Текст книги "Pulse"

Автор книги: Gail McHugh

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Текущая страница: 11 (всего у книги 26 страниц) [доступный отрывок для чтения: 11 страниц]

As Emily stood with a dish towel in her hands, not only did slight hostility toward her mother bloom in her gut, she started to wonder why she’d allowed her mother’s words to anchor her to Dillon for as long as she did. Sure, her mother didn’t live to see what Dillon had morphed into. Before she took her last breath, Patricia Cooper left the earth thinking her youngest daughter was being swept off her feet by a true knight in shining armor. Emily was pretty sure if her mom had witnessed his change, she would’ve told her to get rid of him. Still, Lisa was the mothering force in her life, and during long conversations, she had always let Emily know if he wasn’t treating her well, she should walk away.

The signs had been there. Warning flags were waved in every direction from most of the people surrounding her. However, she blanked them out. The few times she’d spoken to a counselor after leaving Dillon, she was told it was possible she leaned into Dillon after her mom died because he was a piece of something that no longer existed anymore. He was a witness to a soul another man in her life would never meet. In a sense, holding on to him was holding on to her mother. Holding on to her past. Although that past was painted with specks of sorrow, it was still familiar, understood. It was cold, yet warm, dark, yet filled with bright light she would never experience again. It was something that was forever… gone.

As Emily dried her hands, Gavin’s words from this morning filtered into her thoughts. Not only did she have to forgive her mother for the mistakes she made, she also needed to forgive herself. And that’s exactly what she did in those seconds in her sister’s kitchen on this particular late Christmas afternoon. Though she knew she’d never begin to fully understand the way her mother was or the way she’d followed in her path, Emily reached into her heart and stripped away the last bit of negativity she held toward herself and her mother.

“Hey, I lost you there for a few.” Lisa’s soft voice lulled Emily back. Placing her hand on Emily’s cheek, she gave a weak smile. “Are you okay?”

Emily didn’t answer as she pulled her sister in for a hug. As if sensing what Emily was going through, Lisa squeezed her tight. Her comforting hold seized Emily with love as it always did.

“Uh oh. We’ve interrupted a sisterly moment.” Michael chuckled as he and Gavin strolled into the kitchen. “We suck, man.”

Staring at his jewel, Gavin smiled and leaned against the arched entryway. He watched Emily back away from her sister, love gripping him by the neck as her gaze caught his. Even dressed in sweatpants and a sweatshirt, she was so goddamn beautiful she took his breath away. With a smile on her face that filled him completely, she made her way toward him. Warmth spilled through his body as she looped her arms around his neck, her soft auburn hair draping down her back as she looked up at him. She seemed genuinely happy, and he could feel it.

“Have I told you that you look amazeballs in yellow?” Emily laughed, snuggling against his chest.

Michael snorted, reaching for an olive on a platter filled with cold cuts and cheese. “Yeah right. He looks like Big Bird on crack.” Lisa smacked his arm and pulled the cookies from the oven. “That hurt, babe.” Michael mocked pain and rubbed his arm.

Gavin shook his head. “You might be right, Michael, but if you’d received the… gifts I did in exchange for wearing this, you might find yourself on a crack high modeling a Knicks sweatshirt.”

Emily blushed and laughed.

“Not a chance, buddy,” Michael replied, popping the olive into his mouth. “No matter what my sister-in-law gave you, considering your big, goofy ass looks like it was hit with a hearty blast of sun, I’m thinking you need to withhold your last Christmas gift and give it to me instead. Hell, I’d be your girlfriend and wear a Knicks sweatshirt. Me love you long time, Gavin.”

“Michael!” Lisa gasped, smacking his arm again.

Michael chuckled, and Emily looked at Gavin, her expression confused. “Last gift? I thought we were done exchanging?”

Gavin popped a knowing brow, a smirk on his face. “Ah. That’s what I had you thinking, sweets. To be quite honest, I’m filled with surprises that’ll keep your mind… blown… constantly.” Dipping his head, he pulled her closer, his lips brushing her ear. “And I’m not just talking about when those gorgeous, shaking legs are wrapped around my head while you’re moaning my name.”

