Текст книги "Saved"

Автор книги: Kelly Elliott

сообщить о нарушении

Текущая страница: 16 (всего у книги 28 страниц)

“Yeah, um, she did. It, ah…turns out she was lying to me the whole time. She was actually further along than she said. I only found out because I asked the doctor if the baby would be okay since he was born so early, and then he told me that Rebecca’s due was in two weeks.”

Ellie’s whole body started shaking.

“You left her! She told you that bitch was lying, and you just walked away from Ari. We all told you! You walked away, this is all your fault!” Ellie screamed.

As Gunner tried to pull her away from me. My heart started beating faster.

“Ellie, stop!” Gunner yelled, turning her around to face him. “Sweetheart, calm down, please.”

Emma walked up and took my by the arm. When I glanced over at Sue and Mark, I saw that Sue was crying.

“Emma, please just tell me what happened to Ari,” I practically begged as we started walking toward Ari’s room.

Emma looked at me and gave me a weak smile. “She should be awake. She asked to be alone until you got here.”

When I opened the door and saw her, I almost fell to my knees. My beautiful, strong Ari was lying in the bed. She was broken, and alone, crying.

I’d never felt such heartache in my life.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

ARI

My heart started beating faster the moment I heard Ellie talking to Jeff. I tried so hard not to start crying, but then I heard Jeff and Emma outside my room. As the door opened, I could feel the moment he walked into the room. I was looking out the window while the tears slid down my face.

I turned to him, and he looked like he was about to throw up. Good that motherfucker.

“So did you have your baby?” I asked with as much sarcasm as I could manage.

A tear rolled down his face as he looked me up and down. I was sure that I looked awful. My head was pounding, my chest was throbbing, and I even had a black eye. I wasn’t sure how I managed that one. I still say my ribs are broken. Stupid country doctors. I couldn’t even cry without everything on my body hurting.

“Oh god, Ari. I’ll never forgive myself for this, baby.”

Jeff came over and started to reach down to kiss me. I turned my head away from him.

“Ari, please…please don’t do this. What else was I supposed to do?”

“Did. She. Have. Your. Baby?”

“Yes, she had the baby, but he isn’t mine.”

I snapped my head back toward him. I wasn’t sure if I should be relieved or angry.

“What?”

“It turns out that she faked the whole contraction story to get me away from you. She had this whole plan, Ari. She was trying to pull us apart. Then her water broke, and she started freaking out that I was there. They put her under for a C section. When I asked the doctor if the baby would be okay since he was born early, he told me…”

Jeff just stopped and stared at me.

I knew it! I knew that bitch was lying the whole time. She was the reason this happened to me. I hated her more than ever.

“He told you what, Jeff?”

“He, um, he told me Rebecca’s due date was in two weeks. I confronted her when she woke up, and she told me the truth about everything. She’s so fucking twisted, Ari. It’s unreal. Baby, I don’t want to talk about her. The baby’s not mine, so we can put this whole thing behind us now. It can just be you and me, baby.”

He reached for my hand, and even though I didn’t want to touch him, I didn’t have the strength to pull it away.

“No, it’s not that easy Jeff. You left us. You picked Rebecca and that baby over us. I’ll never forgive you for this. Ever.”

Jeff looked confused as the tears started to slide down his face.

“Ari, no. Please don’t say that, baby. I didn’t pick her over you. I didn’t know what else to do, Ari! I was worried about the baby and.”

I shook my head. “Please just stop! Stop talking about that baby.” I looked back at him. “You left us, Jeff.”

“Ari, I’m here, baby, I’m here now. I promise you that I’ll never leave you again. I promise baby, never again.”

I just stared at him.

“Do you want to know what I was going to tell you before you left?”

“Of course I do, Ari.”

“I was going to tell you that you and I were having a baby, that our future was growing in my stomach. I wanted to tell you how scared I’ve been for the last week, how scared I was that you were going to be upset because I missed my pills and got pregnant, how scared I was that you would pick Rebecca’s baby over ours, and how scared I was that our baby might have Fragile X. I was going to tell you all this, but you left. You left to go be with Rebecca and a child who you didn’t even know was yours when I knew for a fact that you were the father of my baby.”

Jeff’s face turned white as a ghost. “Ari…we’re gonna have a baby?”

When I saw the smile slowly spread across his face, I died inside all over again.

I turned my head away and started to cry. Why didn’t I tell him sooner? Why am I blaming him when it was entirely my fault? If I had just told him, he might not have walked away from us.

