Page 34 of Knocked up By the Mountain Man

I’m the issue.

She slept with me, and now…

Fuck.

“Thanks, Carl,” I say, my mind racing with possibilities. “If you hear from her, could you let me know?”

“Sure thing,” Carl replies, nodding. “Hope everything’s okay.”

I offer a tight lipped smile, not trusting myself to speak.

I decide to head to Wyatt’s house next, hoping Clara might be there. The walk feels endless, every minute stretching out as my anxiety builds. When I finally arrive, I knock loudly and wait, but there’s no answer. I knock again, harder this time, but it’s clear she isn’t home.

The door remains firmly shut, the silence mocking my urgency.

“Damn it,” I mutter under my breath, turning away from the door.

As I step off Wyatt’s porch, the frustration boils within me. Clara is avoiding me, and it’s tearing me apart. I don’t know what I did wrong, but I need to find out. My feet drag me back toward the main house, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts and regrets.

“Beau, wait!” Finally, Wyatt catches up to me. I feel bad but I don’t want to see him right now. I can’t handle him. Not when my head is all over the place about his sister. “Clara… are you looking for her? Because she’s gone.”

Gone?

My heart stops beating.

“What do you mean?”

“I can’t find her anywhere and I’m worried that she’s gone back to Lewistown. I was having such a good time with Thomas, and now my nephew is…” He offers me a one shouldered shrug as the color drains from his cheeks. “Not here anymore. I got a call from her, saying she needed a break, but what does that mean? Is she gone forever?”

My heart races as Wyatt’s words sink in. Gone?

Back to Lewistown? This can’t be happening.

I can’t stand it.

15

CLARA

“The eggs!” Abby’s sharp warning breaks through my thoughts, and makes me jump. “Here, let me take it.” she says.

“Oh my God, sorry.” I take a step back and let Abby take over. “My head really isn’t in it at the moment. I’m not usually this terrible a cook. Today has just been... a lot.” I sigh heavily.

“I so wanted to make you a nice dinner to say thank you for everything you’ve done. You’ve been such a good friend to me, Abby. Ugh, I’m such a mess right now.”

Abby doesn’t seem too bothered by my idiocy. She simply tosses her head back and laughs. “It’s okay. This is very sweet, but I don’t need you to thank me. You know I don’t need thanks for everything I’ve done. I don’t mind helping.”

She really doesn’t, and that’s what I find so incredible about her. Abby is just so willing to do whatever I need. She nearly sends me into tears because she’s so good to me. I don’t know how I’ve coped all this time without her.

“You want to tell me what’s going on?” Abby asks as she starts to dish up food. “With you? And I assume Beau?”

I glance over to Thomas, who is completely engrossed by the cartoon he’s watching, so he isn’t listening to what Abby and I are talking about. I sigh heavily, knowing Abby is going to have to kick my ass for being so weak. The only way I can deal with this is to rip it off quickly like a band aid and put it all out in the open.

“We… slept together.” I hang my head low, refusing to meet her eyes. “I know it shouldn’t have happened, but it did.”

Abby stops what she’s doing and pops her eyes wide in surprise. “Oh my God, are you for real?”

“I am for real. I’ve avoided him since because I can’t stand to see him.” My heart feels heavy in my chest. “I know we need to have to have a conversation about it all and... well, I don’t feel ready for it.”

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