Page 108 of Oblivion
“You gave up on us months ago, Storm. How is it fair that you expect me to keep waiting when you’re messing around with a girl who betrayed us all? Huh? How is that fair?”
“I didn’t sleep with her,” he bit back. “I haven’t been with anyone else since you came back into my life.”
“You don’t have to lie to me anymore, darling.” I smiled, seeing Zoe at the entrance with my bag in her hands. “I need to go, Storm.”
“Where are you going?” he asked, trepidation rushing to the surface. “You’re not leaving.”
Rolling my eyes, I answered, “I’m not leaving. I have a doctor’s appointment to make sure everything is okay.” My hand automatically flew to my stomach, a smile spreading on my face at the mere thought that there was a precious life growing inside me. “They need to make sure the baby is healthy and that I am healthy.”
“Can I come?” he suddenly asked, and no matter how much it hurt to deny him, to stop him from experiencing this with me, I still wasn’t ready to have him there.
I wasn’t ready because I wasn’t sure if he wanted to go out of obligation or because he really wanted to go.
“No.” I shook my head. “I need to do this alone.”
“Phee—”
“Are you ready to go?” Zoe jumped in, cutting Storm in the middle of the sentence. “I have your things.” She lifted my bag, ignoring Storm.
“Yep,” I answered. “We’re taking your car?” I asked her, controlling the onslaught of emotions trying to erupt.
Her simple nod was all I needed to turn away from him and start walking toward the car.
“Wait!” he called out, running toward us just as we reached the car. “Atlas should go with you.” His eyes pierced into mine. “You, uh… I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“I’ll be okay.”
“Humor me,” he pleaded. “I’ll get him to follow after you.”
Seconds passed as we stood there, staring at each other, but I knew that this was a fight I wouldn’t be able to win. There were people out there that wanted to hurt him, and by that, they would want to hurt my baby. I could fight, but Zoe couldn’t and I had to be careful right now. I had to make sure that the safety of this baby came before my pride.
“Fine, have him follow us. He will want to know what’s going on either way.”
27
OPHELIA
The smellof antiseptic snuck inside my nostrils, and no matter how much I rubbed my nose, it wouldn’t fucking go away. Zoe kept cackling from the corner of the room, while I sat on the tall table, chair, whatever the fuck it was called.
“Can you stop fidgeting?” Zoe asked, trying to hide her laughter. “Everything is going to be fine.”
“I’m not nervous,” I exclaimed, lying straight through my teeth. “I’m good. Everything is good. Dandy.”
“You aresonervous.” She laughed. “But you have no reason to be.”
“Shut up, Zozo.” I huffed, trying to relax. But she was right—I was so nervous and I had no idea why.
Okay, I knew why. Because I wanted this kid. I wanted it with every single atom in my body, and I wanted it to be healthy, and happy and safe, and all the other things I was worried I wouldn’t be able to provide. I was worried I would be a terrible mother. I was worried I would either be too suffocating or too relaxed.
What if he or she got hurt?
What if they got sick?
I didn’t even know how to make proper eggs without burning something, not to mention a homemade soup. Could kids even eat those things you could buy in a supermarket? Is it healthy for them?
Oh God, I would need to learn how to cook. I would need to learn how to change diapers, how to carry him or her, how to do all this shit, and I couldn’t even take care of myself.
“What if something happened to them? Jesus on crack, I couldn’t—”
