Unspoken Fears (The Unspoken Love Series Book 4)

by H. P. Davenport

  Rory: Christian? Who?

  Me: My parents. They love Leah.

  Rory: No.

  Christian: Why not?

  Rory: I can’t ask them to keep her.

  Me: You won’t be asking, I will.

  Rory: Are you sure?

  Me: Yes, I’m sure. If it’s okay with you, I can have them come to your place. That way Leah can sleep in her own crib. We won’t have to risk waking her to take her home from their house.

  Rory: Okay. If they agree, tell them I really appreciate it.

  Christian: Will do, sweetheart. <3

  Rory texted me when she was on her way home from work. I then called my parents, so they could leave and travel to the City. My father picked me up on their way to Brooklyn to Rory’s place.

  “She lives here?” my mom asks from the front seat.

  “Yeah, her father owns the building and her parents live here as well. He’s a real estate developer. It made sense for her to move here with having Leah.”

  “Rory said you can park underground in her parking space, since she doesn’t have a car. Her father gave her a spot in case she decided to purchase a vehicle,” I tell my father when he reaches the garage entrance.

  Once we park, we reach the main floor of her building. Security is tight here, a doorman stands with his arms crossed, a gun secured at his waist. A tall, grey-haired gentleman sits behind a large marble station. “Good evening, Mr. Townsend.”

  “How are you, George?”

  He nods his head. “Very good, sir.”

  George stands and walks over to the elevator bay on the far end of the hallway. When he scans his card, the doors open.

  “Thank you,” I say when he steps back.

  “You’re welcome. You have a good night.” He nods his head, then turns and walks back to his station.

  “Christian, this place is gorgeous,” my mom whispers.

  “Gwen, her father owns the place. Relax.”

  “Mom, you would never know Rory lives here, she doesn’t act like she has money and she sure as hell doesn’t flaunt it.”

  My mom mumbles, “I know, sweetheart. It’s just…wow.”

  The elevator door dings when we reach our destination. Rory is standing with the door to her condo open wide. We walk into Rory’s home and my mother freezes, causing me to slam into the back of her.

  “Hello,” she says, stepping up to my mother, pulling her in for a hug. She releases my mom, then hugs my father. “Thank you for keeping Leah.”

  “Mom, you okay?”

  “Look at that view.”

  “You’d think we kept her locked in the basement and never let her see the City skyline,” my father murmurs.

  That remark earns my father an elbow to his ribs.

  Leah sits on the floor, playing with animal blocks. When she sees me, her little arms begin to flail. “Dada,” she squeals.

  A gasp leaves my mom, as I walk past her and scoop my little girl up, placing kisses on her chubby cheeks.

  “Hello, my little princess.” I cuddle her against my chest and she lays her head on my shoulder. I glance over Leah’s head and my mom’s hand is laying over her heart.

  I lean down, setting Leah back on the floor with her blocks.

  “She’s bathed and fed. She will probably want to play for a little bit, then she should be ready for her bottle. You can rock her in the nursery while you feed her, then lay her in her crib. As long as she has her big plush elephant in the crib and her elephant binkie, she will go right to sleep.”

  My mom walks over, sitting on the floor with Leah. “She’ll be fine. I’ll call you if we need anything.”

  My father walks over and sits on the couch behind my mom. “You kids go have fun. Everything will be fine.”

  “Thank you again.”

  Solar lights line the walkway leading to Camryn and Jamie’s house and all the downstairs lights are on inside.

  Knocking, then walking in, I hear the girls before I see them. Holding Rory’s hand in mine, we walk into the kitchen where all the girls are standing around the kitchen. Karsen sits on the stool by the island, Morgan is pouring liquor into shot glasses, and Camryn is leaning over the oven, pulling trays out. Something catches my eye in the corner.

  “What are you doing here?” Lindsey asks rather harshly.

  “Camryn invited me. What are you doing here?” Rory asks.

  Lindsey lifts her hands, as if she’s Vanna White or something. “These are my friends.” Lindsey looks at Rory’s hand in mine and laughs. “You have got to be kidding me. This is the guy you’ve been telling me about.”

