She shrugs, her eyes shifting from me to the ground. We’re standing in the middle of her salon in goddamn Burnet, Texas. This shit is not for me. But I’ve been here for two months trying to get this bitch to fucking reason with me.
I’m done.
“Fine,” I snap. “You want to do this on your own? Have the fuck at it.”
Turning away from her, I stomp toward the door. Wrenching it open, I look over my shoulder when she calls out my name. My eyes clash with those dark ones that I want more than words can describe.
“Where are you going?” she whispers.
Narrowing my gaze on her, I shake my head once. She’s not only a bitch, she’s a goddamn crazy bitch. “I’m going back to California. I’ll have my lawyer draw up paperwork with child support and a visitation schedule.”
“Jesse.”
“Remember when you’re doing all this shit, that you chose to do it alone.”
I don’t say anything else. I also don’t wait for her response. I leave. I head back to the Airbnb that I’ve been camped out at, pack my shit and get the fuck out of dodge. I’m not going to stay around here a minute longer than I fucking have to.
Once I’m packed and all my shit is in the rental car, I sit in the driveway of the house that I’ve been renting and shoot Beaumont a text.
SHE DOESN’T WANT TO TRY. I’M DONE. HEADING HOME. SEE YOU WHEN YOU GET TO TOWN NEXT TIME.
Pinching my eyes closed, I wonder how the fuck this became my life. Six months ago, I was getting high, fucking groupies and having a great fucking time. Then Beaumont and his sober ass settles down with Hutton, one of the best women I’ve ever met.
Naturally, she has a best friend who is just as wonderful as her, but in her own way and she’s so fucking perfect for me, just the thought of not seeing her again, not being inside of her again makes my cock want to shrivel up.
BEAU: YOU TRIED. FUCK. I’M SORRY.
ME TOO.
Throwing my phone to the passenger seat, I back the car out and I leave. I don’t plan on coming back until my baby is born. This whole fucking place is nothing but a bad goddamn memory.
LAURIE
I think I just fucked up. Bad. Placing my palm on my belly, I stare at the door, the same door that Jesse walked out of a couple of hours ago. Biting the corner of my lip, I pinch my eyes closed and try to keep the tears at bay.
Why can’t I just open up to him? Why can’t I just try?
Wrinkling my nose, I open my eyes and sigh. I already know the answer. I’ve known the answer. If I opened myself up, if I fall in love with him, then he can hurt me. I am not about to get hurt. No way in hell. That man, he’s nothing but a big ol’ package of hurt wrapped in a fine ass body.
Nope. Nope. Nope.
Cleaning up the salon, I close down for the day and start to head toward my car. The sight of Beaumont leaning against my driver’s door causes my step to falter. Jesse called him, he must have. Dammit.
“Need to talk to you, Laurie,” Beaumont calls out.
Shaking my head, I square my shoulders and make my way toward him. I’m expecting a lecture of some kind. Maybe he’s going to tell me how I’m fucking up, royally, he doesn’t need to, I already know that much.
“I’m not going to get in the middle of you and Jesse, but I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
Nodding slowly, I lift my gaze up to meet his. “I think I am,” I whisper.
Beaumont reaches out and wraps his fingers around my bicep before he squeezes gently. “He left town, but I’m guessin’ you figured out that was bound to happen. Just know, no matter what, me and Hutton, we’re here for you and that baby.”
Dipping my chin down, I kick an invisible rock with a muttered thank you. Beaumont’s fingers squeeze my bicep and I lift my eyes to look up into his gaze.
“Just to say, if you tried with Jesse, he’s really a good guy.”
“He’s in a rock band…”
Beaumont grins. “Yeah, and I’m the lead singer.”
Rolling my eyes, I shake my head. “You know that’s different. You’ve been hot for Hutton since you were young and dumb. My situation is totally different.”
Beaumont’s hand falls from my shoulder and I watch him shrug. “Maybe. Just sayin’ Jesse is maybe worth a chance, especially since you’re carrying his kid. It is his right?”
Narrowing my gaze on him, he holds his hands up in a surrender pose. “Hey, heard a rumor you and Ford hooked up’s all.”
Gulping, I sink my teeth into my bottom lip. “It’s Jesse’s,” I whisper. “Considering he didn’t use a condom, like at all. Don’t ask me why I didn’t demand it. I was way too caught up in everything. But, yeah. Ford did use one, because deep down Ford is a good man who takes care of women, even if he’s a bit rough in bed.”
Beaumont’s eyes widen, obviously not having heard all the details about me and Jesse or me and Ford.
“I didn’t need that much info.”
My lips curve up into a grin. “But you got it anyway. Don’t ask and I won’t tell.”
“You’ll be okay,” Beau mutters as if talking to himself.
“Of course I will.”
Beau helps me into my car and I give him a bright smile and a wave as I start my engine and leave the downtown square. What I don’t do is drive straight home. Instead, I drive toward Jesse’s rental. Just like Beau said, it’s vacant. I can tell just from sitting in the driveway. I can feel that he’s left.
Tears immediately fill my eyes. I stay there until the sun sets and like a pussy assed bitch, I cry.
Chapter Two
LAURIE
One week passes, then two. I hear nothing, absolutely nothing from Jesse and that’s when it settles in, he isn’t coming back. I fucked everything up and he’s gone. It’s for the better, definitely for the better. That’s what I tell myself every single morning when I drag myself out of bed.
It’s been two weeks, three days, and fourteen hours since Jesse walked out of the salon. Today is one of the rare days when I’m not working, and I’m in misery. I’m feeling downright sorry for myself parked in front of the television watching The Learning Channel.
There’s a knock on my door and I’m not sure who it is, but I sprint to the door hoping that it’s Jesse or anyone at this point who will take my mind off of the mess that I’ve made of my life. Two weeks without him being persistent, two weeks without even a phone call and I’m realizing the mistake I’ve made, the grave mistake.
I should have given him the chance that he deserves. The chance that deep down, I want to give him. But I need him to fight for it, fight for me, and never not ever give up. I’ve had way too many people give up on me. Hutton has been the only constant in my entire life. In my experience, everyone leaves and the silence from Jesse proves that.
“Hello?” I ask the strange man standing on my front porch.
“Laurie Howard?”
“Yes?”
He shoves an envelope at me, lifting his chin. “You’ve been served.”