.

“yea” I sighed, afraid to look him in the eye. He pushed off the couch and made his way across the room. He returned a few seconds later with a bottle and two small glasses.

“We are going to need something a lot stronger.” He smiled and I immediately relaxed. I had judged him a little too harshly when I had first met him. He was going out of his way to help me and make me feel better.

“Thank you” I said, my eyes pressed shut as I gasped. The liquor burned my throat and for a minute I thought it was on fire. Jeff laughed and drank back his. “So, what about you?” I asked, watching him pour another round.

“I really liked a girl once, but she was busy carring on a secret romance with some asshole who broke her heart.” His eyes flashed up to mine. I smiled nervously and took the glass from his hand.

“To assholes and the idiots who fall for them.” He bumped his glass against mine and we drank them down. My phone rang and I froze in place, my eyes wide as they locked onto Jeff’s. He shook his head and grabbed the phone from my hand.

“She doesn’t want to talk to you. You missed your chance.” He hung up the phone and held it out for me. My jaw fell open and I blinked several times trying to erase what had just happened. My phone rang again and I quickly hit the switch on the side to mute it.

“Another?” Jeff asked, holding up the bottle. I nodded, handing him my glass. He filled it and I slammed it back, holding my hand out for a refill.

“That’s what I’m talking about!” he laughed and filled our glasses again, spilling some on my lap. The shots slid down my thoat easier now and my head was beginning to feel light. Jeff stumbled into the kitchen and grabbed a rag to clean up his mess. He rubbed it on my lap, his breath reaking of alcohol on my face.

“Woah! I got it!” I took the rag from his hand and rubbed it on my jeans. “Shit” I muttered.

“I’m so sorry.” Jeff stumbled to his feet.

“I should go change.” I stood up, falling back against the couch to catch myself. I stumbled back the hall, leaning against the walls for support. My phone lit up and vibrated in my hand.

“What?” I slurred into the phone. William was breathing heavily.

“What’s wrong with you?” He hissed angrily. I made a face at the phone.

“What is wrong with me?” I pointed to myself as I stumbled into the bedroom.

“Are you drunk?” He asked, sounding concerned.

“Hey, if you need a shirt or something I can grab you one of mine.” Jeff called from the doorway.

“Who the fuck was that?” William yelled in my ear. I pulled the phone back from my face.

“My friend” I said as angrily as I could.

“I’m five minutes away. Come outside now!”

“How did you…” I rememebered he was able to track my phone and rage boiled inside of me.

“Here” Jeff held out an oversized Kippling shirt.

“Thank you” I took it from him and stumbled. He caught me by my arms.

“I think you should lay down.” He said, inches from my face. I pushed him back from me.

“I’m fine” His grip didn’t loosen as he pushed me back towards the bed. “I said I’m fine!” I lost my footing and tumbled back onto the bed. Jeff landed on top of me, his hands groping at me. “Get off of me!” I screamed. A loud banging came from down the hall and in an instant Jeff was pulled off of me. William slammed him against the wall, causing his head to crack loudly against it.

“Mr. Honor?” Jeff slurred, in shock. William pulled back and hit Jeff hard across the face. Blood flew from his nose on impact. He held him by his shirt and leaned in close to him.

“If you ever hurt her again I will kill you.” Jeff pressed himself against the wall, terrified. William stared at him for another minute before letting him go and holding out his hand to me. I slipped my fingers in his and he grabbed my things, dragging me from the apartment. As soon as we reached the sidewalk I lurched forward, vomitting all over the ground.

“Well, I guess you know that you’re not pregnant.” He said dryly. I looked at him for a long moment.

“I knew all along.” I glared at him. He swallowed hard and opened his car door.

“Let’s go” he said, no anger in his voice. I slipped into my seat and slammed the door.

“Just take me to my car.” I felt his eyes on me and he took off fast down the road. My stomach was churning and I wanted to beg him to go slower, but I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction.

Chapter Thirty-Three

After taking a shower and eating something I felt a lot better but my heart still ached and the cause of it was sitting just a few feet from me.

“I want to go home.” I said, pulling my knees to my chest.

“Give me a chance to explain.” He said, his voice panicked. I glared at him.

“What is there to say?” I could feel my chest growing heavy as I relived what had happened in my mind.

“I know you deserve better than me.” He looked at me and waited for a response. I didn’t say anything. “Can I hold you?” He asked. His words caught me off guard. I wanted to scream at him and run out of the door but I sat, frozen in place. William slid closer on the couch and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me down on him as he laid back. He sighed, pushing my hair back from my face.

“Abby was pregnant.” He whispered. My blood ran cold.

“What?” I asked, in shock as I twisted to see his face. His eyes were pink and swollen like he had been crying since I left.

“We had just found out.” He smirked at the memory.

“You have a…” He shook his head before I could finish my sentence.

“She took the money, remember? She didn’t have room in her life for me and our…” His voice trailed off. He pressed his eyes closed, trying to forget. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I just…couldn’t.” A tear escaped his eye and rolled down his cheek. I wiped it with my thumb, staring into his eyes.

“I’m so sorry.” I whispered. He ran hands through his hair as he sat up.

“You’re sorry? Emma, I damn near ruined your life in the short time that I’ve known you.” He was angry with himself and on the verge of breaking down completely.

“William, everyone has a past. Mine isn’t that great either but it made you who you are today. The man I love.” I put my hand on his chest. His heart was beating wildly.

“You still love me?” His face was pained as he braced himself for me to break his heart.

“More than anything.” I smiled as I looked down at my hand on his chest, thinking of how far we have come in this short amount of time. “I belong to you.” I said quietly. His eyes began to burn and I could tell his mood was shifting. He grabbed my hand and held it tightly against him.

“I love you more than anything, Emma. I don’t want to ever feel the way I did when I thought I had lost you forever.” I smiled and leaned in to kiss him. His lips pressed hard against mine. “Marry me”