Reckless Love (Cowboys & Angels 7)

“You love her?” she whispered.

Glancing at a stunned Scarlett, I replied, “Yes. Very much.”

“You love her? If you loved her you wouldn’t treat her like a whore,” Eric practically shouted.

Scarlett moved in front of Eric right as I went at him. I accidentally knocked into her, pushing her almost to the ground, but Cord caught her just in time. Wade was there, stopping me before I was able to get to Eric. Pulling me back by my arms, I fought to get out of Wade’s hold.

Eric turned to Scarlett. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”

The endearment caused me to try to get after him again, making Eric face me. Tripp stood between us, his hand on Eric’s chest, keeping him at bay. He now seemed like he wanted a piece of me as much as I wanted a piece of him.

“You stupid fool! You could have hurt the baby!” Eric shouted.

I stopped resisting Wade. Eric’s words bounced around in my head for a few moments before they sank in. Then it hit me like a brick wall. Wade’s hold on me loosened. He must have heard it as well.

Eric rushed to Scarlett when he saw me stop resisting.

“Are you okay?” he asked, holding her and giving her a once-over. She looked like she was in a state of shock as she stared at Eric.

“What…what did you say?” I asked, looking between Eric and Scarlett.

Scarlett’s eyes pierced mine, and I’d never seen her look so sad in my entire life.

Eric took a step toward me. “She’s pregnant, you arsehole, and you almost knocked her to the ground.”

“Eric, why?” Maebh yelled, glaring at Eric. She turned to me sadly, and I knew that she knew. She knew Scarlett was pregnant.

The whole room started to feel like it was closing in on me, and I couldn’t breathe. I swallowed hard, trying to figure out why my vision was getting blurry.

Maebh reached for my hands, attempting to steady my wobbly body. “Trevor, you need to sit down. Please. Wade, help him. He looks ill.”

I stared at Scarlett. A single tear slipped from her eye and slowly made a trail down her cheek. That one tear felt like it had reached into my heart and ripped it out.

“You’re…pregnant?” I asked, the words barely audible.

Eric wrapped his arm around Scarlett’s shoulder, and it all made sense. The realization hit me like a MAC truck. Scarlett was pregnant with Eric’s child. A sickness rolled over my entire body, almost making me bend over and throw up.

“H-how long have you been sleeping with him?”

Scarlett sucked in a breath, and Maebh looked over her shoulder. “Eric! Knock it the feck off. Cord, get him out of here. He’s only making this worse!”

It was like a light went off in Scarlett’s eyes, and she stepped out of Eric’s hold. Her gaze pierced mine, a desperate pleading for me to understand, but I didn’t understand. I couldn’t understand. My mind went back to almost two months ago when we had been together. Was she pregnant then?

Oh. God. I need out of here.

She shook her head. “Trevor, it’s not what you think. Please.”

I looked around the café. My entire family stood there, looks of horror, sadness, and disbelief on everyone’s faces.

Turning, I made my way out of the café.

“Trevor! Wait!” Scarlett called out, only making me walk faster. I needed to leave.

“Trevor!”

I was about to get sick.

“Dude, wait!” Wade called out as he reached for my arm.

“Wade, I need to get out of here.”

The second I burst through the doors of the café, I did the only thing I could think of doing.

Run.

I ran hard and fast. Not stopping until my lungs burned and my legs felt like jelly.

Leaning over, I placed my hands on my knees and dragged in one deep breath after another. When I glanced up, I saw I was at the local park and playground. My gaze instantly fell on a mom pushing her little girl on a swing.

“Jesus Christ, Trevor. Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” Wade panted as he caught up to me. “Do you know how hard it is to run that fast in cowboy boots?”

I stared at the woman and the little girl, and my chest burned with the strangest sensation.

Scarlett’s pregnant.

The ground swayed, and I leaned back over.

“Trevor, let’s sit down. I need to catch my breath and you look like you’re about to pass out.”

I followed Wade over to a group of benches. Four little kids ran by, playing what looked like tag. Their laughter carried through the air filling a space in my heart I didn’t know needed filling. It reminded me of all of us kids playing on the ranch. How free life was then. No pressure, no confusion. Simpler, happy times. I longed for that again.

I wasn’t sure how long we sat there in silence before Wade finally spoke.