Chapter 24
Presley
I sit in the chair in the backyard, counting down the minutes until I can leave without it being obvious that I'm leaving because I'm uncomfortable with Bennett bringing a date.
I look over and see Harlow chatting with Clarissa. My stomach burns, and I bring the bottle of water to my lips, wishing it was something stronger. The minute I was introduced to her, I wanted to get the fuck out of there. Forget that I sat in the car for five minutes talking myself out of it.
What did I do? I told myself fuck him, this is my family, and then walked in and went to the bathroom, where I cried a bit and then made sure I looked semi okay before opening the door. I almost shit myself when I saw him. Seeing him standing there in his black jeans and the cotton T-shirt with his arms showing just had everything inside me light up. All I wanted was to jump into his arms. All I wanted was his lips on mine. All I wanted was for him to be mine. But he was moving on.
"Are you sulking?" Clarabella comes over and sits next to me. Followed by Shelby, who sits on the other side of me.
"This is called relaxing," I inform them, taking a sip of the water. “And staying off my feet."
"I call it if looks could kill,” Shelby says and motions with her chin toward Clarissa who has fit in with everyone. She smiles, laughs, and she’s pretty. I hate her.
"I'm not looking at anything." I turn my head, looking at the other side.
"You wanted this,” Shelby reminds me, and I make a mistake of looking at the other side and seeing Bennett sitting with the guys. He sits in the middle with Travis on one side and Ace on the other side. Luke sits next to Ace. Ace says something, and the four of them laugh, and I can't help the lone tear that escapes my eye. "You wanted him to be free."
"Yes," I say, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Well, now he's moved on obviously." I hold up my hand. I watched Clarissa's face when I said my name to see if there was a flicker there that she knew who I was, but there was nothing. She was oblivious to who I was, and I just had more questions in my head. Did he not mention the baby? Did he not mention that he was with me for so long? Did his past not come up? How long have they been together? Did they date when he was in college? Have they dated before? I was making myself literally sick with all of these questions, and all I wanted to do was go home and be in the safety of my house.
"You are so full of shit," Clarabella snaps. "You can't even try to tell me that this doesn't bug you." I don't answer her because I can't. The lump in my throat is so big that nothing will come out. “You can't tell me that him being here with another woman doesn't bug you.”
"One day, he is really going to move on,” Shelby says, and I look over at her confused. “And then what?"
I'm about to answer her when I see my mother coming over to us. The smile on her face is anything but friendly. It's almost as if it's a glare. “Oh, fuck," Shelby says when she finally sees our mother. "That smile is the same one she had on when Clarabella ran away from her wedding."
"I didn't fucking run,” Clarabella defends between clenched teeth. “I left quickly."
"So this is where you are?" My mother looks around to make sure no one is around us before the smile disappears off her face. "What are you doing?"
"What does it look like she's doing?" Shelby answers her. “She's training to be an Olympic athlete in gymnastics." She rolls her eyes. “Obviously."
"You," my mother says between clenched teeth, “go make sure your husband is okay."
"He's fine,” Shelby says. “He's sitting with the other husbands and Presley's baby daddy." I swear if steam could come out of my mother's ears, now would be the time.
"How can you allow this to happen?" My mother looks at me for a second before turning and smiling at people she sees looking at us.
"How can I allow what to happen?” I ask. Today has been a day, and I'm emotionally worn out. I'm mentally exhausted, and to top it all off, I just want to sit down and cry.
"He brings these random women to events," she says with a smile and through clenched teeth.
"Oh, God, Mom,” Shelby groans.
"He's never brought a woman to any event,” Clarabella says, and I just look over at her. “Except today, but..."
"But nothing," my mother says. “How are you going to feel when he parades these women in front of your child?"
"Considering that my child is currently in my uterus and has no concept of anything that is happening here." I do a circle with my hand. “I'm going to say that for now it's fine."
"What about when he gets serious with a girl?" my mother says, and my stomach gets tight. “Then what?"
"Mom, she doesn’t care.” Shelby repeats my words, and I want to snap at her. “This is what she wants."
No, it's not. I almost scream, but instead I get up. “Mom"—I kiss her cheek—“thank you for looking out for me." I blink away the tears. “But let's not jump the gun. This might be their first date."
"Or maybe not,” Shelby says.
"I'm going to head out," I respond. “Will you guys tell Travis and Harlow goodbye for me?"
Clarabella gets up. “I'll come with you."
"No." I shake my head. “I don't want to draw too much attention to myself."
"Will you call me when you get home?" Shelby asks, getting up, and I nod at her.
I turn to hug my mother. “Thanks for looking out for me, Mom." I put my head on her shoulder. “And for making me my favorite chicken potpie tomorrow."
"Ohhh, I want some of that also,” Shelby says. “I'm coming."
"It's Sunday,” Clarabella says. “You guys know that it's my special time."
