Page 126 of Against All Odds

Analeigh makes a noise that tells me she’s crying. “I’m so sorry, Vi. I sent a message to Catherine Cole. I know you thinkshe was wrong for how she treated you while working with Dylan, but she’s really, really good at her job. She’s been my dad’s crisis manager for a long time. Since she no longer works with Dylan, she would like to speak to you, if you’re open to it. I know you hate PR, but you need to protect yourself, okay?”

“I can’t think about this. I can’t even think at all. What do I do about Everett? We’ve never told anyone that it isn’t his.” Two weeks ago we started telling people. Hazel was overjoyed, and Penny already knew thanks to Miles. It was all coming together perfectly.

“I don’t know, which is why I think you need to talk to Cat. Let her make the decisions on how to handle this.”

There’s a loud banging on the back door.

God, now they’re trying to come in other ways.

“Violet! Open the door!” It’s Everett.

“I have to go,” I say to Ana. “Text me her number.”

“I love you,” Ana says back.

“Love you too.”

I rush to the back door and pull it open, and immediately he engulfs me in his arms. I grip the sides of his jacket, burying my head in his chest.

Safe.

I’m safe.

Everett won’t let anyone hurt me.

I look up, tears streaming down my face, and he’s shaking. “Hazel called me. I ... came right away. Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

“Not physically.”

“What the fuck is going on? He put out a statement about his unborn child?”

I nod. “I guess so. I just heard about it. I pulled up and there were a dozen photographers outside the house.”

“I saw. That’s why I came around the back. I walked through the field so no one saw. How did they find you?”

“I have one guess,” I say, knowing he’s the only asshole who would gain from this.

Everett rubs my back. “I’ll kill him.”

“You’ll have to get in line behind me and Analeigh.”

“I don’t want you here. Not with these fucking people camped outside your house. Let’s pack a bag, and you’ll stay with me.”

I know he’s worried, but I don’t want to leave my home. “Everett ...”

He stares down at me. “Please don’t fight me on this, Vi. I need to do what I promised you, and that’s to protect you. I don’t want you here, where they could hurt you. I don’t want you here, where I can’t be sure you’re safe and the baby is okay. I sure as hell can’t go back to my house, knowing that you’re alone, maybe crying, maybe plotting homicide, and I can’t be there for you.”

I close my eyes and lean into him. “All right.”

His body relaxes, and he kisses the top of my head. “Thank you.”

I turn my gaze to his, and I can see the distress there. “I love you.”

“I love you.”

My phone rings nonstop—my parents, my friends, Dylan, my lawyer, everyone who knows me leaving messages asking what’s going on, what baby, why I lied. It’s continuous.

Dylan did not leave a message, and I had to pretty much restrain Everett to keep him from answering. The only call I answered was Ana, who once again reminded me that I neededto call Catherine, and after a small argument with Everett—he was on Analeigh’s side—I finally caved.

---