Sticks & Stones

by Rachael Brownell

  What? He’s offering me their services? Free?

  When I don’t reply, he reaches into his jacket and pulls out a business card.

  “In case you’ve forgotten the number,” he says. “Call me when you’re ready to talk.”

  Turning, he disappears into the crowd. As the sea of people part to let him through, I catch sight of Reese in the corner with Ireland. They look like they’re in a heated discussion.

  Taking only one step in her direction, I stop myself and watch from a distance. She’s still here. I have time to find her later. I’ll let them hash things out and I’ll attempt to talk to her when her head levels again. I don’t want to have this conversation with her when she’s angry.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Reese

  “We need to go. Now!” I scream at Ireland over the music.

  “Not until you talk to him, Reese. It’s been six months. A few more and–”

  “This is not your decision to make. I can’t believe you dragged me here and lied to me. You knew how I’d feel about this. You knew I wouldn’t come. Lying to get me here was the worst decision you could have made. What were you thinking?”

  “I was thinking about how the two of you love each other and need to move past this for the sake of everyone involved.”

  My blood is boiling. I’m so angry with her I can’t see straight. Shaking my head, I push past her, keeping watch for Hunter as I make my way through the crowd.

  Familiar faces smile at me, shouting hello over the music as I weave through the crowd. I don’t stop to reply, instead nodding my head in their direction, a forced smile on my face. When the bathroom comes in sight, I pick up the pace, certain if I don’t hurry, Hunter will appear in front of me.

  Behind the closed door of the women’s room, I feel safe. Sheltered from prying eyes. Out of the spotlight. Away from the curious stares. Most importantly, I’m hidden from Hunter. This may be the one place he can’t look for me.

  Closing and locking the stall door, I sit on the toilet and rest my head in my hands. This is bad. Really bad. It was easy to avoid running into him when the only places I went were work and home. I’ve even paid someone to shop for me the past few months. I haven’t even stopped at the coffee shop lately.

  He’s going to notice.

  Things will get awkward.

  I’ll freak out.

  He’ll freak out.

  Nothing good is going to come from this night. Ireland should have known that. She never should have put me in this situation. I’m not ready to see him. I’m not ready to talk to him.

  Maybe I can hide in here for a few hours and then sneak out the back. I’ll call a cab and have them waiting for me. As long as Ireland doesn’t stand in my way, this should work out fine.

  Once the cab is scheduled, I watch the minutes tick slowly by. Forty-five more minutes. Forty more minutes.

  A few people come and go, their conversations laughable from the safety of my stall. Most of them are talking about Hunter, calling him Tyler. They know the real him, apparently. I don’t. Not anymore. I knew a version of him that Tiffanie distorted. Then, I knew the version of him that he wanted me to. Hunter.

  The truth lies somewhere in the middle.

  The door creaks open again, the music filtering in. As it closes, I hear two women talking.

  “This place is going to be great. I wish something like this had existed when I was younger. I can think of a few people who could have used the support.”

  “Me, too. There was this group of girls that used to pick on one of my friends. It’s like it was their life’s mission. We stood up to them for her, but I think it only made things worse. Maybe if she had been able to stand up to them it would have made a difference.”

  “That sucks.”

  “Yeah, it does. She tried to kill herself our senior year and almost succeeded. Her little brother found her just in time and called 911. If he hadn’t, she probably wouldn’t be here.”

  Their voices fade as they exit the bathroom and the first tear falls.

  He did this for me. To prove to me that he’s not one of them. That he was never one of them. Deep down, I already knew that. He’s the only person I ever remember standing up to Tiffanie. He stood up to her for me, for everyone she ever treated like crap. He was one of the good guys who got mixed up with the wrong crowd. We all make mistakes.

  But he lied to me about it.

  He led me to believe he had no idea who I was.

  I opened my heart to him. I told him things I’d never told anyone, not even Ireland.

  He deceived me in a way I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to forgive him for. No matter how he tries to explain his actions.

  Wiping away my tears, the door opens again, allowing the music to surround me. Listening intently, I don't hear a voice. I don’t hear the water turn on. I don’t hear someone enter the stall next to me.

  “I know you’re in here, Reese. I can see your feet.”

  What in the hell is he doing in here? Looking down at my phone, the cab will be here in ten minutes. I almost made it. How did he find me?

  “What do you want, Hunter?”

  “Tyler.”

  “Whatever,” I reply, dismissively. “What do you want?”

  “To talk to you. For you to hear me out. A chance to explain why I did what I did,” he pleads.

  “And you thought trapping me in a women’s restroom was the best way to change my mind. If I didn’t want to talk to you before now, I’m not about to start talking now. You can’t trap me and force me to talk to you. I’ll talk when I’m ready.”

  “And when will that be? I’ve given you space for six months. I’m not sure how much longer I can give you. We need to talk. You and I both know the longer we wait, the harder this is going to be.”

  I’m going to kill Ireland!

  She told him. She promised me she wouldn’t, and she told him anyway. It wasn’t her secret to tell. Even if it was, I should have been the one to tell him. And I would have. When I was ready. Or never. I’m still debating. I’m not sure I want him in my life. If I don’t want him in my life, why would I want him in our child’s?