Emily whipped her head around, glancing over her shoulder at Michael and Lisa. Thankfully, they weren’t paying attention. Quickly, she pulled Gavin down for a heart-stopping kiss, and then she whispered into his ear, “Thank you so very much for making my legs shake the way you do.”

Gavin grinned, his eyes filled with considerable male appreciation. “The pleasure’s always mine.” Emily smiled, and Gavin looked at Michael. “Hey, Lakers loser.”

Michael snapped his head up from where he was digging into the smorgasbord of food piled on the counter. “What’s up, New York Knicks-don’t-have-a-chance-in-their-wildest-fucking-dreams nobody?”

Gavin threw his head back and laughed. “Whatever you say.”

“Yeah. We’ll see.” Michael swiped a beer from the refrigerator. “What can I do for you?”

“I forgot to grab the, uh”—Gavin looked down at Emily and back to Michael—”you know, those things, from you last night.”

Leaning against the counter, Michael took a long pull from his beer and shrugged. “I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about.”

For the third time in less than five minutes, Lisa swatted his arm. “Michael. You know what he’s asking for. Stop being a jackhole.”

“Damn, babe. It’s Christmas.” Lisa rolled her eyes. Shaking his head, Michael snorted and dug into his pocket.

Gavin let out a puff of air, turned Emily around, and slid his arms around her waist. Walking behind her, he moved her toward Michael and yanked something from his hand that Emily couldn’t see.

“What are you all up to?” Emily’s eyes flicked to her sister, whose face looked as if it was about to burst at the seams with joy.

“Does she have sneakers on?” was Lisa’s answer, clapping as Emily and Gavin rounded the corner to the mudroom flanking the back end of the house.

“Nope,” Gavin called. “What size are you, Lisa?”

“Six,” Lisa answered.

“Sit,” Gavin commanded, pointing to a bench as he released Emily’s waist.

With a curious look molding her face, Emily sat. “What am I, a dog?”

“Mmm, I bet if you were, you’d have a sexy bark.”

Smiling, Emily shook her head as Gavin knelt down and scanned a row of shoes underneath the bench. He plucked what appeared to be a size six Nike woman’s running shoe off the floor and propped Emily’s foot on his thigh. After slipping her foot into the sneaker and tying it, he repeated the process with the other.

Once finished, he looked up at her, his smile wide. “Comfortable?”

Emily crossed her arms. “What are you doing?”

“You didn’t answer my question. Are they comfortable?”

“Yes. They’re comfortable.”

“Good,” Gavin said, lacing his fingers in hers as he stood, pulling her up from the bench. “You ready?”

Emily slid her sweatshirt hood over her head. “To go running? Sure. Why not? I’ll need to burn off today’s calories anyway.”

“First: I’ll help you burn off those calories later. I’m the best workout you can get.” Emily rolled her eyes and giggled. “Second: we’re running and we’re running fast. But not with our feet.” Gavin stopped short at the garage door.

“Okay. Now you’re scaring me.”

Dipping his head, Gavin cupped the back of her neck and stared into her eyes. “Emily Cooper, the only thing you have to fear is how much I’m going to love you for the rest of your life. And… how many times I’m going to make those legs shake. But that’s beside the point. Never fear me, sweets. Understand?”

With a breezy smile, Emily lifted her hand in a salute. “Yes, sir, Mr. Blake. I completely and fully understand, sir.”

Amused and somewhat turned on, Gavin chuckled and swung open the door to the dark garage.

Before flipping on the lights, Emily could see the smile splitting his face, and she couldn’t help but sigh in contentment. God, she loved the charismatic energy he released. She knew it bled from his pores the moment she met him, and it captivated her. It gripped her, drew her in, anchoring around her heart.

