The Heartbreaker (Fighting the Odds Book 1)

by Tricia Andersen

  She pointed at the door. “Get out. Go. I’ll tell them you left.”

  “Fine.” Reese stormed out, slamming the door behind him. He bit back a sob. Seeing the look of condemnation on his cousin’s face tore him apart. If she’d only listen to why I have to go.

  “Ready to go, baby?”

  Reese glanced up to see Roxy leaning against her rental beaming at him. He huffed. “I have to get my things.”

  “Jump in. I’ll drive you there.”

  He moved reluctantly across the sidewalk and slipped into the passenger’s seat.

  She was practically giggling as she drove to Buddy’s house.

  Reese stared at the floor as he rushed through the house to his room and tore open the dresser drawers. One look at even a wall would undo him. Shoving handfuls of clothes into his bag, he started to zip it shut but stopped. He searched around for his fight shirt. His heart sunk as he remembered. Lily has it. He blinked back tears but couldn’t win the fight. Hot, heavy drops rolled down his cheeks and hit the wood floor. Standing, he picked up the bag and rushed out the door to the car.

  “Oh baby, is it really that bad?” Roxy cooed as he slumped into the car seat again. “I’ll make it all better when we get home. I promise.”

  “Just drive,” Reese barked through gritted teeth.

  It was Roxy’s turn to huff as she shifted the car into drive and drove away.

  Reese stared out the window as the streets of Braden faded away, turning into miles and miles of corn and soybean fields. He wiped the tears from his cheeks unable to get them to stop no matter how hard he tried.

  “Aren’t you curious who you’re fighting?” Roxy asked, breaking the silence.

  “Don’t care,” Reese muttered.

  “Stop pouting. This is good for you.”

  “Who is it?”

  “Brett Duggan.”

  Reese’s head spin towards her. “You know he tore apart both of his last opponents. One he forced into retirement. How exactly is this good for me?”

  “It got you to stop blubbering like a baby. You got this one. I believe in you. Can your precious Lola say that?”

  “Lily. And yes.” He turned back towards the window, concentrating on the rural scene outside. He refused to talk no matter how much Roxy prattled away, poking and prodding to get a response from him. There was no change when they reached the Eastern Iowa Airport and boarded the airplane. He was sure to have fingertip bruises all over his ribs when they reached Las Vegas.

  Reese’s coach had a gentle smile on his face when he strode into the gym with Roxy on his heels. “It’s good to see you, boy.”

  Tears brimmed Reese’s eyes again. He couldn’t lie to the man. His coach had been the closest thing he ever had to a father.

  It seemed Coach Reynolds caught on. “Why don’t you go settle in at home? We’ll get started tomorrow.”

  “I have no home anymore. I’m homeless, remember? I want to start now. Just let me change my clothes.”

  “Sure thing, Reese. You can crash on my couch until you can find a place. Go get changed.”

  “Reese, darling. Your contract,” Roxy reminded him.

  Reese tore the contract from her hand and quickly signed it. He shoved it into her chest. “There. It’s official. You own me. Now let me train or you won’t have anything to own after this fight.”

  It was the first time he had ever seen Roxy cower. He spun on his toe towards the locker room, fury in every step as he walked away. In one day, he lost everything he ever loved. It was time to go pound on something.

  ~* * * *~

  Lily barely stuck her head out of the cocoon she built out of her comforter. The soft sound of knocking echoed through the tiny apartment. She shot a hollow look towards the living room, then buried her face into her pillow.

  It’s probably Buddy again. The bar owner seemed to have taken personal responsibility for her since Jenny told them Reese left Braden and went back to Las Vegas. The news turned Lily’s world upside down. She had never loved anyone as much as she loved Reese and he was just gone. He’d run back to Vegas without so much as a goodbye. The whole thing finally turned Lily’s stomach. She was sick right on the cement floor of Buddy’s Bar, her heaves peppered with sobs. She’d been throwing up ever since. All she could keep down was ginger ale and saltine crackers. Her whole stomach issue confined her to her bed.

  Ever since then, Buddy made it his mission to watch over her.

