Jeff stared straight ahead, but I saw the muscles flexing in his jaw. I wasn’t sure why I was being such a bitch to him.
“Maybe you should go back to sleep since you’re in a pissy mood. ”
“Yeah, maybe,” I said as I looked out the window and did the one thing I’d myself I wouldn’t do. I cried.
CHAPTER SIX
JEFF
I didn’t know what the hell was wrong with Ari. Ever since she had woken up, she had been in a piss-poor mood. It had gotten worse when she found out that I’d called Rebecca. She’s the one who wanted me to call her.
Fuck this is not how this weekend was supposed to be. Twenty four hours ago, she was so happy, and today it was like she couldn’t stand to be around me. On top of all this, I had to go and deal with Rebecca tomorrow.
The first thing I needed to do was work on this restraining order. I knew Ari would be pissed if I kept seeing Rebecca alone. I wanted to slam my fist on the steering wheel. Why the hell is this happening to us? We were finally together.
I looked over at Ari, and I swore if I’d not known any better, I’d think she was crying.
“Ari, baby, are you crying?”
She just shook her head and kept staring out the window. Fuck me. This whole thing with Rebecca must be tearing her apart inside. I’ll be so glad to meet with Rebecca and get this shit over with. No way is that kid mine. No way.
***
We drove the rest of the way to Austin in silence. Ari never once looked at me. I wished that I knew what to do to take away her pain. I was dying inside. I needed to take her out tonight or something.
“Hey, baby, you want to go out to dinner and maybe some dancing at Rebels?” I asked as I reached over and took her hand.
I glanced over at her as she turned to me. Holy shit. Her eyes were bloodshot from crying. She shook her head and then attempted to smile at me. My whole damn world just shattered at the sight of her upset.
“Ari, I promise you that, this is all going to be okay. You have to trust me. ”
“How do you know that it’s all going to be okay, Jeff? Please tell me if you have some inside information that you haven’t shared with me yet. I can’t possibly see how you think it’s going to be okay. You’re having a baby. You’re having a fucking baby with someone else, and we just got engaged. She will forever be in our lives, Jeff. I’m sorry if that freaks me the fuck out. ”
“Let’s just wait and see about tomorrow. Okay, baby? I just want to get back home and crawl back into bed with you. ”
“I want to go back to my place for awhile,” she whispered.
I snapped my head over to look at her. What the hell?
“What? Why? For Christ’s sake, Ari, we just got engaged, and we’ve barely even spoken to each other. Now you want to stay at your place tonight?” I was so pissed that my hands started shaking.
“I just need to go home for a few hours Jeff. That’s all. I need to think about a few things and get my head wrapped around this whole thing. I’ll come back to your place later tonight. I’m going to need my Jeep anyway since you’re meeting…” Ari’s voice trailed off.
Jesus, now, she can’t even say her name. This was so fucked up, and I had no idea what to do about it. I should have talked to Garrett this morning. Damn it!
“Okay, as long as you plan on coming back tonight, Ari, I don’t want to be away from you. I need to be with you. ”
Ari smiled at me. We drove in silence until I pulled up to her place. I helped bring her bags into her house, and then I watched as she collapsed on the sofa. I knelt down in front of her, and she leaned forward putting her forehead up against mine.
“I love you, Ari. I’ll always love you, baby, and no one or nothing is going to get in the way of that. ”
She sucked in a breath and pulled away from me. The tears rolling down her face about gutted me right on the spot.
“I hope you’re right, Jeff. I really hope that you’re right. ”
CHAPTER SEVEN
JOSH