A click…

Presto…

Lights…

When her eyes adjusted, Emily’s pulse quickened and her breath caught. Her gaze fell upon the most elegant vehicle she’d ever seen. White, sleek, and wrapped in a larger-than-life red bow, its sophisticated design was something she pictured Hollywood movie stars cruising in.

“Oh my God, Gavin. You didn’t,” she breathed, stepping down the stairs in a haze. Her eyes shifted between him and the car.

After walking down the stairs as well, Gavin wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. “I did. Do you like it?”

“Like it? I love it.” Sliding her hand along the magnificent contour of the hood, she moved around the extraordinary machine, her heart slamming in her chest. “What is it?”

“That would be a car, Emily.”

Pulling her gaze from the vehicle, she turned around, tilted her head, and laughed. “I know it’s a car. I mean, what kind is it? I’ve never seen one like this.”

Gavin chuckled, slid the hood from her head, and placed a kiss on her crown. “I knew what you meant.” He winked. “It’s a Maserati GranTurismo S, and we’re about to run it through the streets like two certified maniacs in love. I insist on speeding. Got it?” Stepping back, he tossed her the keys, and she caught them, a smile beaming from ear to ear.

Throwing her arms around his neck, Emily pushed up on her tiptoes and dragged Gavin down to her lips. She kissed him hard, pulling his body closer. “Yes. Got it. But you didn’t have to do this. I told you I didn’t need one. Are we driving it back to New York?”

“No, I’ll have a shipping company put it on a trailer and drive it across the country. And it’s too late to not buy it for you now. C’mon.” Grabbing her hand, he walked her to the driver’s side and opened the door. “She’s an automatic. I figured that was better for you since your sexy ass will be in the city. But she’s holding over 400 horsepower under her hood. I’m not kidding when I say you’re opening her the fuck up. Let’s see what she can do.”

Emily squealed, popped a kiss on his cheek, and slid behind the wheel. Smoothing her hands along the soft red leather interior, she watched Gavin hit the garage door opener on the wall. He pulled the bow off the car and rounded the vehicle to the passenger side.

Once he was nestled in his seat next to her, she looked at him. “Push button?”

With a grin, Gavin nodded. “You’re getting good at this.”

“Wiseass.” She giggled, tossing the keys to him. “Okay. We’re opening her up. Speed. Here we go.”

Emily pushed the button and the engine purred to life, its sound nearly nonexistent. A far cry from the cars she’d owned that threw up when she started them. As she backed out of the garage into the bright sun of the late afternoon, Gavin synched his cell to the car, pumping the stereo to near-deafening levels.

“Who is this?” she yelled over the smooth, sultry voice of a man singing about a girl who was his angel. The slow beat was eerily dark and sexy. She checked her mirrors before pulling into the street. “I like it.”

“Massive Attack. The song’s called ‘Angel,’” Gavin answered, staring at Emily as he wet his lips. “When you’re not with me, I’ve often… thought of you while listening to this, among other things.”

Emily glanced at him, her senses heated by his sexual tone. “Oh, have you?” She cleared her throat, pulling her eyes from his as she pressed the gas harder than intended. The car leapt forward as she made a quick right out of the development. “And what are the other things you’ve done while listening to this song with me in your thoughts?”

Still gazing at her, his mouth turned up in a wicked grin, his voice low as he lifted his arm, massaging the back of her neck. “I’m usually in the shower with hot water spraying all over my body.”

Emily’s breath hitched, stuck in the back of her throat as he dragged his hand from her neck, down her shoulder, brushing against the swell of her breast. “And then?” she breathed, trying to concentrate on the ramp leading onto the San Diego freeway. She rolled down the window, allowing fresh air into the small space that’d suddenly become sweltering. “Please tell me what you do to yourself.”

Oh yes. Gavin had created a sexual monster, and he loved Every. Fucking. Bit. He flicked his blue eyes to the speedometer. She didn’t realize it, but his sexual angel was nearing 80 mph as she weaved in and out of other vehicles, her shiny hair whipping around her heart-shaped face. Continuing his pursuit along the side of her body, he adjusted his seat back slightly as his hand slowly moved down to the waist band of her sweatpants. Nice easy access.