“Ari, baby, I could never, ever be upset with you. When I held that baby in my arms, I felt nothing, and in that moment, I knew he wasn’t mine. I only want to have kids with you…only you.”

He reached over and turned my face back toward him.

This was tearing me up inside. I needed to tell him even though I knew I was about to devastate him.

“I lost the baby when I fell off Rose.”

He stood up straight and started to shake his head. “No…oh God… no.”

He slowly started to lower himself to his knees. When his knees hit the floor he put his head on the side of the bed and started to cry.

“Oh god…Ari. I’m so sorry, baby…oh god…this is all my fault.”

I wanted so badly to comfort him, but at the same time, I wanted him to hurt just as much as I did.

“I need you to leave, Jeff. I need to be alone.”

He looked up at me, eyes filled with tears. “I’m not leaving you again, Ari. I’m never leaving you again.”

“I don’t want you here!” I shouted at him. I winced in pain from my bruised ribs and pounding headache. Motherfucker! Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, that fucking hurt.

“I’m not leaving you baby. You can shout and scream all you want, Ari. I’m never going to leave your side again. It doesn’t matter if you want me here or not.”

Ellie walked into the room. “Is everything okay, Ari?”

When Ellie looked at Jeff on the floor, she saw that he was crying. Walking over, she dropped to her knees next to him.

“Jefferson.”

He turned and hugged her, and then he started crying even more.

Of all the times I’ve fallen off a horse, why do I now get ribs that hurt so damn bad I can’t move? I just wanted to be the one to hold and comfort him.

Shit! I’m losing my goddamn mind. I just told him to leave, and now, I’m jealous of Ellie hugging him.

“It’s all my fault, Ellie. It’s all my fault.”

Ellie kept telling Jeff it was okay.

No, it wasn’t okay.

“No, it’s not okay!” I yelled.

Ellie and Jeff both looked at me with concern.

Jeff stood up, took my hand, and kissed it.

“No, baby, it’s not okay. I’m so sorry I did this to you, Ari. Please don’t ask me to leave you. I just need to be with you.”

Ellie stood up and walked over to the other side of the bed. The two most important people in my life were on either side of me, so why did I feel like I was so alone?

“I…you didn’t do this to me, Jeff. It just wasn’t meant to be,” I struggled to keep the tears from falling again.

Jeff shook his head. I knew he was beating himself up inside right now. I was feeling so many things that I couldn’t keep them straight. I was tired. I hurt everywhere. I was angry, sad, and devastated. All of this rolled up into one. My urge to comfort Jeff was pissing me the fuck off also. I just wanted to be angry with him.

“Ari, I love you more than life itself. I’ll do anything for you. I will do anything for you, baby.”

I smiled at him because I knew he meant every word he was saying.

“Can you go push Rebecca down an empty mineshaft?”

Ellie let out a giggle.

Jeff smiled. “Baby, if you really want me to, I’d do it in a heartbeat.”

“As much as I really want to say yes…no, I don’t want that.”

I turned to Ellie and she gave me the sweetest smile.

“Ellie, please tell everyone they can leave. My parents need to get back to Matt. If Josh and Heather haven’t killed each other by now, I’m sure they’re ready to go insane with my baby brother. I have Jeff now. I’m gonna be fine.” I smiled at the love of my life.

The most overwhelming feeling of comfort came over me. Just having him smile at me and tell me how much he loved me brought such a peace.

My heart was breaking inside, but somehow, I knew it was all going to be okay.

Ellie kissed me gently good bye and walked out of the room.

Jeff leaned down to softly kiss my lips.

“I love you, Arianna.”

“I love you, too, Jeff.”

“It’s all going to be okay. Please tell me you believe me.”

“I believe you.”

Too bad my heart didn’t agree with what I just said.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

JOSH

I stood there at the kitchen entrance, watching Heather play with Matt. She was amazing with him. It was no wonder she wanted to be a teacher. She had a gift. I couldn’t believe how patient she was with him, it was clear that he loved her.

They were both mopping Jeff and Ari’s kitchen floor…again.

“Heather, do you like mopping with me?” Matt asked.

He had the cutest damn smile I’d ever seen. Little guy is moving in on my girl.

My girl…I wish.

She had barely spoken two words to me since everyone had left. I had finally talked Lynda into heading back up to Emma and Garrett’s house after an hour of her rolling her fucking eyes at Matt and Heather.

As I started to walk into the kitchen, Matt held up his hand to stop me.

