Page 166 of The Infiniteness of Yesterday
“Yeah, well…” I trail off and shrug. “I don’t think you’re solely to blame this time.” I give him a small smile.
He takes his cap off again, holding it in his hands. He squeezes the brim, obviously nervous. Staring down at the floor for a long moment, I’m about to ask him what he’s thinking when he lifts his head and tear-filled eyes meet mine.
“I’ve ruined your life, haven’t I?” he asks with a brokenness I’ve never seen or heard from him before. I open my mouth tell him no, that’s not the case, but he keeps going. “I got you pregnant. I should’ve pushed you more to get help for your post-partum depression. And now I’ve pulled you into the spotlight in one of the worst ways when you wanted nothing to do with this world.”
“You haven’t ruined my life, Spencer.”
I hate that he can even possibly think that.
“It sure feels like it,” he sighs, dropping his head back so it knocks against the door. “Every time I’ve tried to do the right thing, I inadvertently do the wrong thing instead. I was selfish in wanting you, willing to have you any way I could, and now those pictures are out there.”
“All of the blame doesn’t belong to you, so stop trying to shoulder it.”
“I should go,” he says. “I just … when I learned your information was leaked, I needed to get to you, make sure you were safe.”
“You can stay, it’s okay with me.”
“Nah.” He shakes his head. “I don’t want to be in your way.”
He lets himself out and I drop down on the couch with a heavy exhale of breath.
Every time I think things can’t get worse, somehow, they do.
I jolt in surprise when the door opens again less than a minute later.
“Never mind.” He shuts the door. “They’re here.”
I don’t have to ask who they are.
He drops onto the couch and takes his cap off, tossing it on the coffee table. “Guess you’re stuck with me for now.”
CHAPTER 67
SPENCER
SIX YEARS AGO
Ihang up the phone in a state of disbelief. I’ve just booked my first speaking role. It’s a small one, but I get to play one of the main character’s best friends in a movie adaption of one of the hottest books on the market right now. This is the kind of opportunity I’ve needed, one I’ve been hoping for.
I sit in my car for another minute, reveling in this news. This will give me a bigger paycheck than I’ve been getting, and the added money will help us out a lot.
Taking the stairs up to our third-floor apartment, I hear the crying before I even get to our door.
When I unlock it, I find Harlow rocking an inconsolable Monroe in her arms. Tears wet both of their faces.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” I ask, quickly taking the baby. Harlow looks overwhelmed and beaten down.
“I think she’s getting her first tooth and she’s cried all day, Spencer. I gave her medicine. I put numbing stuff on her gums. I gave her stuff to suck on. None of it has helped. All she’s done is scream and now I have a headache and?—”
I squeeze her shoulder. “Go do whatever you need to for yourself. I can handle her.”
“Thank you,” she says, visibly deflating with relief.
The bathroom door clicks shut, and I look down at my flailing daughter.
“You gave mommy a hard time today, huh?”
Monroe looks up at me with big, watery eyes.
