Saved (Wanted 2)

I jumped off of Rose, and Emma started to take her back to the barn. Just then, Dewy walked up and told Emma he would tend to Rose.

“Thank you, Dew. She deserves some extra oats. She’s so gentle when Matt is on her,” I said.

“You got it, Ari,” Dewy said with a wink.

I looked over at Jeff. He looked like he was going to be sick. I started to walk over to him.

We hadn’t talked since we’d woken up. I knew that I’d been in a mood this morning. I had tried to sneak out of the cabin, but failed big time. Jeff had woken up the minute I’d tried to get out of the bed.

I stopped right in front of him and attempted to put on my best smile. I stood on my tippy toes and leaned in to give him a kiss. He bent down and pulled me to him. Holy hell! He kissed the shit out of me right in front of everyone.

He pulled away from my lips slightly and smiled. “I missed you. ”

“I just went for a short ride. What are you going to do when I’m in school this fall, and you’re here?”

Jeff pulled away from me and looked shocked. Yep. This was another thing that we hadn’t talked about.

“Have you called her yet?” I asked.

“Ari, do we have to talk about this here?”

I looked around and noticed the only person sitting on the porch now was Garrett. Josh had walked with Dewy down to the barn to take care of Rose. Heather must have gone inside to pack up to leave, and Emma had walked off with my parents.

“No, Jeff, let’s not talk about it and just keep putting shit off. Let’s just pretend that none of it matters. ” I replied sarcastically.

I turned to walk over to the Jeep. I was ready to leave. I jumped in and started it up. Jeff had driven his truck back down to the ranch house this morning.

I looked back at Jeff. “I’m going to get my things. I’ll meet you back here in a little bit. I’m ready to head home. ”

Jeff started to walk toward the Jeep, but I took off. I let myself look in the mirror, and I saw Jeff running his hands through his hair. Shit! I did it again. I ran away from him before we could talk. I hit the steering wheel so hard that my hand felt like it was broken.

***

When I got back to the hunters cabin, I walked in and the first things I noticed was the smell of lilies, It was amazing. I leaned against the door, and I finally allowed myself to cry as I slide to the floor. Oh god. What if this turns out to be his baby? Mother-fucking son of a bitch.

After ten minutes of endless crying, I finally got up and started to pack my stuff. I needed to suck it up and deal with this. I had to be strong and fight for what was mine. Even if this was his baby, Lord I prayed it wasn’t, I would not let her take Jeff away from me. Never.

Just then, a damn Katharine Hepburn quote popped into my head.

As one goes through life, one learns that if you dont paddle your own canoe, you dont move.

Damn my mother!

I packed up my stuff and loaded it into the Jeep. Then, I went back into the cabin and cleaned up a bit. Shit, who’s going to clean all of these flowers out? I wanted to bring them all home with me. Knowing Jeff, probably paid Jenny to clean it up.

I walked over to the kitchen table and pulled out my phone. Good I had a strong signal. Looking through my calendar, I went back to last November, thinking of the day Jeff and Rebecca would have been together. By my calculations, she would be about thirty weeks. I searched the Internet for a pregnancy calculator and found that mid- August would be her due date.

Just then, I heard Jeff’s truck. I jumped up and started to make my way to the door to leave. Before I could get out the door, I knocked over a bucket with Stargazer lilies and bluebonnets. Shit! I ran and grabbed some paper towels to clean up the water. I worked as fast as I could before Jeff could walk in.

I hurried and threw away the paper towels. As I turned to leave he walked into the door. He gave me that damn smile of his, and I stopped dead in my tracks. Okay, Ari, time to grow some fucking balls and just face this shit.

I smiled back at him. He walked up to me and hugged me. I almost started to cry. No! I will not shed anymore tears over that bitch.

“Ari. I love you, baby, so much. Please tell me what’s bothering you. ”

Really? I wanted to laugh out loud. What a stupid fuck.

“If you have to ask me that, Jeff, then I certainly don’t feel the need to tell you the answer. ”