  She glanced down at her vibrating cell and started to cry again. Reese. She had no desire to hear his weak excuses. She knew his true love was MMA. Why did he lie to her? Couldn’t he just have told her what their relationship really was to him, a summer fling to tide him over until he went back to Sin City?

  The phone stopped vibrating, then it emitted one last shiver. A text. Scooping the phone up in her hand, she deleted the message before reading it. She was done with him. It was over for good.

  As she sat the phone on her dresser, Lily caught something moving out of the corner of her eye. A scream erupted from her lips as she sat up in bed. It died when she found Molly standing there frozen in place.

  “Just me, Lil,” Molly appeased.

  Lily sighed as she curled up under her comforter again. “How’d you get in here?”

  “Your mom gave me the key. We’re all worried.” Molly sat on the bed beside Lily, her red curls bobbing as she criss-crossed her legs under her. “You haven’t been out of the house in four days.”

  “I don’t feel well.”

  “Your stomach? Or your heart?”

  Lily whimpered. “Both.”

  “Lily, can I ask a personal question?” Molly twisted her fingers together nervously.

  “What?”

  “When was your last period?”

  “I don’t know. What does that matter?”

  “Did you always use birth control with Reese?”

  “Of course I…” Lily’s words trailed off as her eyes grew wide. “Twice. We didn’t use a condom twice.”

  “Do you think?”

  Lily tossed the comforter off herself and scrambled out of bed. Her stomach turned violently. Pausing for a moment, she let it settle before stripping off her pajamas.

  “What are you doing?” Molly questioned.

  “I’m going to Anderson’s Market for a pregnancy test. I have to know.” Lily tossed on a t-shirt and shimmied into her sweatpants.

  “Let me get it for you.”

  “No. You don’t need Daryl Cox telling all of Braden that you’re pregnant.” Before Molly could object, Lily slipped into a pair of flip flops and headed out the door. She smiled to find her best friend at her side.

  Anderson’s Market was nearly empty at that time of day. Only a couple of Braden’s older citizens wandered up and down the aisles.

  Lily lifted her chin, rolled back her shoulders, and strode to the health and beauty section. It took her a moment or two to find the pregnancy tests. Once she found one, she snatched it off the shelf and beelined for the cashier.

  “Lily Dixon, I haven’t seen you in ages.”

  Lily and Molly turned to find Agnes Brown, the organist for her father’s church. The older woman continued. “How are you?”

  “I’m fine, Mrs. Brown. And you?” Lily asked weakly.

  Agnes’s eyes dropped to the box in Lily’s hand. Her disapproving glare made it apparent that she knew what it was. “I’m doing well. I better let you go make your…purchase. Have a good day.”

  “You too.” Lily raced to the cashier and plopped the box and money at the register. A minute later, she was outside and near running back to her apartment.

  “What’s the big deal?” Molly questioned breathlessly.

  “Agnes Brown is nearly as big of a gossip as Daryl. And the first person she is going to talk to is Dad.” Lily unlocked the door, not stopping until she dropped her sweatpants. Once she was finished with the test, she set it on the sink to wait for the results.

  Molly hugged her
tight to keep her from pacing. “No matter what, I’m here for you.”

  “I know,” Lily whispered.

  After five minutes, both women stepped back into the bathroom to look at the test. Lily’s heart sunk to her churning stomach. Two lines. Crap.

  “Lily, these can be wrong all the time,” Molly suggested.

  “I need to know.” Taking Molly’s hand in hers, she hauled the red head to Dr. Hazlet’s office. Lily was secretly thankful the doctor’s office was as nearly deserted as the grocery store.

  The nurse behind the receptionist’s desk greeted them with a smile. “How can I help you?”

  “I need to take a blood test.” Lily’s voice dropped to a near whisper. “I think I’m pregnant.”

  The nurse rose and motioned for Lily to follow. “Come with me. It’ll only take a second.” She led Lily and Molly to a small room equipped as a lab.

