I had no desire to spend the rest of my life with. I refused to be trapped. Karen tried it and thankfully wasn’t successful. I wasn’t giving anyone else a chance.
I think back to James and Juliet’s wedding reception when I saw Alaina holding Grant and Emerson’s daughter. The longing I felt when I imagined her in the role of being a mother. Vasectomy reversals aren’t one-hundred percent effective, but the chances are high.
The thought of Alaina’s belly swollen with my child has that longing blaring back a hundredfold. Now to get her to forgive me. Whether she does or not, I will always be a part of my child’s life, but I’d much rather have Alaina by my side, raising our child together.
Looking down at the speedometer, I let off the gas slightly when I realize I’m going twenty over the speed limit. The last thing I need is to crash my fucking car.
Pressing the Bluetooth button on my steering wheel, I find Allison’s name. It rings five times before going to voicemail. Frustrated, I opt to not leave a message. Up until yesterday, my sister’s left me alone as I requested. But between yesterday afternoon and this morning, she’s called me five times. I ignored each one, not ready to talk to her about Alaina, and I know damn good and well, she would have brought her up. Now that I need to talk to her, she’s not fucking answering. I wanted to see if she’s talked to or seen Alaina, so I’d have somewhat of a clue regarding her mindset. Does she hate me completely? Is she still upset? Has she been eating and taking care of herself?
When my phone rings through the speaker in my car, I don’t even look at the screen before I accept the call, hoping it’s Alaina or my sister.
“Hello?” I answer, unable to hide the hopeful note in my tone.
“Enzo.”
I grit my teeth when Heidi’s voice hits my ear.
“I don’t really have time to talk right now, Heidi. Can I call you back later?”
“I have a problem,” she states, her voice quivering with fear.
“What is it?” I have to work to keep the words from coming out harsh.
“Do you remember my ex-boyfriend I told you about? Donnie.”
“Yeah.”
“When I got off my shift this morning, I saw him in a car across the street from my apartment. When I went inside, he called me, threatening to break in and hurt me.”
“Did you ever get the restraining order? Have you called the cops?”
“I got one, but where he was parked was just outside the range of the restraining order. And he was using a disposable phone, so there’s no proof it was him who called.”
“Goddamn it,” I growl and bang the heel of my hand against the steering wheel, causing my car to jerk on the road. Thank fuck there’s no one on the road around me.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what else to do. I’m scared he’s going to try to break in. He sounded drunk and really angry on the phone.”
This is the third fucking time Heidi’s call has kept me from Alaina. No more. After today, she’ll have to find someone else to come to her rescue. Judging by Alaina’s accusations of Heidi having a thing for me, I have no doubt Alaina doesn’t like her. Fuck if I wouldn’t be tempted to lay out any of Alaina’s guy friends if they so much as looked at her in any way other than friendship.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell Heidi she’s on her own, but what kind of man would that make me if I left a female alone when she is in danger? A piss poor one, that’s what. Not to mention, if something was to happen to Allison’s best friend when I could have stopped it, she’d never forgive me.
“I’ll be over soon. Lock your doors and don’t answer unless it’s me.”
Before she can respond, I hang up. Just the sound of Heidi’s voice right now grates on my nerves. Lord help this Donnie if he shows his face while I’m there. I’m just itching to throw my fist against something solid.
I pull up to Heidi’s apartment thirty-minutes later. As I walk across the parking lot, I take stock of my surroundings. Nothing seems out of place. No suspicious parked cars on the side of the road. No mysterious people loitering in vehicles like they shouldn’t be there.
Taking the steps two at a time, I