Abel McCarthy is mine. I can feel it right down to my marrow.
And just like that, my past flashes before me, and I’m terrified of the prospect of ever opening my heart up again.
* * *
Brylee Peters is knownfor playing dirty. She’s an animal, a downright skank. She’s no one I ever thought I’d be up against. Not that I suddenly feel as if I’m competing with her. In all honesty, I think I could melt Abel to the mattress with my night moves. She’s more of a bend-over-and-take-it-kind of a whore. I have no interest in befriending her, pretending to like her after she all but declared war on my vagina. Isn’t there some kind of a girl code she’s breaking? Personally, I’m shocked that neither Reese nor Kennedy told her to step the hell off. It’s as if they were amused at watching the two of us war over Abel as if he were the last ovary popper on earth.
Instead of taking the long way home, I stride right by Gavin and Demi’s cabin, my old childhood home. I like it here. Their car is gone, so I take the opportunity to traipse up the steps and run my hand along the old oak door my father handcrafted himself. My eyes close involuntarily. This old place has always had the power to cast a spell on me. It’s as if my parents never left. If I concentrate hard enough, I can still hear my mother calling out my name for dinner.
No sooner do I come to than a car slows down and pulls into the driveway, inspiring me to cringe. I turn around to find a cheery Demi waving from the passenger’s seat as she and my brother get out of the truck.
“Just in time!” Gavin jogs up and wraps his strong arms around me. I have always felt safe and protected in my big brother’s arms. “Dem and I just picked up a pizza. We’ve got a slice with your name on it.”
“I couldn’t. I just had brunch.”
Demi comes up from behind and offers me a quick hug, and my face instinctually turns away. I can’t bear to look at her face, her belly filling out. I know how ridiculously sad that sounds, but everything in me begs to run.
“Of course, you’re coming in.” She presses a light kiss to my cheek as my brother opens the door, and just like that, a thousand memories of who my family used to be come flooding back. My feet set into that tiny cabin like a pair of traitors.
The first thing my eyes snag on is a pile of miniature clothes neatly folded on the sofa, and I gravitate toward them, plucking up the tiny white romper set on top. A breath hitches in my throat. I can’t move or think or feel. It’s so small and precious, so unimaginably fragile—a thing of beauty all on its own, and tears instantly blur my vision.
“Reese dropped by and gave those to me!” Demi shouts from the kitchen. “Aren’t they adorable?”
“Yes,” I push the word through the infant-sized knot lodged in my throat.
Gavin passes by me and does a double take. “Hey.” He wraps his arms around me quickly. “It’s beautiful. I know. And I’m not gonna lie. I’m thrilled to see you so touched. You’re going to be a great aunt. I’m glad you’re excited.” He presses a dry kiss over my temple.
I give a quick nod before blinking myself back to reality. These sleepers aren’t mine. This baby won’t be mine. I don’t deserve to have a baby. I’m pretty sure the universe agrees. In fact, I know it does.
We gather around the table, and I watch as Gavin wolfs down half the pizza and Demi the other half, hardly coming up for air as she gulps mozzarella as if it were wine.
“I’m just so starving all the time,” she grunts between bites. “I told Gavin this is one no-holds-barred eating extravaganza I won’t be missing out on. I’m going to eat my way to the delivery room. You don’t mind a few extra pounds on me, do you?” She gives a playful wink to my brother.
Gavin lowers his lids, a dreamy smile spreading on his lips. “Just more of you to love.”
“I’ll be heading home to throw up now.” I go to stand, and Demi pulls me back in my seat.
“Oh, no, you don’t. I’m hearing rumors, and I’m dying to know if they’re true.” Her eyes grow wild with anticipation.
“I may not be good at a lot of things, but getting the rumor mill going seems to be my specialty.”
“You and Abel McCarthy?” Demi’s blue eyes grow in size while my brother grunts behind me.
“No, it’s not so.” I turn and smack Gavin in the chest. “Calm down, Godzilla. He’s just a friend—less than that, he’s a neighbor.” I can feel my cheeks burning with the lie. My body wants to make Abel so much more than just a friend or a neighbor.
“I’m fine with it.” Gavin raises his hands.
“You are?” both Demi and I gawk in unison.
“Yup. You can have as many friends and neighbors as you want.” He stuffs a pizza slice in his face as he laughs it off.
“Don’t choke on my account. I’d better get going before I end up killing you with the hilarious state of my love life.”
“You’re not allowed to have a love life,” he shoots right back.
“Funny how the thought managed to wipe that smug grin right off your face.”
“All right, you two.” Demi pulls me through the living room and down the hall. “Before you go, I have to show you something we’ve been working on.”