“Oh no, Josh. Don’t walk on the wet floor. You’ll fall!”

“Gotcha, buddy. I wouldn’t dream of walking on this beautiful clean floor, especially not after the wonderful job you and Heather did cleaning it.” I smiled at Heather. I was shocked that she smiled back at me. My heart dropped to my stomach.

“Matt, how about I take the mops and bucket outside and then Josh can take you to go see Stargazer? Would you like that?” Heather asked as she gave me a wink.

I swore that I would do anything this girl asked me to do.

Matt jumped up and down and then ran over to me.

“I’m gonna take that as yes. So, let’s go see Stargazer buddy.”

When Matt smiled at me, my heart melted. Then, I thought about Jeff. Sue and Mark called to say they were on their way back to pick up Matt. That must’ve meant Jeff was with Ari. If I knew Jeff, he was falling apart inside, blaming himself.

I thought Gunner and Jeff were nuts for wanting to have kids so soon. I thought they needed to enjoy life for a bit before they got tied down with kids.

Heather walked by and gave Matt a kiss on the top of his head before she headed outside to dump out the bucket and clean the mops. She looked up at me and smiled again. There went my heart dropping to my stomach.

Maybe Gunner and Jeff weren’t so nuts.

***

Matt and I were just about to take Stargazer out for a walk on her lead when Sue and Mark pulled up. Matt started to run over to Sue, but then he quickly turned back and ran up to me.

“Josh, can I give you a hug good-bye, you assmole?”

I tried not to laugh, but I had to. I got down on my knees, and Matt gave me a big bear hug. Then, he did something I wasn’t expecting.

“I love you, Josh. Bye!” He spun around and ran off.

Sue called out her thanks as I waved good-bye to them.

I couldn’t stand up, so I sat down on the ground as I watched them walk off. Sue stopped to talk to Heather. I watched as Heather threw her head back and laughed.

I wanted what Gunner and Jeff had. It hit me like a ton of bricks the moment Matt said he loved me. I wanted it, and I wanted it with Heather. When she looked over at me, she stopped laughing. She turned back to Sue, and it looked like they were saying their good-byes.

After she gave Sue a hug, she started to walk toward me. Then, she stopped dead in her tracks. I heard someone come up behind me. I felt a kiss on my cheek, and I turned around to see Lynda standing above me.

“Hey, handsome. What are you doing down here on the ground? Did Matt wear your ass out?” Lynda laughed and then sat down next to me.

When I looked back at Heather, I saw that she was now walking back toward Jeff and Ari’s house.

Fuck me.

“Hey, Lynda. I thought you were going to wait for Emma and Garrett to get back.”

“Oh, they’re home now. I heard them mention to Gunner’s folks that Sue and Mark were on their way to pick up Matt, so I thought I would come and see if you’d like to go out tonight. Maybe we could hit the honky-tonk in town and do some dancing?”

“Well, yeah… maybe. Let me talk to Gunner and see how Ari and Jeff are doing first.”

Lynda’s smile faded. “I’m really so sorry to hear about Ari losing her baby. I mean, I didn’t even know she was pregnant, but still, I hate to see that happen to anyone. She seems like a really nice girl.”

I smiled at Lynda. I knew she was just trying to be nice, but I was pissed that she caused Heather to turn and walk away.

“Did you drive over here?” I asked standing up.

“Um, yeah. I thought you might like to come back with me, and then we could head out tonight. I mean, if you feel like it.”

I looked back over to where Heather had walked back to the house.

“You know what? I am in the mood to go out and grab a few beers. How about I get ready and meet you back at your grandparents, place?”

Lynda gave me a smile before she hugged me. “Oh, you won’t regret it, Josh! A night out is just what you need.”

I watched as Lynda drove off in the Jeep toward Emma and Garrett’s place. I started to head back to the house when Gunner sent me a text.

Gunner: I need some fucking drinks and loud music. You up for going out tonight.

I sent him a text back: Fuck yeah. How’s Ari? Where the hell was Jeff ?

Gunner: Shit, dude. I’ll tell you all about it over a beer.

I replied: Okay, I’m going to jump in the shower and then head over.

I walked into the house and heard the shower going in Jeff and Ari’s bathroom. Why is she taking a shower in their bathroom? I wondered if Heather was going to go out tonight also.

