“Don’t lie to me.” She rests a hand on my knee. “It’s okay to not be okay, Maddie.”
I nod, and that’s when the tears start to fall. I haven’t let myself feel the loss I’ve suffered as much as I probably should have. I just want to be happy about the little lives I’m carrying, but it’s hard when I miss Ian so damn much.
“I was so scared to tell him, but his reaction was far from what I imagined.” I sniff. “He said he loved me, and I was a fool to believe him.”
She wraps me in her arms. When my mother and Hank found out I was pregnant, they scoffed. Just like Taylor, they want nothing to do with my children. “You’re not a fool. He’s a damn idiot for letting a sweet girl like you go.”
“You have to say that.”
“No, I don’t. I wouldn’t lie to you.”
How my parents ever lucked out with someone like Anna is beyond me. She’s way too good for them.
“Why don’t you come over to my place tonight, and I’ll cook for you?”
“I’d love that, but it’s your night off.”
“No arguing.” She winks.
She leaves shortly after, once again, leaving me to my thoughts.
I’m desperate to do anything that’ll keep my mind from Ian. My biological dad wasn’t a huge part of my life, but not by choice. I shake the thoughts from my head before walking to the door to slide my shoes on.
“It’s just you and me, babies,” I say as I rub my small bump. I’m not far along, so I was surprised to wake up one morning to see it. It made it more real for me.
As soon as I got to Michigan, Anna helped me find a doctor. I don’t have a lot of friends in the area, so I’m glad to have her. Yesterday was my first day at Elroy’s, and I can’t imagine standing on my feet all day once I’m further along. Thankfully, my new boss seems great and told me that I can take as many breaks as I need.
The week passes in a blur. I stay busy with work, and I’m grateful for the distraction. It’s definitely not what I want to do for the rest of my life, but at least I have it until I can find something better.
I’m now sitting at my parent’s house, getting ready to have dinner with them. I hate being here, but I suppose I can suck it up considering they’re giving me a free place to live. The tension in the room is thick. Anna carries the ham to the table, and when I look up at her, she gives me a small, reassuring smile. Every day since I’ve been back, I’ve thanked my lucky stars for her. She’s truly a godsend.
All the food is brought out and the three of us start to dig in. Anna’s green bean casserole is to die for, and if I could, I’d live on the stuff. I moan around a mouthful, forgetting where I’m at. When I look up at Hank and my mother, they’re both staring at me.
“It’s good.” I smile.
Hank takes a drink of his water, peering at me over the top of the glass. There’s no such thing as a comfortable meal around here. I always feel like I’m being scrutinized.
“Maddison, I found a couple adoption agencies for you to look into,” he says as he sets the water back on the table.
My fork drops to the table.
“I’m sorry, what?” Surely, I didn’t hear him right.
“No way in hell are you considering keeping those bastard children.”
This is how they’ve always talked to me. Forget the fact that I’m a damn adult. They think they can make all my decisions for me. In the past, I’ve caved, but this is where I draw the line.
I abruptly push my chair away from the table, causing it to screech against the tile.
“Just because I called you both out on your bullshit doesn’t mean you get to treat my children like this,” I say a lot calmer than I’m actually feeling. “I haven’t for one minute considered giving them up. I don’t care if they don’t have a father.”
I look over to my mother and she’s still eating like her husband hasn’t just thrown a bomb into the room. Typical Marta fashion. “No child will be on my property.”
“What?” I can’t believe what I’m hearing. “You never said that when I came back.” I’m shaking hard from anger, and I should probably sit back down before my legs give out on me.
“You have two months to find a better job and move out. You know I don’t like kids.”
My mouth gapes open at his bluntness. I already knew this. Before he married my mother, he pretended to like me and Chloe, but as soon as they said I do, all bets were off.
“I’m getting tired. I think I’m going to turn in for the night,” I say just above a whisper before making my way toward the door.
“You’re leaving?” Anna stops me in the hallway, grabbing my arm.
“Yeah,” I choke out. “I can’t be here right now.”
I head back to the cottage and take a hot shower, letting my tears wash down the drain. I have never felt so lost, and I have no idea how to get out of the mess I’m in.
It’s only seven, but I’m both physically and mentally exhausted. I get under the blankets in my bed, thankful to actually have a bed now. That may be one of the only good things about being back here.
I start to drift off to sleep, trying to forget about the events from the day, when my phone goes off beside me, alerting me of an email.
I click the app open and it’s a notification that my last paycheck from Wright Enterprises just hit my account.
I throw my phone back onto the table, and the tears come back full force. Just when I’m trying to move on, little reminders of Ian come back. I want to get him as far away from my mind and heart as possible.
Thirty-Four
Ian
“Hello?” Chloe answers after the first ring. The several other times I’ve called her, she didn’t pick up.
“Chloe, it’s Ian.”
There’s a long silence on the other end of the line and at first I’m worried she’s hung up on me.
“What do you want, Ian?”
