Chapter 43
Love That App
When Adrian's gaze lands on us, he presses his mouth into a hard line and narrows his eyes on Jack.
I close my eyes, seeking patience. When I open them, Jack’s smiling, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.
“You two are pretty serious?” he asks.
“It’s a long story,” I say, honestly. “He needed a pretend girlfriend, I agreed, then somehow I became his pretend fiancé.”
I don’t go on to tell him that we’re really dating now because just then, Adrian yells across the restaurant. “Keegan, baby, please, don’t do this.”
Oh. My. God. Everyone in the place follows his gaze to find me, in a booth, with another guy. Great, now I look like the cheating girlfriend and him the poor brokenhearted fool. When I left the apartment, I felt bad for him, but now I’m pissed. I asked him to trust me, but instead he followed me here and is making this, already bad day, much worse.
Jack gives me a sad smile. “I’m thinking this guy is wanting more than a pretend relationship with you."
“Yeah, well, he's gonna end up with a real black eye,” I say, feeling my violent side creep up.
He chuckles softly. "I can see you haven't lost your take-no-shit attitude."
I want to yell at him to not act like he knows me. We dated as teenagers and I’ve changed a helluva lot since then.
"Nope, I'm still just as sweet and cuddly," I say with a sarcastic smile as I go to try and get control of my tornado.
As I close the distance, Adrian's threatening glare turns into a huge smile. He holds his arms out as if he expects me to run to him.
"Hey, sweet cheeks. What a surprise seeing you here,” he says. Oh, now he’s playful Adrian. Sorry buddy, too little too late.
"What the hell is the matter with you?” I ask in a hushed whisper. “Do you seriously have no clue how to behave like a civilized human being?"
"Why, I have no idea what you're referring to." With his most innocent face, he turns and gestures at Max. "My friend and I decided, spur of the moment, that we sure would enjoy the fantastic cuisine served here in this fine establishment."
Max grimaces. "I'm sorry Keegan. I promise you I have nothing to do with this. I'm only here to help keep him from making a monumental mistake."
I reach down and grab his pinky finger lifting it at the same time twisting it backward. "Outside now," I demand.
Adrian huffs and tries to get a waitresses’ attention.
"Do you see this?” he cries, “This is assault. I think she should be thrown out. She should not be permitted to eat here for the rest of the day.” No one in the restaurant pays any attention to the idiot screaming like a little girl.
When we're outside, I spin on my heel to face him. "First, how the hell did you know where I was?"
"I used your Apple ID and logged into your phone through my Find My iPhone app." He says this very matter-of-fact, as if hacking into somebody else's account is a perfectly acceptable thing to do.
Max clears his throat. “I’m going to be in the car. Let me know if I need to take him to the hospital when you’re done.” Then he hurries off.
I look at Adrian. “You need to go with him.”
Adrian's nostrils flare and I can see the rise and fall of his chest as his mind works through his options. Now he turns, taking a few steps away, before turning to face me again. With a look of desperation, he runs his hands through his hair.
"How am I supposed to sit out here, knowing you're in there with a guy you used to be in love with?"
Sighing, I try again. “I’m not in love with him anymore. I just need to talk to him about some things, things I need to clear up so I can move on.”
Adrian paces a few more steps, then spins back to face me. “Is this about the baby?”
My body goes rigid as my mind begins replaying every conversation I’ve had with Adrian, but I know I’ve never told him about the pregnancy.
***
Adrian
As soon as I see her reaction, it’s clear, I’m fucked. I should’ve told Max to tie me to that chair.
“How do you know about the baby,” she asks.
Staring into her beautiful eyes, I know I have to tell her the truth, even if this is the worst timing possible.
I close my eyes and slowly reopen them. “I ran a background on you because of my dad and the boys,” I say, minimizing what I’ve done.
She flinches, but doesn’t say anything. After a few seconds of thought, she looks confused. “A simple background check wouldn’t have given you my medical history.”
I draw in a long breath through my nose and look away, unable to watch her reaction to my next words. “I had a private investigator do a full check, back at the beginning of the semester.”
When she doesn’t speak, I turn back to look at her, wishing I hadn’t. Her eyes are filled with pain and sadness.
“You need to leave,” she says as her eyes fill with tears.
I stand motionless, unable to think of anything to say that’ll fix this.
Keegan furiously wipes at her tears. “You need to leave,” she says, louder this time.
I shake my head. “I’m not leaving you here pissed at me with a guy you were once in love with, and whose baby you were once carrying.”
Keegan’s face goes pale and I hear Jack’s voice behind me. “What’s he talking about?”
I twist to face him, glad to have someone to take out my anger on. “I’m talking about the fact that any guy who gets a girl pregnant, then leaves her to deal with it on her own, is a sorry excuse for a man.”
“Adrian,” Keegan yells from behind me, and I hear her voice crack.
Jack looks at me, confused, then shifts his attention to Keegan. “What’s he talking about?”
It’s at that moment I realize, my PI did not get all the details because it’s clear, Jack had no idea Keegan was ever pregnant.