"I can't believe you still do naked Sunday." I shake my head. “You are married to him and go to sleep with him every night."
"It keeps the romance alive." She shrugs, and I laugh, putting my head down and walking up the steps to the house. I step inside, counting down the seconds until I can grab my purse and escape from this. I quietly walk out of the house and head to my car, not letting out that sigh of relief until I'm finally driving away from the house.
Parking the car in the driveway, I grab my purse and make my way inside. Dropping everything on the floor as soon as I walk in, I kick off my shoes and go to the fridge. My hand snatches the apple juice as I walk over to get a glass. I don't know what it is but ever since I found out I was pregnant, it's the only thing I want to drink. It also has to be cold and crisp, pouring the glass almost to the top before turning and walking over to the couch.
I take a sip before sitting down and turning on the television. This is my life now, I think as I curl my feet under me. I'm scrolling Netflix when I feel a little flutter in my stomach, and I stop. "I felt that," I say to the empty room, my heart speeding up faster. I take another sip of the apple juice, and it happens again. I just squeal. “Oh my God, the baby is moving, and I feel it." I get up, and my first thought is to call Bennett, but I stop myself.
"What about when he gets serious with a girl?" My mother’s voice replays in my head. “Then what?"
I sit back down, putting my hand on my stomach.
"You wanted this." Shelby’s voice now replays. "You wanted him to be free."
"You are so full of shit." Clarabella’s voice cuts in. "You can't even try to tell me that this doesn't bug you. You can't tell me that him being here with another woman doesn't bug you.”
I put my head back on the couch, playing the whole night over and over again in my head. I don't know when I get up and walk upstairs, but I know the next morning when I walk down the stairs, there is only one decision left for me. I walk to my phone and then walk over to the kitchen island.
Me: Can you call me when you have a minute? Everything is fine; just wanted to ask you something.
I press send before I chicken out and place it on the counter in front of me. My eyes watch it to see if he's read it. I wait to see the three little dots come up, and they don't. Maybe he's with Clarissa? The thought alone makes me physically ill as I run to the bathroom and throw up.
Turning on the cold water, I wash my face before walking back out. Grabbing the phone, I text my sisters.
Me: Emergency Code, whatever, get your ass to Mom's house. Clarabella, wear clothes.
As soon as I send the text, I turn and run up the stairs, grabbing another summer dress. This one is a baby-blue floral halter top. It has an elastic waist and goes down to my ankles. I can hear my phone pinging downstairs while I brush my teeth. I slip on the brown flip-flops, and my heart speeds up when I pick up my phone, wondering if Bennett answered me back, but I see it's just my sisters.
Clarabella: I'm already dressed and out the door.
Shelby: What do you mean code whatever? There are colors for a reason.
Clarabella: It must be almost dire if she is asking us to meet her at Mom's house.
Shelby: This is true unless it's an ambush.
Clarabella: An ambush for what?
Shelby: She might want us to have a kid with her.
Clarabella: You think they are going to steal your eggs and ovaries?
I can't even with my sisters, so I just shake my head.
Me: Just meet me at Mom’s. No one wants anyone's eggs. I need help.
I press send, walking to the door as the phone vibrates in my hand.
Shelby: She's dying, she has to be. She's never asked for help.
Clarabella: Oh my God, maybe she needs a kidney. I don't know if I can give her one of mine. What if my kids need it?
Shelby: Now you’re having a kid.
Clarabella: Well, not this minute, but what if they need one and I don't have it?
I don't even bother answering the rest of the texts; I just get to my mother's house. I walk inside and find her in the kitchen. “You’re early," she says as she rolls out the dough for the potpie. "What happened?"
"I'm going to wait until…" I'm starting to say when the door opens.
"I'm here,” Shelby says and then the door opens again.
"I'm here with all my organs,” Clarabella says. “And I'm not sharing." They both walk into the kitchen. “Mom, you can't make me share."
"What the hell are you guys talking about?" my mother says, confused. “Why are you all here?"
"I told them to come," I explain, and now I can't even stay put as I start to pace the kitchen. “I don't know how to say this." I shake my hands, the nerves making them shake.
"She does need a kidney.” Shelby leans in and whispers to Clarabella.
"I don't need a kidney!" I shout, throwing up my hands. “I think I'm in love with Bennett!” I shout, and the whole room goes silent. I don't even think they’re breathing. I look at my sisters who look at me, and then to my mother, whose eyes look like they are going to come out of her head. I am so nervous that I put my hand to my stomach, and I feel like I'm about to throw up again.
"No shit,” Clarabella says, shaking her head. “I got dressed for this?"
"Oh my God,” my mother says, putting her hands on her cheeks.
Shelby slaps her arm. “I think what Clarabella meant to say was wow, this is great news. But now the question is, what are you going to do about it?"
I look down at the floor and then I look up. "I have no fucking clue."