  “Yeah. Christian.” Rory lifts her head looking at me, then looking at Lindsey.

  “How do you know her?” I lean down, whispering in her ear. Suddenly, my whole demeanor changes. What the hell is Lindsey’s problem with me dating Rory.

  “She’s my cousin.”

  “How do you know Camryn?” Lindsey asks taking a deep breath and adjusting her smile.

  “I met her a few months back.” She points to me. “This is the guy I’ve been telling you about. The guy I’ve been seeing.”

  Lindsey’s brows shoot up almost touching her hairline. “You’ve been seeing him?” She points at me. “He’s the guy you go on and on about.”

  Looking between Rory and Lindsey, I have a bad feeling about this. Suddenly I feel sick to my stomach. She’s silenced by my dark, angry expression.

  “What are the odds of that. You two know each other,” Camryn chimes in, placing the appetizers on the plates.

  “Who wants a shot?” Morgan asks the group.

  Rory looks between Lindsey and me, not saying a word.

  Morgan passes shots out to the girls. Jamie, Lincoln, and Parker walk into the kitchen just in time for her to hand shots to them.

  Morgan lifts her drink in the air. “To new friends and old friends. May we have a good time tonight.” Everyone leans in, clinking their glasses together.

  Camryn doesn’t take one, which is odd for her.

  “What’s up with that?” I ask, nodding my head to her full shot on the counter.

  “Nothing, my stomach’s been acting up.”

  Bullshit. If her stomach was acting up, she could have cancelled tonight. Raising a brow at my best friend, I point-blank ask her, “Care to elaborate?”

  Jamie walks over, placing his arms around my sister’s waist. Spreading his fingers across her belly. Camryn lifts her shirt revealing a little bump painted with a wrapped Christmas gift. “Santa’s delivering a baby in December.”

  “Oh my God. You bitch, you didn’t tell me,” Morgan throws her arms around Camryn’s neck.

  I’m stunned silent by Camryn’s announcement. She mentioned something a while back about having a secret to share, but she never elaborated on it, and I never pushed her to.

  Camryn’s features become more animated. “I wanted to make sure I was in the safe zone before we shared.”

  My sister will be an amazing mother. I can’t believe I’m going to be an uncle.

  “Do Mom and Dad know?” I ask my sister.

  She nods. “Yeah, I told them earlier today. I asked them not to tell you. We wanted to share the news with you.”

  Letting go of Rory’s hand, I walk over to Jamie, taking his hand in mine, “Congrats, man. I’m happy for you.”

  Reaching over, I pull Camryn in for a hug. Leaning down, I kiss her forehead. “I can’t believe you’re going to be a mom. I’m so proud of you sis.”

  She leans back with tears running down her cheek. “Thank you. We’re blessed,” she says laying her hand on her belly.

  “You know how babies are made, right?” Lincoln asks standing against the counter, his arm around Morgan’s shoulders.

  Jamie throws his head back and laughs. “Shut the fuck up.” I glare at Lincoln, then turn to Jamie. “Don’t even go there.”

  Jamie holds his hands up, “What? I didn’t say anything.” he says, as if it’s the leisureliest thing in the
world. I turn to him again, and he grins.

  I shove Lincoln’s shoulder. “You just had to go and ruin a beautiful moment, didn’t you?”

  “Just making sure you paid attention in sex-ed when we were in middle school,” Lincoln laughs, shoving me back.

  Game night is coming to a close. After three hours of Cards Against Humanity, my ass is numb from sitting.

  Leaving Jamie and Lincoln in the basement, better known as Jamie’s man cave, I walk upstairs to find Rory. After checking a few rooms and coming up empty, I ask Morgan, who is sitting on the couch in the living room next to Karsen, “Have you seen Rory?”

  “Last time I saw her, she was walking toward the bathroom with Lindsey,” Karsen says, not lifting her eyes from her phone.

  Immediately, I don’t like the sound of that. From the moment Lindsey saw me with Rory, she’s had an attitude toward me.