  Unlocking the stall door, I take a deep breath and prepare to come face to face with him for the first time since the reunion. I’m not ready, and I know it, but I don’t have an option. If he wants to talk, we’re going to talk. He might not like what I have to say, but he’s going to listen. I won’t let him dominate this conversation. His opinion matters very little right now.

  I’ve made my decision.

  I’m doing what I think is right for me and our child.

  It took me months to decide what I wanted to do. Finding out I was pregnant was a shock. I was still upset about what happened. I was angry at Hunter. After coming back from the doctor’s office, I destroyed the flowers that were delivered while I was at my appointment, throwing them at the wall.

  Ireland burst into my office to find me staring at the shattered remains of the purple glass vase. Without a word, she picked up my mess, brought me a cup of tea, and forced me to talk. With no one else to confide in, I told her everything I thought I could handle. She tried to get me to talk more about the reunion but I refused. She knew what she needed to know. I was pregnant with Hunter’s child.

  I’ve never wanted to have kids–not until one was growing inside me. My career was what was most important to me. Now, I can’t imagine this child not being a part of my life. I’m in love with her already, and she’s not even here yet. I have ten more weeks until she arrives. All I needed to do was avoid him a little longer.

  Pulling the door open, I see him leaning against the sink, arms crossed over his chest. He’s smiling at me, that annoyingly cute grin he always gets when he wants something and gets it. The last time I saw that grin on his face was after we made love for the first time.

  I hate that grin.

  Keeping a straight face so he doesn’t know he’s getting under my skin already, I step forw
ard and his eyes drop to my belly. Straightening my back a little, I wait for him to speak. His eyes are focused on the growing bump I tried to hide under my suit jacket.

  “You… you’re pregnant,” he stutters, unable to avert his eyes. I feel like I’m on display right now. Wait… he didn’t know?

  Shit! I should have stayed hidden in the stall. But he said we couldn’t wait any longer. He made it sounds like he knew.

  “Didn’t Ireland tell you? She seems to be on your side these days, unbeknownst to me until tonight.” I was trying to be snotty, but the words come out sounding as surprised as he looks right know.

  “No. She failed to mention this,” he replies, his eyes finally making their way back up to mine. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Why would I?”

  “I think I deserved to know.”

  “Who says it’s yours?” The words cross my lips before I have a chance to stop myself. Of course this baby is his. I haven’t been with anyone but him, and he knows that I’m sure.

  “Is that how you want to play this?”

  “No,” I say, looking at the ground in shame. There’s enough pain between us, I don’t need to add to it.

  “Look at me, Reese.” Doing as he says, my head lifts, and my eyes meet his again. The sadness in his eyes breaks my heart. I shouldn’t care, but I do. “This is not how this was supposed to happen. Tonight was not about this. It was supposed to be my grand gesture. All I wanted was for you to talk to me, give me a chance to explain myself. Maybe, one day forgive me. I never expected you to show up pregnant.”

  “I didn’t expect to be pregnant.”

  “I’m not blaming you. All I’m saying is this isn’t going as I planned. Can we please go somewhere and talk? I think there are a few conversations that are past due.”

  “Will you take me home, please?”

  Nodding, he extends his hand toward me but I don’t take it. I’m not ready for that yet. One touch from him will ignite a fire inside me. I may be hurt and angry with him, but I’m also deeply in love with him still. Being ready to admit it to him–or anyone else for that matter–is a different story.

  Hunter carves a path through the crowd, his game face back in place. He stops a few times to shake hands with donors, thanking them for their support before quickly excusing himself. By the time we make it to the back hallway, my feet are aching, and my stomach is rumbling. This night has lasted far too long.

  Making a quick stop in his office to grab his things, we’re in his car headed toward my house in no time. Music is softly playing in the background, but I’m focused on something else. There’s lasagna in my fridge I’m craving.

  As he pulls in my driveway, I get nervous. Being alone with Hunter has never turned out well. The first night he was here, we shared an amazing kiss. A forbidden kiss. Being alone with him in the hotel room led to jumping into bed with him. My feelings started to grow, and then he shattered my heart. Now, my belly is growing rapidly because of one moment of weakness. Well, a few moments.

  This man has a way of touching my heart, making me want things I shouldn’t want. Mainly him. Being alone with him scares me. My heart can’t take much more.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Hunter

  Pregnant.

  How in the hell did this happen? We were safe. Every time.

  She doesn’t even like kids. As far as I know, she never wanted to have them. Is she going to keep our baby? Do I get a say?

  Fuck!

  Ireland said she was keeping something from me. I never expected it to be this. I’m going to kill her the next time I see her. She should have prepared me. She should have told me. I deserved to know.

  My brain is a cluster fuck right now. I can’t think straight. We need to talk, somewhere other than here. I’m finding it hard to concentrate when all I can focus on is her belly. It’s large and perfectly round. I want to reach out and touch it, run my hands all over it. Is it hard? Soft? Does the baby kick yet?

