“Why would she? She already knows I’m not going back to her, so why bring an innocent life into this mess? Even if you and I were to divorce, I wasn’t going back to her.”
Joey shakes her head. “I don’t know, Josh. A woman scorned and all that shit. She wants you back and what a better way to tie you to her than a baby. Bronx said—”
“I don’t give a shit about what Bronx said. He’s not my friend.”
“He’s mine, though, and he wants to see me happy.”
“He kept you from me,” I say, stepping forward. “He took you from me instead of asking me what was going on. There are no manners in Hollywood, he could’ve easily walked into that room and asked me, but he didn’t. He played fucking hero and helped you hide. I looked everywhere for you, Joey. And he knew exactly where you were.”
My hands go to my hair and pull in frustration. “Ugh,” I yell as I kick the wall.
“Why can’t you just accept the notion that this baby might not be yours?”
“Because she wouldn’t do that to me,” I yell even though I don’t mean to. Joey blanches at my words and steps away from me, moving into the bedroom and shutting the door. I know I should follow her, but I can’t. Not right now. I need to think.
I pace the room, walking back and forth from the window and door. Deep in my heart I know Jules wouldn’t lie about the baby, she knows how I feel. Even when we broke up, we stayed friends and hung out, which is probably what led to the situation we’re in. It was always one too many drinks and we’d end up places I didn’t want to go back to. The only time I stopped talking to her was when she was with Bronx and there’s no possible way it’s his baby. The odds are it’s mine and I’m stuck no matter what.
When I finally cool down, I go to the bedroom only to find the door locked. I try the knob a few times, attempting to shake it loose, but it doesn’t budge.
“Joey, open the door.” My voice is as quiet as possible. The walls are paper-thin and we’ve already caused enough entertainment for the people next to us.
“Joey!” I jiggle the handle again, waiting for her to answer. The door remains locked and I can’t hear her moving around on the other side. What the hell is she doing?
“Baby, come on, please open the door,” I beg as I slide down the door, defeated. My elbow bangs against the door in a last ditch effort to get her to open up. I keep trying until the ache in my arm is too much to bear.
When I wake, my clothes are stacked on the table and the bedroom door is wide open. I rush in, looking for Joey, only to find that she’s not there. I call out her name, but know in my heart she won’t reply. Her missing suitcase confirms my worst fears, but still hanging in the closet is her wedding dress. The one she bought so we could have our dream wedding.
I search for my phone and find it sitting on my pile of clothes. Thankfully, it’s charged and I dial her number immediately.
“Hello,” she answers right off.
“Why did you leave me? You promised you wouldn’t leave me, Joey. I wake up and you’re gone.”
“Josh, I’m doing laundry.”
“What?” I ask as my chest heaves. I’m close to hyperventilating.
“Take a deep breath. I’m downstairs doing laundry.”
I do as she says and try to labor my breathing.
“I thought it would be better if I did our laundry instead of sending it out. I don’t really trust anyone right now.”
“Oh God, babe. I thought you left me. I thought you gave up on me.”
“I promised, remember?”
I sit and try to calm myself down. Tugging at the ends of my hair, I fight back the rush of tears. “Why’d you lock me out last night?”
She sighs and I can hear her moving around, hopefully to get some privacy. “I needed space, Josh. I think we’re at an impasse where Bronx and Jules are concerned. I trust him, you trust her, and we don’t trust either.”
“He wants you, Joey, you’re too blind to see it.”
“Josh, he’s happily married to Rebekah. She was there when we were talking. He’s my friend and right now I need all the friends that I can get.”
“I know. I’m so sorry that we’re going through this.”
“I know you are, Josh. We have to find a happy medium and deal with it.”