Page 112 of Against All Odds

He laughs and releases me. “Make sure you get it or she might fly back out here.”

He’s not wrong. I rush over to grab it but miss the call. However, I see that I have six missed calls. I quickly scroll andfind that three are from Dylan, two are from my lawyer, and the last one is from Ana.

As I’m looking at the call log, Ana sends a text.

Ana

I called. Are you alive?

Yes, I’m doing great. Everett is here, so let me call you once he’s gone.

Ana

Ohhh be sure to take your time and remember pregnant people can have sex too.

I don’t reply to that one, as my mind is on the fact that Dylan and my lawyer called. I’m assuming he’s made a decision.

“What’s wrong?” Everett asks as he walks toward me.

“Dylan called,” I explain, not sure what exactly the status of our relationship is, but I know that I want to be honest with him always.

“Oh? Did he leave a message?”

“I don’t know.”

“Do you want to check? I’m fully aware that Dylan will be a part of our lives if we have a relationship. It’s okay, Violet.”

His voice is even and encouraging. It’s always going to be like this if he wants to be around the baby. He’s right that this will be part of our lives, and Everett is going into this with both eyes open.

I have two voicemails—one is my lawyer and the other is Dylan. I play my lawyer’s first. “Hi, Violet, this is Gail from Riez, Mitchells, and Linde. I wanted to let you know we have officiallypulled the paperwork. We can refile as soon as you let us know how you want us to proceed.”

Everett leans against the back of the chair, just watching me, and I feel a sick sense of dread. I need to explain why we pulled the paperwork and my divorce is not already final. “Because of the baby, it will be easier to get child support if we don’t have the divorce finalized. Even though our marriage is more than over.”

“That makes sense.”

I try to read his emotions, but he’s very calm and collected. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not. While he isn’t indicating that he’s upset by it, I can feel the tension in the room rise. I move to stand in front of him. “I’m divorced, Everett. In every sense of the word, we are. I don’t want him. I want you.”

He pulls me between his legs, his right hand holding my cheek and brushing the skin there. “I don’t doubt that.”

“As soon as I can, I promise, I’m pushing the divorce through.”

“Again, baby, I didn’t say anything. Listen to the other message if you want.”

Right. The thing is, I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want to know if this thing that Everett and I are starting already has an end date. It’s better sometimes, the not knowing, the bliss that comes from ignorance.

Unfortunately, there isn’t any room for that now.

I press play and Dylan’s voice echoes. “Violet, I’ve talked to my team, and we’ve decided that at this point in time, a baby would be the absolute worst news to drop. My lawyer will send you paperwork tomorrow with the details of a temporary agreement regarding a plan. As for me, personally, I don’t see any way this works out well for either of us. If you’d like to have the baby, I understand, but I won’t be involved.”

I’m not surprised, but I am slightly heartbroken, which is stupid because this is exactly what I wanted.

For him to not be around. Then I can stay here. I can be a single mom and have my own life.

Yet, he doesn’t want his baby, and that makes me sad.

I look up at Everett, who is watching me. “Are you okay?”

“Can I say I don’t know? I mean, I’m glad I can be done with him. So fucking glad, but also so confused how someone could just let go of a baby.”

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