I stopped dead in my tracks closed my eyes, and took several deep breaths. Opening my eyes again, I slowly turned around to look at him.
“Baby, can we talk about this when I get home?” Jeff’s voice almost sounded like he was pleading.
“Why don’t you stop by my place on your way home? I’ll be staying there tonight. I need time to be alone and think. ”
The look in Jeff’s eyes about gutted me, but all I had to do was remember his smile as he touched Rebecca’s stomach.
“Sure… yeah… okay, Ari. I’ll stop by your place. Are you going straight home now?”
“No, I have a few errands to run, and then I’m taking Amanda back to her car. I’ll be home in a few hours. You better get back in there. You wouldn’t want to upset the baby mama. ”
***
As Amanda and I started to walk up the hill to the parking lot, I felt my legs getting weaker. Amanda pulled me up and kept me walking.
“Just wait until we get in the car, Ari. Then, you can let go. ”
The moment I sat in the car and shut the door, I let out a scream so loud that I thought Amanda was going to jump out of the car.
“Better, sweets?” Amanda asked after unplugging her ears.
“If only a scream could make it better, Amanda. Did you see how big she is? There’s no way she’s only seven months pregnant. ”
As I looked over at my friend, I let the tears fall.
The last time I had felt this sick to my stomach was when Jeff and I had first kissed at the ranch, and he’d told me it was all a mistake.
“Ari, don’t give up now. The fight has only just begun. ”
I smiled at Amanda and wiped the tears from my eyes. I picked up my cell phone and scheduled an appointment with Dr. Wyatt for next Monday at 2 p. m.
I was not giving up. Jeff was mine. I would not let some lying bitch take him from me, even if I thought that lying bitch might actually be telling the truth.
CHAPTER TEN
JEFF
As I stood there watching Ari walk away from me, my heart was breaking. Shit! Shoving my hands through my hair, I turned to walk back to the restaurant. Why the hell did Ari come here? Does she not trust me? Does she want to get put in jail? Damn it! The moment Rebecca had seen she, about flipped out.
Rebecca was on the phone when I walked back up to the table.
“Listen, I can’t talk. I’ll call you back. Yes, I know, I heard you, Crysti You said it’s important. I’ll call you back later. ”
I sat down as she was hanging up.
She put her hands on her stomach, and started to fan herself.
“Oh, wow. It sure is hot out here. Do you want to go next door and get an iced coffee or something?”
I shook my head no. Maybe Ari’s right, and Rebecca has been playing me this whole time. There was only one way to find out. Just get to the point, Jeff.
“Listen, Rebecca, I’m really done with this whole let’s play-nice bullshit. We need to talk about this baby. I’m telling you that there is no way this baby is mine. ”
“Well, Jeff, I’m telling you that you’re the father. You were the only person I slept with during that time frame, that and afterward I found a piece of the condom in my panties. ”
She let a smile play across her face, and I just wanted to slap it off. Just then, I looked down at her stomach, and I could see the baby moving. My heart jumped at the sight of it. What if this baby is mine?
“Fine, Rebecca, if this is the game we’re going to play, then let’s play it. When is your next doctor’s appointment?” She sat up a little straighter in her chair and started to fiddle around with her napkin.