He teased his fingers against her stomach, lingering before dipping below the material. He felt Emily tense, the car jolting forward, faster as he slipped his hand lower still. Holy shit. She wasn’t wearing any panties. Dick hard as a rock, Gavin couldn’t help the groan rumbling up his throat. With Nine Inch Nails now pummeling through the car, screaming about fucking like animals, Gavin was more than pleased with his playlist. As Emily parted her legs, Gavin glided his hand down the smooth, bare flesh of her pussy, his fingers instantly slick as he pushed them inside her. A moan tore past Emily’s lips, and Gavin watched her hands grip the wheel tighter. He slid his fingers in and out with the steady beat pulsating from the speakers. Faster, the vehicle surged forward, nearing 110 mph as Emily lifted her left foot onto the edge of her seat. Emily tilted her head back, her eyes fluttering closed as he pushed deeper, harder.

“Eyes on the road, Emily, or else I stop,” Gavin commanded, his breath becoming ragged as she ground on his fingers.

Emily snapped her head forward, another moan filtering past her lips.

Staring at her beautiful face twisted with pleasure, Gavin leaned into her ear. “I take my cock and stroke it slowly while thinking of you.”

“Please keep going,” she begged shamelessly, her concentration faltering by the second. Her actions were dangerous and she knew it, but hell if she could stop. She was completely high, teetering on the edge of ecstasy, and she wanted nothing more than to jump. “What else do you think of?”

“I think about the way we fuck until our bodies are dripping with sweat and we can’t take anymore.” Gavin groaned, his senses drowning in the feel of her wetness coating his fingers. “I think about the way your hot pussy feels around me as you beg me to take you harder. The way your body shudders like a fucking leaf when you come for me. “

“Oh my God,” Emily moaned, her need to pull over and ravish him escalating with each stroke he pushed inside of her. He circled his thumb over her clit, heightening that need beyond any control she had left. Mind made up, Emily eased off the gas. Before she could seek out a spot, any damn spot, her gaze caught the blazing red and blue lights of a highway patrol car pushing up her ass.

“Gavin!” she wailed, her nerves shot and her body a tumbling mess. “I’m getting pulled over!”

Gavin barked out a laugh and eased his hand from her sweatpants. “That’s my speeding vixen,” he said as if unaffected by the situation. He licked his fingers, adjusted his seat, and smiled. “Don’t worry. I’ll just let them know what I was doing to you. I’m sure they’ll understand.”

Mouth agape, Emily shook her head, trying with all her might to calm her heated body. She reared off onto the shoulder, her attempt to calm down in vain, because she was shaking uncontrollably. Sure, some of it had to do with the not one but two towering state troopers flanking either side of the vehicle, but more of it had to do with her aching desire for release. Eyes wide and body pulsing with what she was sure was pure unleashed torture, Emily reached for the purse she never brought. “Holy shit! I don’t have my license with me!”

“Emily, calm down.” Gavin lifted his ass, pulling his wallet from his jeans pocket. “Relax, baby, really.”

“You’re telling me to relax?” she questioned, her words clipped. “I was doing ninety, and I don’t have my license. They’re going to haul me off to jail.”

Gavin popped a smirk, sliding out his ID. “One: You were doing a hundred and ten if you want to get technical. Two: They’re not hauling you off anywhere. Three: I just had the sweetest fucking vision of you wearing a black and white prison jumpsuit. You were even wearing the little cap on your head. Mmm, simply beautiful.”

“You need help,” Emily whispered as the two officers approached, their hands resting on the pistols tucked in their holsters. She swallowed, smeared a smile across her face, and glanced up at the officer on her side of the vehicle. “Hello, sir.”

Eyes shielded by dark sunglasses, the older gentleman pressed his mouth into a hard line before he spoke. “License, registration, and insurance.”

