keep from begging him to come over. “Did you tell your dad I was sorry?”
He laughed then. “The sly asshole didn’t even show up.”
“What?”
“Yeah, when I got there and saw no sign of him, the server rushed over and told me that dinner for two was courtesy of Cooper Prince.”
I couldn’t contain my smile. “He set us up?”
“Yep.”
My smile and heart tilted as I pictured him seated there alone. “I’m so sorry.”
The pounding of my heart thickened when he took his time to say, “Hey, I have to go. I have a Skype meeting in ten minutes.”
“Okay.” I nodded even though he couldn’t see. “Sure, yeah.”
Another lengthy silence fell, followed by a murmured goodbye before he disconnected.
Rolling onto my side, I moved my hand to my stomach as the baby protested the shift in position, and I stared at the blank TV.
I attended some birthing classes with Adela, but between school, work, and the ache that never left my pelvis every time I walked more than a hundred meters, I barely had the energy to even think about giving birth to a tiny human.
I was petrified. Therefore, kind of thankful for how busy I was. It left little time to give much power to those fears.
Since showing up on my doorstep over a week ago, I hadn’t seen Everett, and after speaking to Adela and my mom, who were riddled with conflicting opinions over the reason he’d been gone, I decided it was probably for the best.
He wanted to get better, as far as I could gather, and that meant staying away from me. That was fine, but I wasn’t chasing something I wasn’t sure was any good for me anymore.
And Aiden, well, he wouldn’t so much as respond to my text messages. That was probably for the best, too.
Waving goodbye to Gloria, I stepped into the light sun shower and struggled with my textbooks and purse, trying to dig my keys out.
The books disappeared from my hand, the scent of tobacco smothering as Everett stomped on his cigarette and started walking to my car.
“Um,” I started.
“Unlock the car, Clover.”
Scowling, I did, tucking my purse in the back seat with my books.
All the while, Everett leaned against the car, his arms crossed over his chest. “You’re still attending class.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
His lips twitched. “Because you’re having a baby in about two months.”
“I’ll keep attending until I can’t, not that it’s any of your business.” I tugged my sweater down when I felt the breeze rush beneath to tickle the skin of my stomach. “Thank you very much.”
Unmoving, he stared, his bottom lip sliding beneath his teeth.
Within seconds, I grew increasingly uncomfortable, unnerved, my feet scuffing over the concrete. “Can I help you with something?”
“You really don’t want me to answer that.”
I ignored the jolt to my chest. “Fine. I’ll be going then.”
“Being there, making that kind of decision, it was fucking voluntary.”
I’d started rounding the car but paused with my back facing him.
His tone deepened, lowered, became rougher. “I couldn’t hear your voice every other week and focus on what I needed to do. I know myself, Clover. I know I’m an alcoholic, but I also know I’m addicted to you.”
Something splintered inside my chest. I turned, mouth agape, and my heart thrashing.
“I know that you, just as you always have”—he pointed a finger at me—“take up most of my thoughts, my strength, my entire heart—everything.”
My throat closed, a tremor racing through my hands. “You could’ve told me before you left.”
“I could’ve, yeah, and that’s on me, but you’re not listening. I’m a fucking alcoholic, Stevie.” I flinched at the harsh words, and he let out a sardonic laugh. “That’s right. We both know it, but it still sucks to hear it out loud, right? I didn’t know if I was going to commit. If I’d last longer than a week in there, let alone the duration I stayed.”
I blinked away tears. “What made you stay?”
“Mason.” His voice lowered. “I stayed for me, for you, and for that baby in your stomach, and because I was just a fucking kid doing the best he knew how when my world was taken from me.”
He’d talked through it. “You spoke to someone?”
“Numerous someones, but yes, I spoke. And once I started, I couldn’t stop. Everything. My deadbeat parents, Mason’s death, meeting you, the music—all of it. It needed out. It needed a safe place to land. Only then could I start wading through the shit-fest I’ve made of my life.”