Chapter Thirty-seven
Ashton
Not pregnant.
It would make my life a hell of a lot easier if it’s true. I’ll be able to move on from this shitstorm without worrying about Corinne going straight to the abortion clinic. If it’s true, I can walk away, wash my hands of her, and do it without guilt.
I can get Sadie back.
Maybe not tomorrow, but eventually, because we’re stronger than this.
I rap on Corinne’s door three times. Seconds later, I detect footsteps, followed by a pause in which I’m sure she’s checking the peephole. The deadbolt switches over, and there she stands, brown eyes brightening at the sight of me.
“Hey,” she says, her voice an octave lower than usual. Softer. Designed to seduce. “I thought you were going out with Bryce tonight.” She wanted me to come over for dinner, and when I told her I had plans with Bryce, she wasn’t thrilled.
“Change of plans,” I say, following her inside. As she clears a pile of textbooks from the sofa, I linger in the center of the living room. “We need to talk.”
“Sure. Is everything okay?”
“That depends. I heard something interesting tonight.”
Stalling, she glances over her shoulder. “Yeah?”
“I heard you’re not actually pregnant.”
She drops the books and turns around to face me, eyes wide. “What? Who told you that?”
“That’s not even the point. Is it true?”
“Don’t I get a chance to defend myself? Who’s spreading rumors about me? Is it Sadie?”
Hmm, interesting. I figured she was bound to catch on to my feelings for Sadie, especially after my reaction to running into her around town. Corinne doesn’t miss a thing.
“This rumor came from your sister.”
That steals the sails from her voice, and she opens and shuts her mouth a few times before spitting out her reply. “I haven’t told her yet.”
“I might believe that, except she says she’s pregnant.” I advance on her, forcing her back by a few steps. “In fact, she claims she was the one at the hospital.”
“My sister doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”
“No? You weren’t with her at the ER?”
“Well, yeah, but—”
“I don’t want to hear any buts, Corinne. Just tell me the goddamn truth.” My voice thunders through the apartment, and her eyes sheen over with tears.
“I’m…I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry?” Sucking in a deep breath, I turn my back on her and drag both hands through my hair.
“I’m so sorry,” she cries, and I flinch when she places her hand on my back. “I was so furious with you, and the lie slipped out…and once it was out there, I didn’t know how to take it back without driving you away.”
I whirl, seething, hands fisted at my sides. God, how I want to strangle her. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? I was willing to rearrange my entire life for this baby—a baby that doesn’t even exist!”
Something inside her seems to snap into place, and she lifts her chin a couple of notches. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”
“Let’s hear your excuses. Tell me what I did to deserve this. Go ahead. Try justifying it.”
“You discarded me like trash!” She jabs a finger into my chest. “You made me love you, then you threw me away like I was nothing.”
“What you are is a lying, manipulative bitch.”
Her mouth begins to tremble, and I immediately want to take back the words. Even if they are true. She played me, and I fell for it like an idiot.
“I didn’t want to lose you,” she says, the fight seeping from her bones. Shoulders sagging, she folds her arms in a defensive gesture.
“How could you think we had anything more than a fling? Outside the few times we fucked, we barely saw each other. That’s not a fucking relationship, Corinne.”
“It could’ve been,” she says, dashing tears from her cheeks. “But I should’ve known better. It’s always been Sadie this and Sadie that with you.” The corner of her mouth creeps into a sneer. “You took me to prom—you fucking slept with me—but you couldn’t keep your eyes off her.”
“That was years ago. Let it go, already.”
“I’m not just talking about high school!” A beat of silence infiltrates the room, poisoning the air with hurt and lies, and she glares at me. “I thought you finally wanted me…but all you wanted was a quick and dirty fuck.”
“Jesus, Corinne.” I give her my back for a few moments, fingers raking through my hair, then I turn to face her again. “My reputation is no secret. I thought that’s what you wanted, too.”
“Well aren’t you observant.”
Her snide statement drains my last bit of patience, and I storm forward until she has no choice but to plant her ass on the couch. “Not observant enough, apparently.” Staring down at her, I cross my arms. “But you were counting on that, weren’t you? Did you think I wouldn’t notice when you failed to pop out a baby?”
“I wasn’t thinking at all.”
“Bullshit,” I say with a shake of my head. “You knew exactly what you were doing.”
“I want you to leave.”
“How convenient. Now you want me to go.”
“I don’t want to do this anymore. It was a mistake.” Face bathed with tears, she sniffles. “I really am sorry.”
“The only thing you’re sorry about is getting tangled up in your own lies.” Keeping my anger in check, I brace my weight on the back of the couch and bring my face close to hers. “You and I are done. Do you understand?”
Blinking rapidly, she nods.
“And stay the fuck away from Sadie.”
“O-okay.”
Her timid voice burrows underneath my anger, and I pull back, giving her space. “I swear to God I never meant to hurt you.” I pause, watching the tears slide down her face. “The next time you get it in your head to yank on some poor idiot’s chain, think twice. You’re better than this.”
She buries her head in her hands, and I take that as my cue to leave. Maybe she really is sorry. Maybe she’s not. As I storm out of her apartment for the last time, I really don’t give a shit either way.