With a smartass smirk brighter than she ever witnessed, Emily watched Gavin reach into the glove compartment and pull out the necessary documents. Handing them to her, he shot her a wink.

She rolled her eyes and looked at the officer peering down at her. “Um, I don’t have my license with me. I’m visiting from New York, and we left my sister’s house in a rush. I forgot to bring my purse.”

After examining the information she gave him, he slid his glasses from his face. “Is there a reason you thought it was okay to do 111 miles per hour on the freeway?”

“That’s my fault, officer,” Gavin piped up, inclining his body toward the driver’s side window. “I told her I was in dire, excruciating pain and needed to be examined by a nurse.” Gavin cleared his throat. “I mean a doctor. But I’m happy to say I’m feeling better now.”

With a suspicious eye, the trooper glared at Gavin for a long second. “I need your social so I can run a check for a license,” he said, looking back to Emily.

She gave him the digits and nervously glanced in the rearview mirror as he walked to the patrol car.

Still standing on the passenger side, the younger trooper leaned in the window. “So you’re a Yankees fan?” he asked, his eyes pinned on Emily. “I’m from the Bronx. Nothing beats a Yanks game at home.”

“I’m not a Yankees fan, but my boyfriend is,” she answered, shifting in her seat. The small talk soothed her nerves slightly.

The trooper furrowed his brows. “You’re not? Your plates say otherwise.”

Now Emily furrowed her brows as she looked to Gavin. “And what would my plates say, Gavin?”

Smile full-toothed and wide, Gavin cupped the back of her neck. “Ah. You must’ve missed that while we were in the garage.” He chuckled, running his fingers through her hair. “I had them shortened up to say ‘New York Yankees Lover.’ Emblem and all. I have to admit, they look pretty cool.”

Palming her cheek, Emily looked down and laughed. “A living, breathing, walking wiseass.”

“You left out shmexy,” Gavin clipped.

Before Emily could toss him her own wiseass remark, the older officer returned. “Okay. Your New York license checked out. I need to issue you a correctable violation for not having it with you, though. Just bring the ticket and your license to any station in the San Diego area, and it should get dismissed. Sign your name by the X.” Emily nodded, and he handed her a white slip. After scribbling her name on it, she gave it back. He ripped the yellow carbon copy off from underneath, once again repeating the process of paper exchanging.

“Seeing you look like a nice girl and I don’t want to do the paper work, I’m not going to arrest you. Which I could, considering how fast you were driving. But you’re getting a speeding ticket for doing forty-six miles per hour over the posted speed limit. It could carry a fine up to $1,000 and a possible thirty-day suspension of your license.” The trooper paused, hunched over, and looked into the car. Though his glare was aimed at Gavin, his statement was directed at Emily. “I suggest you rethink your speed the next time the gentleman next to you tells you he’s sick.”

Emily nodded, holding in a sigh of relief. “I will. Thank you, officer.”

He gave a curt nod. After the two troopers walked away, Gavin busted out laughing, slapping his knee.

Emily pulled onto the freeway, mindful of her speed. “I can’t believe you’re laughing,” she said, trying to keep herself from doing the same.

Running his hand through his hair, Gavin popped a smile. “Your face was absolutely priceless.”

“Bet you wish you had a camera.”

“Sweets, you have no idea what I would’ve done for one.”

Once again, Emily rolled her eyes. Though it took double the amount of time to make it back to her sister’s house, because she was driving as Gavin would refer to as “like his grandmother,” nonetheless they arrived. This time, less… heated than when they began their trip. After hopping from the car, Emily glanced at the tags. Sure enough, Gavin had the letters NYYLVR put on the plates.

Upon entering the foyer, after dowsing her Yankees lover with a few kisses, Emily heard Michael hooting out that the Knicks had their shit handed to them by the Lakers. Now it was her turn to bust out laughing. Gavin playfully swatted her ass and made his way into the living room. Shaking her head, she started for the kitchen and found Lisa pulling a honey glazed ham from the oven. The second the savory smell hit Emily’s nose, a lurch of nausea hit her. It coiled and simmered, stopping her dead in her tracks. Her eyes glassed over as she curled one arm around her middle, the other cupped over her mouth.

