“Jaeger, what did this girl do to you?You look really upset.”
Of course his ex would show up after he’s moved on.That’s Murphy’s Law.But he moved on withme, and I’m pretty damn happy with him.I don’t want to consider exactly how happy, because it will probably break me if it ends.
“She didn’t do anything—well, I take that back.She did a lot back then.And not always to me.It’s just that she doesn’t always lie.”
He seems rattled, which isn’t like him at all.“Jaeger, what happened?”
“Kate said—” He pushes off the cab and straightens, though he looks about to topple.“She said she had a kid.That the girl’s mine.She wants us to be a family.”
ChapterTwenty-Four
My mind goes utterly blank, and then a riotous array of facts and questions, mixed in with a few expletives, clamor to get out.
How could this happen?She can’t have him.I—I…likehim.A lot.Areallot.Why did she wait until now to tell him?It doesn’t make sense.She dumped him, and he was in and out of physical rehabilitation for a year.He said he never saw her again… and he wouldn’t have known if she was pregnant.
Fuck.Just—fuck.
I don’t remember the drive to my place.It passes in a flash, and then Jaeger is walking me to the front door.“Don’t worry, Cali.Everything’s going to be okay.Let me find out what’s going on.”He breathes in shakily.“Whatreallyhappened.Because I don’t trust her.There were rumors after we split that she was unfaithful.And, of course, there’s all the stuff she pulled while we dated.I’ll find out the truth, then I’ll call, okay?It’s just… I’ve got to take care of this.”I nod, and he pecks me on the cheek and walks to the truck.
This is not how I envisioned our night ending.How could something so right go so terribly wrong?Am I jinxed?
Jaeger looks up from inside the truck, a pained expression on his face, before he turns the ignition and eases out of the driveway.
I swallow the knot forming in my throat and open the door to the chalet.Gen’s banging around in the kitchen while Tyler sprawls on the couch.
He sits up.“What happened?Why are you back so soon?”
I slump on the blue recliner, staring straight ahead, attempting to process what I don’t want to believe.“Jaeger’s ex interrupted our date.”I wave my hand, a crazed sensation rising in my chest.“Just showed up in the middle of the restaurant.Told him she had a kid—and it was his.”
Tyler’s eyes bug out.“What?”
Gen walks into the living room, an oven mitt on her hand.She doesn’t cook, so the image is absurd.Just like the rest of this evening.
I drop my face into my hands and squeeze my eyes closed.“Can wenottalk about this?”After a second, I realize hanging my head allows gravity to pull the tears closer to the surface.I look up and swallow, blinking several times.
Gen looks to Tyler, widening her eyes pointedly.
His mouth is still open.He sees her expression and nods, then pulls out his phone and starts feverishly tapping out a text.
“Leave him alone, Tyler,” I say.“He’s trying to figure out what’s going on.He doesn’t know either.”
Tyler’s fingers continue flying over his iPhone.
I stand and walk to the bathroom.“I’m going to bed.”I remove my makeup, then move to the bedroom, where I hang up the pretty blue blouse I wasted my money on.I lie on the mattress, but I can’t sleep.My chest hurts.
The sounds of Gen and Tyler talking quietly in the living room filter beneath the door.That’s when the first tear rolls down my cheek.
I won’t do it.I won’t cry over another guy this summer.It’s pathetic.
More tears roll, landing on the collar of my homely flannel pajamas.
Okay, I’ll cry tonight, but that’s it.No more after tonight, unless… please don’t let there be anunless.Please let this be a big, horrible mistake.
Jaeger hasn’t calledme for two days after our interrupted date.Two effing days!
I’m dying.I’ve gone from staring at my phone, to spending hours sketching beneath the trees, to walking aimlessly around the neighborhood until I wind up at the lake.On the plus side, my arms are getting ripped from all the rocks I’m cathartically hurling into the water.
Every time I pick up the phone to call him, I remember he said he’d call when he had things figured out.He’s never hesitated to get in touch with me in the past.I can only assume he’s still dealing with his ex.Or getting back together with her.But, no, this is the girl who crapped all over him—even Tyler said so.