I run a hand through my hair, a reminder that I haven’t been taking care of myself lately.
“I know you probably hate me, but I need your help.”
“You’re right. I’m hanging up now.”
“Wait!” I holler before she can disconnect. “Please hear me out, all right?”
When I called Maddie, I got the standard message saying the phone was shut off, so the only choice I had was to reach out to her sister. I just hope to God her and our baby are all right. When I couldn’t get a hold of her, I tried her sister, but she’s been ignoring me the last couple weeks. After Bri talked some sense into me, I took a few days to figure my shit out so I didn’t further mess things up.
“Why should I do that after everything you put my sister through?” she seethes.
“Listen. There’s a lot of shit that happened in my past and that’s why I took off like I did.”
“That—”
She starts to cut me off, but I don’t let her. “Let me finish.” I pause, and when she doesn’t interrupt again, I go on. “I know that doesn’t justify what I did, but there are some things that I need to explain to Maddison.”
“Fine.” She huffs, and sounds just like her sister when she’s pissed. It makes me miss her even more. “But she left Chicago.”
My heart stops. “What? What do you mean?”
I hear her talking to Taylor in the background, and in the meantime my world is spinning. “Well, she didn’t have a job here anymore, so she moved back to Detroit with our parents.”
Jesus Christ. Nothing like jumping right into the lion’s den.
“Fuck,” I mumble. “How do I make this right?”
“I don’t know, honestly. You really fucked her over.”
“Yeah, thanks.” I throw my head back in frustration. “I need to go to her.”
“She’ll kill me when she finds out I told you this, but if you’re there by tomorrow morning, you’ll make her appointment.”
“What’s wrong? Why does she have an appointment?” My ears start to ring as the worst possible scenario com
es to the forefront of my mind.
“Calm down. It’s just her monthly exam to make sure everything is still going good.”
I’ve been worried about both of them and I’ll be fucking glad to have her in my arms again. Although, I’m sure she’ll try pushing me away. I’m prepared to do whatever I have to, to get her back.
I know she’ll be pissed to see me, but I need to show her how much I want her and our child. I was such a fucking idiot, but I’ll prove how sorry I am, even if I die trying.
She gives me the details for Maddison’s obstetrician appointment and then we hang up after she threatens me one more time about not hurting her sister again.
My hair is starting to drive me insane, so the first thing I do after taking a shower is head to the barber shop. As soon as I’m done there, I run over to the phone store to get her a new one. Chloe informed me that she’s been using a pay-as-you-go phone because she couldn’t afford to keep her other one on. Even if she wants nothing to do with me, the least I can do is make sure she has what she needs for her and the baby.
When she stopped showing up at the office, I told Nellie to make sure she still got paid each week. Even if she isn’t working for me, she’s still carrying a part of me, and I’m half responsible. But knowing Maddison, she hasn’t touched a dime of it.
I’m about an hour from my destination when I get a call from an unknown number. I hit the “accept” button on my dash.
“Hello?” Part of me is hopeful that it’s Maddison, but I’m an idiot for thinking she’d call.
“Ian, it’s Greta.”
Well, fuck. Her best friend is even scarier than her sister.
“Hey, Greta. What can I do for you?”
“Chloe told me that you’re on your way to Detroit. All I have to say is you better watch yourself, or I will make sure you’re never able to reproduce again.”
Damn. She’s feisty, but I’m glad my woman has people behind her.
“I swear to you, I won’t intentionally hurt her again.”
“Good. I’d hate to do that to someone so sexy.”
I chuckle, not expecting anything less from this woman.
I make it to Detroit earlier than planned and head toward her parent’s house. I’ve got a hotel room waiting for me if she doesn’t want me staying with her, but I can’t wait until the appointment to see her. Knowing she’s within reach and not seeing her would keep me up all night.
Following the directions Chloe gave me, I make my way back behind the main house and immediately spot the two small cottages. One is lit up like Times Square, while the other only has the porch light on.
Her house is covered in light brick and the flower bed is overflowing with every color of the rainbow. It’s like a smaller version of the main house.
I kill the engine, and when I step out of my car, I hear the door from the next house over open.
“I love that girl like my own daughter. Don’t you dare go in there unless you plan on getting her back.”
I turn at the sound of the feminine voice and recognize the woman Maddison introduced to me as her family’s cook.
“Yes, ma’am. I have no intention of hurting her again.”
She gives me a grin and I have a feeling I have this woman on my side.
Thirty-Five
Maddison
I’m lying in bed, mindlessly reading when there’s a knock at my door. Who could possibly be here at nine at night? No one ever comes out here, so it must be Anna.
I quickly grab my robe and pad across the house. As soon as I open the door, I can’t believe my eyes.
“What… what are you doing here?” My words come out on a croak. This must be some kind of sick joke.
He looks like he hasn’t slept in weeks, but his dark hair is freshly cut. He puts his hands in his pockets and rocks back on his heels, clearly nervous about being here.
“Can I come in?”