“Are you all right?” Lisa asked, placing the ham on a cooling rack. “You don’t look so good.”

Another whiff and Emily was done for. Turning on her heel, she belted through the kitchen, nearly tripping over a stool next to the island. She barely made it into the lower level bathroom, and she didn’t have time to close the door. She slid onto her knees in front of the toilet. With another twisting lurch scraping though her gut, Emily pulled back her hair, her body viciously releasing the hearty breakfast and lunch she’d enjoyed earlier. Her throat burned hot from the acrid taste. She gasped for air, choking as she heaved.

“My God, Emily!” Lisa ran into the bathroom, helping Emily hold her hair.

“The door,” Emily croaked. “Close the door.”

As Lisa closed it, Emily pulled herself from the floor, her nerves shot from her body’s sudden reaction. Hunched over the sink, she flipped on the cold water and slipped her hands under it.

“What the heck was that?” Lisa asked, her eyes wide.

Emily shook her head and sipped water from her hands. As it slid down her throat, easing the fiery burn, she shook her head again. “I have no idea,” she breathed. “I came in, and the smell of the ham made me sick.”

Lisa leaned against the wall, her arms crossed. “This isn’t the first time you’ve felt sick recently.”

Reaching for a hand towel, Emily dried her face. “Right. I’ve been under a lot of stress, Lisa.” She tossed the hand towel onto the vanity and whipped open the medicine cabinet. “Do you have an unused toothbrush?”

“Not in there. Underneath the sink.”

Ducking, Emily pulled open the cabinet. After rummaging through a small basket, she found the pack. Quickly opening it, she stood, snatched the toothpaste, and squirted some onto the bristles. She shoved it into her mouth and plowed the brush over her teeth, wanting to remove the nasty taste.

“I know you’ve been under a lot of stress, Emily, but did it ever occur to you,” Lisa paused, placing her hand on Emily’s shoulder, “that you might be pregnant?”

Staring at her sister’s reflection, Emily immediately stopped brushing. She pulled the brush from her mouth and turned around. “No. Why would I even think that? I’m on the pill.”

“Have you kept up with it?”

Emily sighed, rinsed her mouth, and shut off the water. “Yeah, I think I have.”

“You think you have?” Lisa scoffed. “The pill only works when you take it on a regular basis. When’s the last time you had your period?”

“Jesus,” she puffed out. “It’s just my nerves. Everything that happened with Dillon while we were engaged, not to mention everything with Gavin between the engagement and after. I’m not pregnant.”

Lisa’s green eyes softened with concern. “Answer the question, Emily. When’s the last time you had your period?”

Trying hard to remember the last time she did receive a visit from “Aunt Flo,” Emily rushed her hand through her hair. “I’m not sure. The second week of October, maybe.”

“Right. The second week of October.” Lisa reached past Emily and opened the medicine cabinet. She plucked out a box and handed it to her. “Michael and I are still trying for our own. There’re two tests in there. Get peeing.”

Emily opened the box and pulled out both pregnancy tests. “I can’t believe this.”

“My thoughts exactly. What can’t you believe?” Placing her hands on her hips, Lisa gaped at her. “You haven’t had a period since the middle of October. Every time I’ve spoken to you since I left New York, you told me you were fighting some kind of nausea. You pawned it off as nerves. I get it. But everything’s fine now. There’s no reason for you to be nervous. If it’s as simple as nerves, sit down and take the test. No biggie.”

On a sigh, Emily slid down her sweatpants and popped a squat over the toilet. Waiting on Mother Nature, she tore open both tests. “Can you stop watching me? You’re making me feel like a child getting a potty training lesson.”

“Oh give me a break.” Lisa rolled her eyes and messed with her hair as she stared at her reflection. Throwing the dark curls into a messy bun, she shot Emily a sideways glance, a smile lifting the corner of her mouth. “I did potty train you. Let’s not forget I’m ten years older. I’ve wiped your ass one too many times for either of our own good.”