  The deep turquoise walls decorated with prints of flowers should have been a comfort to Lily. They weren’t. She settled into the chair and clenched her eyes shut. First, she felt the rubber band wrapped around her bicep cutting off the circulation to the rest of her arm. Then she felt the quick sting of the needle poking through her skin.

  “There. I’ll test this right away.” The nurse pressed a cotton ball to the wound then wrapped gauze around Lily’s arm. Then she set a pen and paper next to Lily. “Write down a phone number where I can reach you. I’ll call as soon as I know.”

  “All right.” Lily scrubbed down her cell number and handed the paper and pen back to the nurse. She offered a brief smile of thanks before getting up and heading for the door.

  “Do you want to go to the lake while we wait?” Molly offered.

  “No, I need to keep busy. I’m going to the library.” Lily strode down the sidewalk until she reached the new oak doors. Pushing them open, she was greeted by the sounds of power screwdrivers constructing the new bookcases. The first person she saw was Elijah and of course, he was all flustered but in a good way.

  “Miss Dixon, the clock arrived today. That was quick,” he gushed.

  “The clockmaker made it a priority for us.”

  “It’s beautiful. Can I hang it?”

  “Yes, you can. Have one of the workmen help you.”

  “Thank you.” The lanky teen rushed off to find one of the men in the library to assist him.

  Lily chuckled as she watched him very animatedly ask for the man’s help. She was happy to see the worker very generously help Elijah with his project.

  Lily and Molly settled themselves among the boxes of books, sorting them by genre to be put back on the shelves. Each second seemed like an eternity. It felt like knife was being twisted in Lily’s heart. Losing Reese was pain enough but possibly carrying the permanent reminder of their affair would tear her apart.

  “Lily!”

  She bolted upright at the sound of Reverend Dixon’s voice. She sighed. She didn’t have to ask why he was here. Rising from the nest of books she made on the floor, she rose to face him. But he wasn’t alone. Lily’s mother and sister were with him.

  “Do you want to explain your purchase at Anderson’s Market, young lady?” he demanded.

  “Only after you explain why your organist is such a gossip,” Lily countered.

  He stormed across the wood floor until he hovered over her. She did her best to keep her composure. “I’ve warned you, Lily. Now the whole town knows you’re a whore.”

  Lily’s mother grasped his arm to get his attention. “That’s enough, Oliver. She’s our daughter.”

  “Stay out of this, Rachel. She deserves what she gets. When she lays down with the dog, she gets the fleas!”

  “Dog?” Lily screeched. “Reese is not a dog.”

  “That boy is a good for nothing hoodlum. And now, you’re carrying his bastard. Are you proud of yourself?”

  The library suddenly fell silent. Lily looked at all the eyes glued to her. She squared her shoulders back to feign bravery. That was until she met her mother’s stunned expression. “I don’t know if I’m pregnant yet.”

  “Does it matter? You’re a slut and a disgrace to our family!”

  “I’m the disgrace, Dad? At least I didn’t have to hide my affair from anyone but you. I know why you hate Reese. It has nothing to do with his past or what he does for a living. He caught you.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Adam, Dad. I know about Adam.”

  Reverend Dixon’s face went pale.

  Rachel Dixon frowned. “Who’s Adam?”

  “No one to be concerned about,” her husband growled.

  “Really, Dad? You think that little of your son?” Lily accused. She didn’t see then hand that flew until it struck her in the cheek, sending her flying to the floor. She heard her mother and sister scream.

  “Keep your mouth shut!” her father ordered.

  Lily took a moment to clear her senses. Her face throbbed and her stomach flipped dangerously. “It wasn’t just Adam’s mom you slept with. Your visits with parishioners were chances to have sex with other women. That’s the real reason you hate Reese. He’s kept silent all these years because you threatened him. Yes, Dad, he told me everything only after Adam came to find me.”

  Reverend Dixon squatted down to her, sticking a demanding finger in her face. “You have until midnight to get your things out of my apartment. You are not my daughter. Never show your face near my house or my church ever again. Do you understand me?”

  Lily couldn’t speak. Sobs choked the words from her throat.

  Oliver Dixon stood and strode icily from the library.