I walked into the kitchen and made a mental note to have the place cleaned up before Ari got home. The last thing she needed to do was worry about cleaning. I reached into the fridge, pulling out a beer. I practically downed it right there. Shit, I need to just get drunk tonight. I needed to get Heather out of my mind, and I only knew one way to do that. It had been too damn long since I’d fucked someone.

I slammed the rest of my beer and threw the bottle in the trash.

When my phone beeped, I pulled it out to see Lynda had texted me with a picture of what she was wearing tonight.

Motherfucker. The picture she sent me was hot. I knew just the person to get Heather off of my mind.

I was sending Lynda a text back when I ran right into Heather coming out of Ari and Jeff’s bedroom.

We hit dead-on and she dropped all her bathroom stuff as I dropped my phone. We both started to lean down to pick up everything. As I stood back up to let her go first, my head hit her in the chin.

“Motherfucker!” Heather grabbed her chin and stumbled backwards.

She looked like she was about to fall, so I reached out, grabbing her other hand, as I pulled her toward me.

“Holy shit Heather! I’m so sorry! Are you okay, princess?” I placed my hands on either side of her face while I moved her head back and forth looking at her chin.

Watching her poor eyes water up, I knew she was trying to hold back the tears. When she reached out her hands and put them on my forearms, I saw the first tear slide down her cheek.

Oh. My. God. I wiped the tear away. I felt like such a douche for hurting her even though it was an accident.

“Oh shit, Heather, I’m so sorry, princess. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

She tried to smile at me. “S’okay Josh. I should’ve been looking where I was going. Ouch, I think I bit my damn tongue!” she let out a small laugh.

Her hands were still on my arms, and I let my eyes look down her body.

Holy motherfucking shit! The blue robe she was wearing was open, and of course, she was naked underneath. My legs wobbled just a bit, and she grabbed my arms tighter.

“Oh my god, Josh are you okay? I didn’t think my chin was that hard! Do you need to sit down?”

I looked back up to her, and she must have caught on to what I had been looking at. I slowly moved my hands down her face to her shoulders and pushed the robe off of her.

She just stood there, staring at me. I thought for sure she would reach for her robe, but instead, she licked her lips. I almost had to grab the wall to stand up straight.

I grabbed her neck, pulling her to me, and then I started to kiss her.

Her hands immediately went to my hair, and she let out the sweetest, softest moan I’d ever heard. I pushed her back against the wall as I started to move my other hand down her body. I lifted up her leg, hooking it over my hip.

“Heather,” I whispered against her lips.

I was waiting for her to come to her senses, but then she pushed her hips against mine. I went for it. Moving my hand all over her body, I caressed up her side to her chest. When I cupped one of her breasts in my hand and I let out a moan. She fit perfect in my hand.

Then, I moved my hand down to between her legs and touched her clit. She bucked her hips into me while she grabbed a handful of my hair. As she pulled me closer to her lips, I put one finger inside of her and then another.

“Oh god,” I moaned. She’s so fucking wet.

“Josh, please don’t stop.”

I put two more fingers inside her She was so tight. I started to move my hand faster while she pushed harder against me. The next thing I knew, I was capturing her screams in my mouth.

Fuck me. Am I dreaming? Is this really happening?

She pulled away from my lips to catch her breath. When she started to move her leg away, I grabbed it and picked her up.

“Wrap your legs around me, princess.”

She did just what I asked and didn’t even hesitate. Shit…It had been so long since I was with someone and all I wanted to do was be with Heather and only Heather. I pushed her back against the wall again and kissed her with as much passion as I could.

She pulled back away from my lips just some.

“Josh,” she whispered so softly. “I want you so badly.”

Holy fuck. What was she saying?

“Heather, I want you, too, but.”

“Please, Josh, I need this so much.”

I moved my lips back to kiss hers. I loved her so much, and I didn’t want to rush making love to her. It had to be special.

With her legs wrapped around me, I slowly walked us up the stairs and into the room where I was staying. I stopped right at the edge of the bed. She removed her legs from around me, and she gently slid down my body to sit on the bed. She started to move back, I crawled over her, just barely kept my body weight on top of her.

Then, she smiled at me, and my heart melted on the spot. I would do anything for this girl. I’d give up my own life for her.

“Heather, I don’t want your first time to be like this. It needs to be special, a night you’ll always remember with a smile and without any regret princess.”

Her smile faded. “Do you not want me?”

Wait…what?

“Holy shit, Heather. I’m using every goddamn ounce of energy I have not to make love to you right now.”

Leaning up her head, she captured my lips. She tasted like honey. She was so sweet and delicate. I needed more. I started to move my hand along her body.