With way too much information pelting through her head, Emily didn’t dare keep the conversation going. But it was all good because Mother Nature finally showed up. Holding both tests, Emily slipped them under the flow, making sure both were saturated. Once finished, she placed them on the toilet paper Lisa had neatly squared up on the vanity.

Emily washed and dried her hands, her head starting to become fuzzy as the sisters hovered above the tiny sticks that, in that moment, scared the shit out of Emily. Through the past few weeks, she’d dismissed her nausea as nerves, but all of a sudden, that no longer seemed plausible. The words denial, fear, and plain out stupidity came to mind. With sweat gathering just above her lip, she yanked up the empty pregnancy test box, flipping it over to read what a positive and negative would look like. Making note that one line represented a future void of diapers, and two lines initiated her straight into motherhood, Emily started nibbling nervously at her thumb nail. “How long do these take?”

The question had barely escaped Emily’s mouth when a single line on one of the tests started turning a light shade of pink. With a sigh of relief perched in the back of her throat, a tiny smile crept across Emily face. However, that tiny smile quickly fell when the line’s twin screamed for a little attention as it, too, started blushing. Emily flicked her eyes to the other test, already beaming two bright red lines.

Standing above two plastic sticks signifying her life was about to change in more ways than she could even begin to understand, Emily tried to breathe.

Breathe…

Numbers.

Dates.

Times.

Calculations of every sort pounded through her head. A mental calendar, wicked in all it was, flashed in Emily’s mind. Its pictures reminded her that the first time she’d made love to Gavin, the night of his mother’s benefit, was within days of her and Dillon breaking up. Within days of her and Dillon making love.

Breathe…

Days.

Hours.

Minutes.

Memories of every kind arrowed through her heart. Each second she and Gavin had spent together over the last few weeks, slowly mending what was once close to broken, felt as though it was about to be ripped from her. Gone. There was no denying the child she was carrying might not be his. The chances were slim to none. In the two glorious nights they shared, she’d slept with Gavin a handful of times. In the weeks leading up to and after that night, she’d been with Dillon many times. Arms open wide, forgiving every confused indecision she’d made, Gavin had taken her back, but he’d never signed up for this. A stand-in father to the child of a man he hated. A man he loathed with every fiber of his being. This could surely break them. What they were, and what they had yet to become, would be nothing but an almost that… never was. A mirage.

The possibility of losing Gavin forever tore through Emily’s chest as she hunched over, her arms wrapped around her stomach that would soon bloom with life. A beautiful life that shared her blood, but may not share the blood of the man she couldn’t live without.

Breathe…

“Emily.” Lisa’s soft voice barely broke through her thoughts… her nightmare. Emily felt her sister’s caring touch on her neck. “Emily, look at me.”

Covering her mouth, tears pooled in Emily’s eyes as she shook her head. “It might not be Gavin’s,” she cried, trying to keep her voice to a whisper. “Oh my God, Lisa, it might not be his.”

Lisa leaned into Emily, cradling her the way their mother would when she was hurt. “I know, sweetie. I know.” Dangling over the edge of near insanity, Emily shook, her cries muffled against Lisa’s chest. “Listen to me, okay? I want you to lie down. I’ll tell Gavin you were tired and went to take a nap. It’ll hold him off until after we’re done eating dinner. You’ll have some time to think about what you’re going to say to him. All right?”

Lips trembling, Emily nodded. She swiped her hands through her hair, plucked a tissue from the container, and looked at her reflection. Her eyes, puffy and blackened with smeared mascara, would soon stare into the eyes of the man she loved so desperately. The man she may very well lose. After scrubbing her face with soap and water, she gave Lisa a hug and made her way to the guest room. Her heart dipped lower in her chest when she heard Gavin bark out a laugh as he accepted a few more jabs from Michael regarding the Knicks’ loss.