The anger flashed in Jarred’s eyes. “It’s me, Stevie! It’s me! I’m your brother… At least, I thought I was. I thought you trusted me. I thought you loved me enough to realise that I would never judge you. I thought I made that clear when we were growing up.” The break in his voice was proof that she had hurt him with this lie. “Who’s the father? Was it even someone from Schoolies or after? Hell, was it even before?”
Stevie flinched. Jarred had just punched her chest and ripped out her heart. The last person she thought who could ever believe her to be some common whore had finally believed it. He accused her. And accusations were worse. A sob escaped her. The hate and disgust in his voice were enough proof that she had betrayed his trust.
“Who was it, Stevie?” Jarred roared.
She glanced down at her hands, tears blurred her vision as she whispered, “Julian.”
“What?” Annie breathed. Shock laced her voice.
“Rob’s brother? That Julian?”
Stevie gazed up at her stepbrother and nodded.
Jarred blinked at her several times and then shook his head unbelievably. “I have never, in my entire life, been more disappointed in you. Not because you were stupid enough to get knocked up by a complete stranger. But because you had the absolute nerve to lie to my face about being pregnant. I don’t even know who you are. I-I can’t look at you without seeing that girl walk out of that medical centre and tell me it was a faulty pregnancy test. I’m face to face with the same girl who lied to my fucking face.”
Another sob passed her lips. “Jarred, plea—”
“You disgust me,” he bit out before he turned and then stormed out of the apartment. The loud bang of the door slamming shut made her flinch.
Stevie’s eyelids clenched tightly together. The aches filled her. The one person she had never wanted to hurt had just left her apartment with so much anger and pain in his eyes that she felt guilty and worthless.
“Stevie, I-I,” Annie stammered.
“Go,” Stevie instructed. “He needs you.”
“But you’re my friend.”
Stevie shook her head. “But your loyalty is to your husband. I need you to make sure he’s okay. I hurt him with my lies. I kept my pregnancy a secret from him. I deceived him and his trust, Annie. I deserve it.”
“You have a child.”
“No.” Stevie’s eyes met Annie’s. “I miscarried a few days after the doctor confirmed my pregnancy… I told Jarred it was a false positive so he wouldn’t worry. I handled it wrong. I’ve made him hate me.”
Annie reached over and took Stevie’s hands in hers. Then she squeezed them in reassurance. “A distraught man can say some very powerful, hurtful words that he’ll never mean. Jarred didn’t mean it, Stevie. He’s just emotional. He loves you.”
No.
He meant every word.
I let down the one person who believed in me the most.
I disgust him.
Stevie stood up, wiped her cheeks with the back of her hands and then sighed. “I need to be alone. I’m sorry, Annie. You should go be with your husband. Tell him I’m sorry. I never wanted it to be this way.”
She didn’t let Annie respond as she left the lounge room and sought shelter in her bedroom. Once inside, she climbed on the queen-size bed and held her breath until she heard the front door close with a click.
When she finally did hear that click, Stevie rolled onto her back and let the tears fall down the side of her face. That had been Jarred’s reaction and it had been brutal. She just knew that Julian’s would be so much worse.
With the twist of the handle, Julian opened Stephanie’s apartment door and stepped inside. The first thing he noticed was that it was quiet. No television or music. The silence had him worried. When he reached the lounge room, he noticed boxes and several items on the couch. He frowned at the sight of the untouched sandwich on the coffee table.
“Stephanie?” he called out.
Silence.
“Stephanie?” His panicked voice met his ears. Then without another thought, he rushed towards her bedroom. He hadn’t knocked. Instead, he burst into the room. He took in her form lying on her side, staring at the bedside table next to her. The late afternoon light brought his attention towards her tear-stained face.
“Jesus, Blondie,” he breathed as he walked towards her bed. Julian removed his shoes and then crawled into bed. He twisted his body so that he moulded himself against