Page 44 of Pieces of Us
“Yeah, I’m good.”
I pull her against my chest and wrap my arms around her. She snuggles against me. We’re in such a weird place right now. She’s pregnant, yet she won’t be roommates with me, but she responds to me holding her. My brain is a mess, and I just pray she opens up the smallest bit, lets me help, lets me be there.
“Just don’t shut me out, Mel. I want to be there for every doctor’s appointment, every new thing. I’ll bring you pickles at one a.m. I’m here for it all.”
“I would never shut you out, Linc.”
“Good.”
Releasing her, I grab my keys and phone from the counter. I pause and look at her, her eyes finally meeting mine. I wait a moment to see if my irrational thoughts pass, but against my better judgment, I begin to speak.
“Just so you know, Mel, I’m not interested in dating anyone. For some reason, that all went out the window when I met youthat first night. And now that you’re carrying my child? I’ll make a man’s life miserable if they try to date you.”
She stares at me, mouth agape. I turn and walk out her door.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Melonie
Linc quietly closes the door of my apartment behind him. I feel anger rising inside me. What fucking right does he have to say he’ll interfere with me dating? Granted, dating is the last thing on my mind right now, but how dare he lay claim on me? I realize it’s because I’m pregnant with his child, but that doesn’t change who we are to each other.
I dump the rest of my coffee down the drain. My emotions are all over the place and I have no one to talk to. I place the cup in the sink and brace myself on the counter. The tears start again. I’m so fucking sick of crying right now.
After walking to the living room to grab a tissue, I flop down on the couch and try to calm myself, but as soon as my butt hitsthe cushion, there’s a knock at the door. I drag myself to the entryway to open it, and Audrey is on the other side with a tote bag.
“I brought supplies,” she says with a look on her face that screams, “You look like death.”
“That’s sweet of you.” I turn to walk into the kitchen, and she follows me in.
“I would ask if you’re sick, but your eyes are red, and your face is puffy. That’s not what sick Melonie looks like.”
“I’m not sick.”
“Then, what’s going on? I’m worried about you.”
“I can’t talk about it yet.”
Her lips form a tight line. “I promise I’ll be a vault, Melonie. When did Linc leave? Did he do something stupid?”
I sit in one of the chairs at the island, and she sits in the other.
“Audrey, if I tell you something, I need you not to tell anyone. Not Jax, not Gigi, no one.”
“You have my word.”
I force out a breath and rip off the Band-Aid. “I’m pregnant, and it’s Linc’s.”
“Holy fucking shit.” She stares across my kitchen.
“Yeah.”
We sit in silence for a moment. Finally, she turns to me and wraps me in her arms.
“How are you doing? Are we happy about this?”
She releases me and looks in my eyes, trying to gauge where I’m at.
“We’re happy. Scared, but happy.”