I turn to look in the house, for what, I don’t know. And then I face him again.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’m getting ready to go to sleep.”
He rubs his hands over his face, looking defeated. I want to cave, but I know I also have to keep my heart intact.
“Please, Maddie. Just give me ten minutes, and then I’ll let you go to bed.”
The desperation in his voice makes me give in.
I open the door farther so he can walk in. I notice him taking in the small space. Well, small for him. This place is a mansion compared to Chloe’s apartment.
“I’m going to kill my sister, by the way.”
He chuckles when he turns toward me. “She said you would.” I don’t miss the way he stares at my stomach. I place a protective hand over it, not knowing how I should feel about him looking at me like that.
I throw myself onto the couch, grabbing a pillow to fidget with.
“Tell me what made you drive four hours and then please leave.” I don’t mean it. I want him here and I want to be with him every day for the rest of my life, but that can’t happen. What he did was unforgiveable and nothing he says will change that.
He sits in the rocking chair across from me, and that’s when I notice the tears that start to swell in his eyes. I’ve never seen him like this before, but it’s about to make me lose all my remaining resolve.
“There are things from my past that I never told you about.”
It hurts knowing he’s kept something big from me.
“When I met you, I finally felt like I could breathe again. I was scared to get into a relationship, because my last one ended in the worst way possible. Me and Destiny were together for four years. Everything started out fine, at least I thought it did, but then she got heavy into drugs and alcohol.”
I remember thinking she looked sick the night of the charity event.
“I was always busy with work so she told me that it was my fault.”
I gasp as I cover my mouth with my hand.
“Once I realized how bad things were, I got her into rehab. Her case was so bad that she ended up having to stay in the hospital for a month so she could be monitored around the clock.” He looks down at his lap. “I went to visit her as often as they’d let me, and I could tell she was better. Two months after she got out, we found out she was pregnant. I was nervous after everything that had happened, but I thought she was still clean. Either she was good at hiding it, or I was just a damn idiot, but she kept doing drugs behind my back. She went into labor when she was only six months along.”
He finally breaks. He’s always so strong, but in this moment, he needs someone to hold him while he mourns for the child he never got to meet. Everything is finally making sense.
Without thinking, I make my way to him and sit on his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck. Comforting this man comes naturally, even if I end up getting hurt again.
“If I would have noticed what was going on, my son would be here with me.”
I put a finger over his mouth. “You can’t blame this on yourself. She was the one with the problem.”
I can tell he doesn’t agree. “I thought that she was happy about being a mother, but looking back, I was definitely wrong.” He pauses. “Whenever I’d bring up things we needed to do or get for him, she’d blow me off. Hell, I was the one that chose his name. She had no motherly instinct whatsoever.”
I stand from his lap and grab his hand, pulling him toward the couch.
“What did you name him?”
He gives me a small smile. “Braeden.” He leans back on the couch and stares up at the ceiling. “But I didn’t just drive this far only to tell you that.”
I scoot away from him, needing a little space.
“Why did you come then?”
He looks up at me and when he notices that I’ve moved away from him, I can see the hurt on his face. It’s not a look I enjoy seeing, but I have to protect myself.
“I fucked up.”
I arch a brow at him.
“Okay.” He sighs
. “I fucked up big time.”
“Why did you leave me?” The question comes out on a sob. I’m freaking tired of crying all the time. Between my hormones and him, I can’t handle much more.
He puts his head down. “Because I’m a coward. I hate myself so much for what I did. If I’m being honest, I didn’t want to have kids after losing Braeden because I was scared to go through that again.”
“I’m not Destiny. I would never do what she did.”
“I know. Looking back, my reasoning didn’t make sense. But no matter what, I can’t imagine something happening to you or our baby.” He once again stares down at my tiny bump.
“Would you like to feel it?” I ask. “It’s much too soon for them to be kicking, but you still can if you want.”
“Them?” he croaks out. “Twins?”
“Yeah. Two.”
A huge smile spreads across his face like a child in a candy store, causing a small one to cross my face. I move closer to him and then grab his hand. I hear his intake of breath before I rest it on my stomach, and I know I still affect him the same way he does me.
“Wow. I can’t believe our children are in there,” he says in awe, causing my heart to skip a beat. This man who has built walls around himself is turning into a huge softy.
“I know, it’s pretty amazing,” I whisper up at him. “I have an appointment tomorrow with my new doctor and they’ll want to do a sonogram to make sure everything is still going well. Would you maybe want to come?”
“You’re okay with that?” He looks at me and I can tell he’s unsure if that’s what I want.
“Yeah. I mean, you are the father. Even if we aren’t together, I still want you in their lives. If that’s what you want.”
As soon as the words are out, he flinches.
“Yeah, of course.”
“I’m getting tired, but do you want to stay on the couch? It’s more comfortable than Chloe’s.”
“Sounds good.”
“I’d offer you the bed but after not sleeping on one for months, I can’t give it up.”
Her Arrogant Boss (The Wright Kind of Wrong Book 1) Page 14