The Broken Parts Of Us (23 page)

“Not far. She’s already rounding in her tummy though, and having image issues about it. Fuck, you women don’t realise you’re beautiful when pregnant and it doesn’t matter how round you get.”

I stroke her tummy. She takes my hand in hers. “This is a twenty week scan, Jasp. Look at these numbers down the side, it tells you the estimated gestation.”

I look at the technical numbers printed down the side of the scan photo. “They must have given her the wrong picture.”

She looks over at Sammy, then back to me.

He strides over, taking the picture. “Her name is printed on it. She’s with your doctor,” Sammy tells River.

“We should go there. The receptionist has a thing for me; we can get her to show us her file.”

River snorts. “She won’t show you her file, Sammy, with that smile or not.”

“Car, Jasp. We’re getting this shit sorted right now.”

I walk with him like a zombie. Why would she lie? Why would she want me to father a kid that wasn’t mine, or to marry her? She doesn’t even like me. She likes my dick and that’s all. It doesn’t make sense.

Sammy was right; the receptionist’s eyes nearly fall out of her head when he walks in. She fluffs her hair in an attempt to make it look better. It’s a mess, but I put on my panty-dropping smile that has bagged me many one night stands, and go in for the kill. Sammy leans over the counter with a grin I’ve seen him use to conquer any woman he used it on.

“Hey, sweetheart. So, my girl,” I shrug my shoulders when her smile slips slightly. “My soon-to-be ex girl, gave me this.” I hand her the scan, her smile faltering again. “I’m told that’s an eighteen week scan and she can’t possibly be that far along. I was just wondering if you can get her up on your computer and confirm this?” 

She nibbles on a pen, her eyes darting between Sammy and me, then around the room. “I can’t do that. I’m sorry, all patient files are confidential.”

 Sammy skims up, moving me out the way. He reaches out, clasping her hand, then checks her name tag and tilts his head to the side. “Kelly, you seem like a decent girl. Beautiful, honest?” Her eyes cast over with a dreamy fixated stare. “You wouldn’t trick a guy into marriage with a pregnancy that’s not his, right?”

Her mouth drops open and she shakes her head. “He has his wedding in three weeks and if she’s lying about this, he’ll be stuck in a marriage he doesn’t want to be in with a lying bitch who’s carrying someone else’s child.”

She looks around the room again, then opens a drawer and puts a set of keys on the desk. “I can’t show you the files we keep on computer or the printed files we keep in the file case alphabetised by last name as it’s confidential. Did you say the coffee machine was jammed? I can come help you with that.” She winks at Sammy.

“Yes please, I need my coffee; it gives me much needed energy. I like to keep my stamina up,” he drawls.

I wait for her to come around the desk, then go to work on the filing cabinet. It doesn’t take long to find the key and her folder. There are appointments for the pregnancy dating back to just after we met. Fuck, she was already a couple months pregnant. That fucking bitch. This kid isn’t mine. Why the fuck would she want me?

I notice a photocopy machine; I print off a copy, then put the file back and leave the keys on her desk.

Kelly’s giggling at something Sammy says when I locate them at the coffee machine in the back of the room. “Let’s go. Kelly was it? You’re a sweetheart, thank you.” She blushes and waves as Sammy and I leave.

“Well?”

I hand him the printed copy. “She’s a fucking liar.”

“Son of a bitch. Why the fuck would she lie?”

“Let’s go ask her.”

Sammy follows me inside the apartment where Hannah is drinking a cup of coffee. I asked her not to drink it while pregnant. She looks up at us, surprised to see me and Sammy, who has never set foot in her place until now.

I throw the copy down on the table. “Why the fuck would you lie about the baby being mine?”

Panic, then indifference passes across her face. She picks up the paper and rolls her eyes. “Who’d you fuck to get this, the receptionist?” she sneers.

“Answer the fucking QUESTION!” I roar.

“Why is he here?” She flicks her chin up at Sammy. He steps around me, leans his hands on the table and gets near her face.

“Because I’m his brother, bitch, and you’re lying about his kid.” 

She scowls and stands, her hands on her hips with a stance of defiance. She narrows her eyes at me, then rolls them. “Fine, you’re right. It’s not yours.” She release a heavy breath, then slumps back down in her chair. “I’m sorry, I panicked. He’s married… and my dad’s best friend.”

“You mean Dr. Blake?” He is old as fuck. He has kids the same age as her.

Her hands go to her temples, rubbing in small circles. “I know you won’t understand, but I love him, Jasper. He won’t leave his wife. I didn’t know I was pregnant when I slept with you. I did it to punish him for not leaving her. I was willing to risk losing my parents to be with him. When I found out and told him, he lost it, and told me that we had to keep it a secret. I told him about you and he said I should raise the baby as yours because my mom would disown me if I wasn’t going to marry and settle down with the father.”

I can’t believe what I’m hearing from her; ruining my life because some cheating, fucking pervert didn’t want the shit to hit the fan.

“You know what she’s like and I panicked. I didn’t want to be a single parent and watch him from the side lines.”

“So fuck what was best for Jasper then, you conniving bitch!” Sammy grates out.

“Get the fuck out of my apartment, you have no idea what I’m going through!” she shouts.

“This is fucked up, Hannah. Who were you with when you said you were picking wedding dresses with your mom?”

Guilt flashes in her eyes, but it’s fleeting. “Him. He had a conference.”

“So you’re still fucking him? Why the condoms?”

