Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 104237 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104237 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
I walked up my porch steps and stopped when I found him sitting on my porch swing. Anger swept over my entire body.
“You are the last person I want to see,” I spat out.
“Scarlett, let me explain.”
I held up my hand. “No, you don’t get to explain how you just tore this from me, Eric. You stripped something away that was supposed to be a beautiful moment. This was mine to share, and you announced it to everyone.”
He honestly looked sick to his stomach.
“I…I didn’t mean to do it. It slipped from my mouth.”
With a roll of my eyes, I shook my head. “Why did you make it seem like the baby was yours?”
He had the decency to look regretful. “I don’t know. A part of me doesn’t think Trevor deserves you or this baby.”
“It’s his baby, Eric!” I practically shouted.
“And I’ve been the one here for you. I’ve been the one to hold you in my arms when he hurts you. Which he will do over and over again, Scarlett. Do you think him finding out he’s going to be a father means that he’s going to suddenly change his ways? Tigers do not change their stripes, Scarlett, and you know that.”
His words felt like a slap across my face.
“I don’t know what is going to happen, but the fact remains that you took this away from me. You stripped me of being able to tell Trevor that he is going to be a father. The worst part is you announced it in front of…”
My voice trailed off, and I covered my mouth with my hand as the reality of what happened really hit me.
My parents. What if someone from the café tells my parents? What if people get on the prayer line and started to talk?
Eric rushed over to me, placing his hands on my arms.
“He can be in the child’s life, but Scarlett, let me help you with this. I’m falling in love with you, and I want to help you raise this baby.”
“Wh-what?” I pulled out of his hold.
“I’ll marry you tomorrow. I don’t care if we go to the courthouse, we can do it however you want.”
What in the world was he talking about?
“Eric, we’re friends. That’s all. We’ve only known each other a few short weeks. You don’t love me like that.”
“I do. I’ll marry you and spend the rest of my life making you happy, Scarlett. You have to trust me.”
My fingers pinched the bridge of my nose as I exhaled. “Eric, wait. Just stop.”
“I’ll take care of both of you. I’ll never make you cry like he does.”
“Please, stop!” I said, louder this time.
He took a step closer, and I held up my hand. “I can’t marry you!”
“Why not? Afraid you’ll be happy with me?” he asked, a playful smirk on his face.
I frowned. “I can’t marry you because I don’t love you. I love Trevor.”
Eric’s smile faded. “You love a man who treats you like dirt?”
“You don’t know anything about how he treats me.” The memory of Trevor sitting on my bed last night, whispering he loved me, replayed in my mind. I’d seen the other side of Trevor that no one else ever sees. The person who took care of me when I was sick. The man who sat for hours next to my bed when I hardly had the energy to even move.
I saw the struggle in his eyes and heard his whispered words when he made love to me…about how he didn’t deserve me. But I couldn’t deny that Trevor had also hurt me on more than one occasion, regardless if he meant to or not.
“He fucks other women and comes to you when he can’t find anyone better to be with.”
Eric’s words cut deeply. I slapped him across the face, instantly making my hand sting.
He didn’t even move, only closed his eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.”
“Leave. I need you to go. Right now. Trevor is not the one hurting me. You are.”
“Scarlett, I’m sorry. I get so angry when you let him get away with things.”
“Right now, he is not the one who has me upset. Leave, Eric. Please.”
His entire body sagged. Dropping his head, he slowly shook it. “I don’t understand what you see in him, love.”
Exhaustion was beginning to overtake my body.
“Please, will you just go? I want to be alone.”
Eric headed down the stairs. I didn’t even bother with a goodbye. I turned and unlocked my front door. The second I got in and shut it, I headed to the sofa. Sitting down, I immediately laid on my side, grabbed a blanket, shut off my mind, and drifted off to sleep.
The last twenty-four hours I’d gone through every emotion possible. Shock. Anger. Hurt. Frustration. Now the anger was back…but not at Scarlett. At myself.