  Walking into the kitchen, Camryn and Jamie are cleaning up. “Have you seen Rory?”

  “Now that you ask, I haven’t seen her in quite a while. I thought she wandered down to the basement to be with you.” Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I dial her number. Immediately, her voicemail picks up. I call her again, same thing. Her voicemail.

  Anger floods my body. What the hell is going on? Lindsey walks into the kitchen, pulling a stool out and sits.

  “Where is Rory?” Camryn asks.

  Lindsey glares at me, then lifts her chin. “She left.”

  “What the fuck do you mean she left!” I yell, slamming my fist onto the counter.

  Morgan and Karsen walk in to the kitchen. “What the hell is going on in here?” Morgan asks looking between Lindsey and me.

  “I had a long talk with Rory tonight. Filled her in on your vision of your future.” She lifts her hand, twirling her ring around her finger. “You know, the one that neither includes a wife nor a child.”

  I step toward Lindsey, but Jamie stands in front of me, pushing me back. “Relax.”

  “You did what?” Karsen snaps, her lips in an angry line.

  Parker stands off to the side, eyeing the clusterfuck of a scene unfolding before him.

  “She’s my cousin, she’s been through enough. She deserved to know the truth about you,” she sneers.

  Dread tightens in my chest, restricting my breathing. “The truth about me?” I growl, pressing my lips together in anger.

  “Why would you do that?” Camryn asks. “That was a conversation between my brother and Rory. It was none of your damn business!” Her voice rises with fury, anger radiating off her body.

  Lindsey stands, “Rory is my business. She’s been through too much as it is. I only helped her from going through more when you decided to be done with her.”

  Lindsey reaches for her wristlet on the counter and shrugs. “We all know you never keep a woman around long enough to have a relationship with them.”

  It’s my sister who lunges for Lindsey this time. Jamie grabs her arm, stopping her. Morgan, on the other hand, threw back her fist, punching Lindsey in the face. Lindsey falls to the kitchen floor and Morgan charges for her. Lincoln grabs his wife around the waist, lifting her feet of the ground. “Calm down, killer,” he growls at her.

  Parker walks over, helping Lindsey off the floor. She stands, rubbing her already bruising chin. “What the hell is wrong with you?” Lindsey snaps.

  “Get out, now!” Camryn screams at her. “You disgust me, how could you?”

  Lindsey squares her shoulders, lifting her chin defiantly. “She had a right to know. I only reiterated what Christian has said on numerous occasions.”

  “Get out!” I roar.

  What pisses me off most is I can’t deny what Lindsey told Rory. I’ve said it. Only difference is my opinion on wanting a family and children has changed. They changed because of Rory.

  But what pisses me off more is Rory didn’t come to me. Once again, she ran. Once again, she walked away from me.

  The door slams behind Lindsey. My sister walks over, placing her arms around my waist. Several long seconds follow before Morgan does the same. Both girls hug me tightly. “You need to go after her. You need to explain.” Camryn says, her hazel-colored eyes saddened by the events of tonight.

  “Lindsey wasn’t lying, sis. I said those things. It wasn’t that long ago, to be exact. I shared my feelings at Morgan’s baby shower.”

  “That was before Rory,” Morgan says looking up at me. “Things change. You’ve changed.”

  Swallowing the knot in my throat. “You see it, but Rory only knows what‘s been told to her.”

  “She should have asked you. She should have let you explain,” Camryn says pulling away.

  Nodding my head, “Yeah, she should have. But Rory did what Rory does best. She ran.”

  Tonight was supposed to be a night of games with friends and plenty of laughs. After my sister and Jamie shared the news of the pregnancy, we should have celebrated that. Rather it turned into a game for Lindsey. Love is a game two can play, but how can they play it if one just broke the other’s heart.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Rory

  When I open the door to the bathroom, Lindsey stands on the other side. She walks toward me, forcing me to take a few steps back. She closes the door behind her, turning the lock.

  “I had no idea that Christian was the guy you were telling me about.” She crosses her arms across her chest, her eyes cold.