She stands again, snarling at me. “Because you’re a fucking slut. I know you’re fucking that Derek and Kyra. I’m not stupid. You reeked of sex when I came round that morning, both of you naked under a robe. She was probably passed out in the bed.”

I nearly spew on her table as my guts clench. Why would she say that shit in front of Sammy? I can’t get words out. I chance a glimpse at Sammy, but he’s just sneering at her.

“Oh don’t look like a deer in the headlights, Jasper, everyone can see it. Sammy knows.” She scoffs. “Derek looks at you like a starving puppy. It’s pathetic, and her, she’s…”

“STOP FUCKING TALKING! This is done.”

“I’m keeping the house.”

“Like fuck are you. You are seriously deluded. Come on, Sammy.”

Sammy takes the keys from me and drives. “You got a lucky escape today.”

I can’t look at him. I’m waiting for him to bring up what she said about Derek and I feel nauseated.

“Jasp, you’re like a brother to me. Nothing anyone says or anything you do will ever change that. I don’t care where you put your dick; I just want you to find the happiness I have with River. I love you and want that for you.”

I feel like a woman. My emotions are all over the place and I swallow back the lump in my throat. I needed to hear him tell me that so badly. “Thanks and I think I have.” My voice sounds hoarse from the emotion I’m fighting. I’m trying to keep it together. A world of possibilities just opened up for me.

“You coming back to my place?”

“No, I want to go home and clear my head.”

“Fair enough.”

 I
locate Dawn’s address and find her with a black eye. The sight coils my stomach.

“Who did this Dawn?” She leaves the door open for me to follow her inside.

   “It’s nothing. Why are you here?” Her voice wavers, and her hands hold a tremble.

“I need to know why you put this on Kyra’s car window.” I hold up the note, her teeth come out to worry her lip.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” A tear brings to light her betrayal and guilt.

“It’s okay. I can keep you safe. I just need to know who and where, Dawn. Let me help you. Let me help Kyra.”

“I’m so sorry. He threatened me! He made me leave her the notes.” She’s soon crying and I want to offer her comfort, so I place a hand on her shoulder.

“Where is he now?”

Her mascara streaks her face. Her blue eyes shine from the unshed tears. She’s a real pretty woman and can do a million times better than any asshole who would take his fists to her.

“He’s a lorry driver, and he’s away right now. He won’t be back until next week.”

“License plate? What name is he using?”

“I don’t know the plates, but his name is Evan Mills.” His name makes me want to vomit and kill all in the same breath.

I call all the truck companies in the state and come up empty. He’s a sly snake, slithering his way through all my resources. I have nothing to go on. All I can do is a wait for him to mess up or strike. The thought is grinding me down.

River had called, telling me she asked Kyra to babysit tonight so I arranged a squad car to stake out Sammy and River’s place. I need to go tell Jasper about the development with Kyra and me. I’m not looking forward to this. I know it’ll hurt to see him, but I need to remember this is Jasper. He doesn’t do love; he fucks and he’s good at it.

My phone rings and I’m surprised to see it’s River again. “What’s up?”

“Sammy just got back from dropping Jasper back at your house. Hannah was lying about the baby. It isn’t his.”

I’m in shock; it’s the only explanation for me dropping the phone and emptying my stomach all over the floor. There’s just too much going on; I had taken Kyra’s virginity last night under the impression neither of us could be with Jasper, so we deserve to be happy with each other, and now everything has changed for him on a huge scale. I can’t be with him now. I gave myself to Beauty and she gave herself to me. I can’t hurt her like that; the very idea of hurting her twists my insides.

I pick up my phone. “Sorry, Riv. So what’s happening?”

“The wedding and everything is off. He got a lucky escape. Now he can be with someone he loves, Der.”

“I have to go.” I end the call and spend an hour just driving around before I man up and do what I need to do.

* * * * *

I find Jasper in his room when I get home. I can’t pussyfoot. I need to just do this.

“Seems you’re off the hook, then?”

I don’t feel the relief like I thought I would. I think it’s ironic. I went to tell him Kyra and I are an official couple now, and just like that, everything changed and it’s too late to take back the night I had with her. I wouldn’t ever want to. I do love her, but my head and heart are in turmoil over this.

He’s wearing jeans and no shirt; his body is so perfect I want to trace every dip with my tongue, but that wouldn’t be fair to Kyra. I couldn’t hurt her after she gave me something so precious.

He stands up, giving me a full view of his perfection, then strides towards me, stopping a couple of feet from me. “I can’t believe her. I feel so relieved and then guilty for feeling that way because even though she was lying, I still feel like I lost something, you know? I had talked myself round to the idea of having a kid.”

I want to wrap my hands around Hannah’s throat and tighten, which is a first for me. “She’s a bitch. You don’t want that for your kid. This is an escape, so think of it as one,” I tell him. He smiles up at me and I feel the need to hold him. Fuck, this is going to be so hard.

“Listen, Jasp, I know this is shitty timing, but Kyra and me… we’re official now. I asked her to move in.”

His smile drops. I watch his pulse flicker rapidly in his throat as his jaw twitches. “So what does that mean for us?”

I clear my face of all emotion. I don’t want him to see how much I care for him because this is Jasper and Jasper is only in this for the thrill. I step back. “There is no us. We fucked, now we won’t, and you can go back to fucking whatever little slut opens her legs for you.”

 I feel like an asshole. His face has gone pale. His chest heaves and his eyes have glassed over. What the hell? I just want to hold him.