  She peered up at her mother to find a confused, stunned glare in her eyes. Then Rachel and Rose Dixon followed behind the Reverend.

  Lily curled up on the floor and stared to cry. The library remained silent. She knew everyone was watching but she didn’t care. She didn’t just lose Reese. Now she lost her whole family.

  The sounds of something vibrating on the floor caught her attention. “Lily, your phone,” Molly whispered.

  Lily picked up the phone and handed it to her friend, shaking her head. There was no way she could answer it.

  Molly took it from her and answered it but was back a moment later. “Lily, it’s the nurse. She has to talk to you.”

  Lily inhaled a deep, shuddering breath then took the phone. “This is Lily Dixon.”

  “Miss Dixon, I have the results of your blood test. It was positive. You’re pregnant. You will need to schedule an appointment to see the doctor soon. All right?”

  “Yes. Thank you.” Without another word, Lily ended the call. She couldn’t talk. She could only cry.

  Molly fell to her knees and hugged her tight.

  “I don’t know what to do,” Lily sobbed.

  “I do.” Molly tugged her to her feet and led her from the library. She didn’t stop until they both were in the cool confines of Buddy’s Bar.

  Lily barely made out the tables and the green painted walls before she was engulfed in two strong masculine arms.

  “What happened?” Buddy demanded.

  “She’s pregnant,” Molly informed him.

  “That son of a bitch!”

  “And the good Reverend knows. She has until midnight to get her stuff out of her apartment.”

  “Can you keep her for the night? I’ll get her things. But I need to get a new bed, bedding, maybe even paint. I won’t torture her like that.”

  Lily pulled away. “No, leave it. I’ll be fine. Buddy, I’m going to have a baby. Do you really want that kind of chaos in your life?”

  He propped her head up to look into her eyes. “Yes. You are my friend. And since my asshole ex-best friend is responsible, I’ll pick up his slack.”

  Lily wrapped her arms tight around him for a hug. “Thank you. I lost my family today. This means the world.”

  “You didn’t lose your family.” Buddy motioned between himself and Molly. “We’re right here and you’ve g
ot Jenny too. We’re all ready to help.”

  Lily looked from Molly to Buddy. “Thank you both.”

  “We love you, Lily. We’re happy to do it,” Molly replied with tears in her eyes.

  “Why don’t I get you ladies a drink then Lily can go home and take a nap. Sound good?”

  “I’m always up for a drink.” Molly nearly skipped to a bar stool and hopped onto it.

  Lily smiled a bit as she joined her.

  Buddy slipped behind the bar and opened the cooler, pulling out a can. He popped it open, poured the contents into a glass and set it in front of Lily. “Ginger ale. No more alcohol for you. Not for nine months anyway. What can I get you, Molly?”

  “Make it deep, dark and red,” she cooed.

  “So, your usual?” Buddy chuckled.

  “Yes, please.”

  He popped the cork and carefully poured the wine into a glass. He set it in front of her with a wink.

  Even though she didn’t feel like talking, Lily did enjoy listening to the banter between her friends. It wasn’t long before Jenny joined in, ribbing Buddy along with Molly. The bar owner was right. These three were her family and she couldn’t ask for a better one.

  She sighed as she took a sip of ginger ale. There was one unfortunate truth. No matter how hard they tried…they could never replace Reese.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Time moved slowly for Lily. Everyday seemed to take an eternity. She could barely make it through a shift at the library before she dozed off. Despite being constantly nauseated, she was constantly hungry.

  As she expected, the good folks of Braden treated her far differently now. She was no longer the good librarian who could find the perfect book for their literary cravings. Now she wore an invisible ‘A’. People who once stopped to chitchat with her, now shunned her. No one brought their children to story time. Patrons of the library sought out Elijah or Miss Jones instead of her. Nine months of this treatment would be hell.

  After a particularly bad day. Lily scheduled an appointment with the Mayor to resign. Braden deserved better. The mayor shooed her away, reminding her it was the twenty-first century. Women raised children alone everywhere. Besides, she was the best woman for the job.