  Throughout the night, Lindsey stared at Christian and me. I didn’t have to turn and face her, I could feel the glares.

  “Christian doesn’t want to get married. He sure as hell doesn’t want kids,” Lindsey glares at me.

  Confused, I cross my arms over my chest. My stomach flips, half with anticipation over what she said, and half in dread.

  Glaring at Lindsey, my mind races in a million different directions. How could I be so stupid? How could I put Leah in this position? She loves Christian. I love Christian.

  “He’s said it on multiple occasions. He’s playing house with you, Rory. He doesn’t intend to commit to anything further.”

  I take a deep breath and adjust my smile, stepping around her. “I need to go.”

  Lindsey reaches out, grabbing my wrist. “I’m sorry I had to be the one to tell you.”

  Snatching my wrist free, I sneer, “Are you? Is there something you aren’t telling me? Have you been with Christian?” The question causing bile to rise up my throat. I can’t imagine sleeping with someone my cousin slept with. I’m not that type of girl. I don’t share, so I sure as hell don’t go after a man I know Lindsey, or any other friend has been with.

  “I saw the way you watched him tonight.” A suggestion of guilt hovers in her eyes. My proclamation causes Lindsey to flinch. I hit the nail on the head. Her actions were those of a jealous woman.

  I shift past Lindsey, leaving the bathroom. Without creating a scene, I reach for my handbag on the table by the door, leaving without anyone noticing my departure. Arriving at my place without Christian is sure going to cause a stir with his parents.

  Lindsey set out to accomplish one thing, and she managed to do it. She created doubt. She resurrected fears I had pushed aside. Fears that are now at the forefront.

  Opening my door, Christian stands before me, his eyes burning bright. I vowed I would never put myself in this position again. Never allow myself to love a man with my whole heart. I loved my daughter with what was left of my heart after it shattered when Keith died, I never intended to share it.

  “Rory,” Christian protests. I need to put distance between us.

  “You should go.” I tell myself it will be fine. I can walk away, I need to tell him goodbye.

  “No. I’m not leaving.”

  Christian walks toward me and clutches my face. “Why?” he leans forward lowering his voice. “Why are you doing this?”

  I shake my head. The pain is too much.

  “I can’t do this.” My throat aches with defeat.

  Lifting my hand, I p
lace it on his chest, putting some distance between us. I need to do this. I need to stay strong. I have to do this. I’m in too deep. If I don’t walk away now, I know exactly where I will end up… hurt and heartbroken. I don’t have the strength to go through that again. I need to focus on Leah.

  “One day you are going to stop running from me.” Christian leans in, kissing my lips softly. “And when that day comes, I will be here waiting for you. With open arms,” he whispers against my lips.

  Christian watches reluctantly as I back away, his eyes full of hurt. “Why are you doing this?” He sighs heavily, his voice filled with anguish.

  “I have to.” The torment on his face crushes me.

  “I wish I could read your mind, but at the same time, I’m afraid I couldn’t handle the truth. You push me away every chance you get. What do you fear?” He shoves his hands into his pockets, his shoulders hunch forward.

  “Everything, absolutely everything,” my voice breaks.

  He shakes his head. “What does that mean?”

  “I fear loving you, getting too close. I can’t do this.”

  “I have so many fears, but loving you isn’t one of them. The chance you might not love me back is what I fear the most,” his voice breaks. “Let me ask you something. Do you imagine a future where we end up together?”

  His expression is grim as he watches me. Why is he doing this?

  My heart squeezes in anguish, knowing I’m hurting him.

  “Answer me.” Curses fall from his mouth.

  I walked into this relationship with my heart broken, closed off. I only had enough love for Leah, no one else. Christian walked into this relationship with his heart wide open, waiting for me.

  I can feel my throat closing up. My eyes brim with tears. “I don’t know.”

  Christian’s expression is grim as he watches me. He asks tentatively, “Will I ever live up to him? Will I?”

  Shaking my head violently, tears blind my eyes and choke my voice. “Stop, please stop. I can’t do this.”