“Wait, Josh. Was that the front door opening?” Heather whispered.

I stayed completely still and listened.

“Josh? Heather?”

“Garrett!” We both said at the same time.

I immediately flew off of her. I grabbed the comforter and threw it over Heather. I ran to the door and looked down the stairs to the hall. I could hear Garrett in the kitchen, so I ran downstairs to get Heather’s robe. I took it back to the room and started to help her put it on. She kept hitting my hands away.

“Jesus H. Christ, Josh. I can put it on myself. Go distract him so I can get dressed!”

“I’ve never heard you swear so much, Heather…it’s kind of a turn on.” I said as I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. She smiled back at me and told me to go.

I ran down the stairs and jumped over the mess that was on the floor in the hallway and made my way to the kitchen. I was gonna have to tell Jeff that he needed to make sure his damn doors were locked if Garrett was just going to help himself inside.

“Hey, Garrett, what’s going on?”

“I called for ya,” Garrett said as he held up the empty coffee pot.

“Damn, where do I have to go to get a cup of coffee? I had to get away from all the clean-up from the party. Gunner said y’all are going to head into the honky-tonk in town, huh?”

“Um, yes, sir, we are. I’m just waiting to hear back from Jeff about how Ari is doing. I still can’t believe she lost the baby.”

Garrett shook his head and sat down on the bar stool at the kitchen island. Motherfucker. Less than five minutes ago, I was in heaven with the girl of my dreams, naked, and now I was standing across from Gunner’s grandfather, wondering what the hell he was doing here.

“Did you need something other than coffee, Garrett? Anything that I can help you with? I asked.

I could hear Heather picking up everything she’d dropped in the hallway. I reached for my phone in my back pocket but it wasn’t there.

Shit! I dropped it when I ran into Heather.

“Nah, I just needed to get away from the house for a bit.”

***

Garrett and I talked for about another ten minutes before Heather came into the kitchen. She was dressed in a white shirt, jeans, and cowboy boots. I smiled at her, but she just glared at me.

What the hell? It wasn’t my fault that Garrett had shown up.

“Garrett, do you think I could catch a ride up to the house with you? I’m going to meet Ellie and Gunner there,” Heather said.

“Are you going out, too? That’s good, honey. You need to cut a rug once in a while. Sure, let’s head on up.” Garrett stood up and started to make his way to the front door.

I just stood there, staring at Heather. Why does she want to leave with Garrett?

I stepped in front of her and held her back.

“Why are you leaving with Garrett, princess?”

Heather looked up at me with tears building in her eyes. My heart stopped, and I had the worst feeling in my chest.

“Heather, what’s wrong?” I asked as I reached for the side of her face.

She backed away from me as one single tear rolled down her cheek.

“I’ve never been made to feel so foolish in my entire life,” she said, her voice cracking.

“What are you talking about? We just shared.”

“Stop! Don’t even talk about it.”

She tossed my phone at me, and I just barely caught it.

“Your fuck buddy is waiting for you.” Heather walked around me and left out the door.

When I hit the home button on my phone, I saw the text message I had sent to Lynda.

Damn, girl… ur looking hot…looks like I’m might be getting lucky tonight with this.

Motherfucker. I had forgotten that I’d sent this message.

It took me a few seconds to get my wits about me before I ran out after Heather. I caught up to her at the Jeep. Garrett was waiting in the driver’s seat.

“Wait! Heather, please wait. You have to let me explain.” I was ready to fall to my knees and beg for just five minutes.

She turned and looked at me. Her eyes were filled with such sadness.

“To think that I almost…I wanted to...” She started to move her head back and forth, like she was trying to clear her mind.

“How could I ever be so stupid to think that you would only want me? Enjoy your night with Lynda.” She jumped in the Jeep.

Garrett looked at Heather and then at me.

“Heather, darling, are you sure you don’t want to stay here and talk with Josh?”

“I have nothing left to say to him, Garrett, but thank you. I’m just ready to go.”

Garrett started the Jeep and gave me one last look. It was almost like he was trying to tell me something.

“Heather, please don’t…please don’t do this.”

I reached for her hand and she pulled it away.

“Garrett, please leave,” Heather said as she wiped away tears rolling down her cheeks.

I stood there, watching as the Jeep got farther and farther out of sight.

The moment I could no longer see it, I fell to the ground and buried my head in my hands.

I was pretty sure that I just lost the only thing I ever loved and wanted.