  Fuck!

  When she asks me to take her home I’m relieved. I was hoping we could talk in my office, but her house is a better idea. No prying eyes. No chance Ireland will bust through the door. Or Paul. This explains the smile on Ireland’s face when I told her I wasn’t going to take no for an answer this time. She’s enjoying the fuck out of this mess I’ve created.

  Locking her front door behind me, I follow Reese into the kitchen. She heads straight for the fridge, pulls out a Tupperware container and sticks it in the microwave. Why didn’t she just let me feed her? Is she that stubborn?

  I already know the answer to that. She hasn’t spoken a word to me since we left the safety of the bathroom. In the car, I thought of a million things I wanted to say to her, questions I wanted to ask, but I couldn’t. It felt like the wrong time. There’s never going to be a right time to talk about this, I guess. Best to get it over with.

  “So, when are you due? When are we due?” I ask, correcting my original statement so she understands I’m here for her and the baby. Her back is to me as she watches the microwave count down the seconds before her food is ready.

  “Ten more weeks, end of June,” she says, without turning around. Another twenty-nine seconds and I’ll have her full attention.

  “When do we find out if it’s a boy or a girl?”

  “It’s a girl.”

  “Oh! Okay. Have you decided on a name yet?” I’m having a little girl. Pigtails and frilly dresses. Things I know nothing about.

  Holy shit!

  “No.”

  Ding.

  Reese carefully pulls the dish from the microwave. Turning, she places the dish on the island between us and hands me a fork. Lasagna, just like the first time we shared a meal together. I wonder if this is her way of making peace.

  “Where’s the garlic bread?” I ask, taking a bite.

  “Funny,” she replies dryly, but a small smiles appears before she puts a bite in her mouth.

  We eat in silence, polishing off the entire contents of the dish. I eat slowly, allowing Reese to have as much as she wants. She’s eating for two. I don’t want to get in the way of that.

  “I’m getting tired, so I think we should talk and get this over with.”

  “Okay,” I say, swallowing the lump that’s now formed in my throat.

  “I’m having the baby. I’m not giving her up. I never wanted kids, but she’s changed me in a good way. I can handle this. If you want to be a part of her life, we can talk about it. Not today, but before she comes. As far as what happened between us, it’s in the past. I don’t want to rehash it. I don’t want to talk about it. I’m sick of being mad and hurt. There are more important things I need to focus on right now,” she says, pointing to her stomach.

  Giving her a moment to catch her breath, I formulate my plan of attack. When she doesn’t say anything else, I clear my throat and get ready for the fight of my life.

  “Yes, I want to be a part of her life. And yours. You may not want to talk about it, but I need you to at least listen to what I have to say for a minute.” She opens her mouth to argue but decides against it, thankfully. “I love you, Reese. I know that’s hard to hear, but it’s the truth. I fell in love with you in the short amount of time we spent together. I know you feel the same, or you wouldn’t be so angry with me. That’s not the point, though. What I really want to say is I’m sorry. I should have told you who I was when you told me who you were. I was scared you wouldn’t let me help you if you knew. You needed me, and I figured if my face was hidden, no one would see who was behind the mask. In a small, twisted way, this was me redeeming myself for allowing Tiffanie to treat you the way she did back then. I wanted to be a part of that. I wanted to be there when she realized she didn’t break you.

  “I’m sorry you got hurt in the process, but I’m not sorry for making the choices I made. I would do it all over again if I had the option. Only next time, I would have been honest with you from the start. I never meant to hurt you, Reese. You h
ave to know that.”

  She’s facing me, but her eyes are staring past me. Quickly glancing over my shoulder to see what has her attention, I’m surprised to see Ireland standing in the dining room.

  “What are you doing here?” I ask before I can stop myself.

  “I came to make sure she was okay.”

  “She’s fine. You can leave now.”

  “Reese?” Ireland asks.

  Turning my attention back to her, she’s frozen in place. Tears are beginning to form in her eyes and she’s holding her bump.

  “What’s wrong, Reese? Are you okay?” I ask, quickly moving around the island, sliding up next to her.

  “I’m fine. She’s kicking really hard right now, that’s all.”

  My hand is poised at the top of the bump, waiting for her to give me permission to feel for myself. She nods and as I place my hand next to hers, I feel it. My heart melts instantly. My girl’s strong already. Both of my girls are strong.

  “I’m guessing you don’t need me,” Ireland says as she takes my seat on the other side of the counter.

  Looking from me to Ireland, Reese replies, “I think we’re good right now. Thanks for checking on me.”

  “Anything for you. See you on Monday,” she says, hopping up and disappearing around the corner.

  “Ireland,” Reese calls. When she reappears, “don’t ever lie to me again or I’ll fire you in a heartbeat. Understand?”

  “Yeah, I do. It was worth the risk, though.”

  “Love you,” Reese says, her voice softening.

  “I love you, too, Reese.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Reese

  “What now?” he asks. Ireland’s been gone for at least ten minutes and neither of us has moved an inch. Hunter still has his hand on my belly, waiting for the baby to kick again.