Chapter 37

"She came onto me!"

I quickly walked away from him, wiping tears off my cheeks in the process. "Don't," I said quietly. "Just go."

"This is fucking unbelievable," he hissed. "Who do you believe more, Riley or your boyfriend?"

"I don't know anymore," I whispered. He walked over to me slowly, placing his hand on my cheek. "Kissing me won't make it better," I said, shrugging his hand off.

He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He let his arm flop down to his side. "What's wrong with you?"

"I don't want to be a stepmom Justin!"

Okay, so I technically wouldn't be a stepmom. That's definitely what it would feel like though.

"Oh," he raised his eyebrows. "You're breaking up with me because I'm expecting a kid now?"

"Not just that," I looked at the floor. "You're never honest with me. I refuse to be in a relationship with someone who lies."

"I didn't know how to tell you," his voice cracked. "I was going to eventually Jess, I swear."

"I had to find out from your mom," I whispered. "Then Riley told me it was all your idea."

"That is not what happened," he breathed out. "Not even close."

"Mind telling me then?" I crossed my arms over my chest.

He sighed. "We weren't together when it happened Jess. You and I, I mean."

I felt my heart twinge. "So the second we're not together, you decide to get her pregnant?"

"It wasn't like that," he shook his head. "The way Riley told you made it sound like I raped her for Christ's sake. It was her idea, but I'm not going to sit here and lie to you saying that I opposed to it."

I didn't know whether to be relieved that he was telling the truth, or hurt that he didn't oppose to it. "I get it," I said. "I do. But now there's a child involved Justin. You can't put me through that."

He nodded, his eyes welling up. "You're right," he said. "I can't put you through that. You don't deserve it."

I stood still where I was, not looking him in the eye.

"It just sucks, you know?" He said, leaning back on the counter. "I didn't want a kid with Riley," he stared at the floor for awhile, then lifted his head, looking me in the eye. "I wanted one with you."

My heart erupted from the cute words, but I tried not to cave. I was trying to find something to say, something to change the subject.

"It wasn't the same with you," he shook his head slightly. "With Riley I did it to do it. With you it was so," he paused, raking his brain for the right words. "Different."

"Different bad?" I tested.

He smiled at my humor. "Different good," he looked deeply into my eyes. "I did that with you because I love you," he stood up tall, staying where he was. "I still love you."

I couldn't say anything, I didn't want to say anything. I needed to keep my guard up. "I-"

"I told you this in the car that day, and I'll tell you again." He took a step closer. "There's such a difference between having sex and making love. I didn't get to experience the difference until-" he paused, looking at me quickly. "You let me experience that for the first time." He stepped closer until he was so close that I could feel him breathe, his fingertips running up and down my arm. "Only you."

I looked at the floor, taking everything in my power not to cry.

He took a step back, nodding. "I'll be gone by the time you get back from work."

He walked over to the bottom of the stairs where his suitcase lay, and that's when I couldn't handle it anymore.

"Don't go," my voice cracked.

He spun around, smiling with his teeth. "You couldn't get rid of me if you tried."

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"I'm scared to be here," Amber said. "I mean, what if I walk to the back to get hangers or something and I never come back."

"I got a security system," I said. "As the owner, I had to take matters into my own hands. The back door is always locked unless you have a key, and no one can get back there from the front without one of us seeing," I said while folding a pair of skinny jeans. "No one's getting hurt ever again."

They all let out relieved breaths, which made me laugh.

"Thank god," said Morgan.

All of the girls were here except Brooklyn, which made me a little sad. It was so different with her gone.

"Brooklyn called this morning," Kelsey said, practically reading my mind. "She gets out tomorrow."

"No way!" Jamie exclaimed. "That's so good."

"Will she be able to work though?" Morgan said.

"She said she can't walk properly yet but she really wants to come anyway, just to be back."

"Holy," Morgan said, shutting the cash register. "It would take way more courage for me to come back to the place I got stabbed."

"Morgan!" Amber shrieked.

"What? It's no secret," Morgan shrugged.

It was so funny thinking of how close Morgan and I used to be. At one point in time Morgan was practically a co-owner, because that's how close we were. I missed that.

"So," Jamie said. "I say we have a girls night again, and maybe this time Jess won't have cramps?"

They all giggled, remembering the time that I made up that excuse just so I could get home to Justin.

"Yeah," I smiled. "I'm cramp free."

"Good!" Morgan said. "Let's all go out one night this week, with Brooklyn. It would be fun."

I smiled. "Yeah. Let's do it."

"Oh my god!" Amber called from the back room, making my heart leap to my throat.

She came running out with a bouquet of flowers and a huge grin on her face, making me relax instantly.

"Who are they for?" All the girls gathered around, trying to see.

"They're for Jess!"

My head shot up. I wasn't expecting that.

"Open the card!" Jamie said.

I felt a little on the spot with all these girls circling around me, trying to see.

The card read:

Jess,

Hope you're having a great day. Thinking about you.

"Aww!" Morgan cooed. "They're from Justin."

All the girls squealed and looked at the flowers, almost in awe.

I was in complete shock myself. "That's so sweet."

"No kidding," Morgan said, inspecting each flower. "He's a keeper."

"Guess so," I breathed out, taking in the absolutely gorgeous arrangement. "I better head out. I got off 20 minutes ago."

"Justin's getting some tonight," Kelsey giggled, making all the other girls follow her lead.

"Bye," I dragged out the word, rolling my eyes.

I shut the door behind me with the bouquet in my hands, the smell and look absolutely beautiful.

I neared close to the front door of my house, Justin's car in the driveway. I couldn't wait to see him after getting these.

I opened the door with the stupidest grin plastered on my face. "Justin?"

"Yeah," he came around the corner, his smile immediately dropping once he saw what I was holding. "Flowers? From who?"

"Uh, you?" I took off my shoes. "Nice try though," I set them down on the table. "You're so sweet." I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed his cheek.

"Um, Jess, as much as I wish I would've gotten you flowers, those aren't from me."

I unhooked my arms from his neck and stared at him wide eyed. "What?"

"Hey, that doesnt mean you have to stop doing what you're doing though." He brought my arms back to where they were around his neck while he gripped my hips, kissing my cheek lovingly.

"Wait," I said, looking over his shoulder at the flowers. "Who are they from then?"

He shrugged while I walked over to them, pulling out the card. "You didn't write this?"

He shook his head, looking at it from behind me.

I inspected the card, trying to see if I could recognize the handwriting. Turning it over, there was writing on the back too that made my heart stop beating in my chest.

"- J."

___________________________

note:

WOW J WAS THE ONE WHO GAVE HER THE FLOWERS WHO KNEW

PLEASEE comment your thoughts/predictions bc i really want to know what you guys think is gonna happen(:

thanks for stickin' around and btw this book ends kind of sort of soon \: )':

LOVE YOU.

twitter: @avonsshawtyy

next update: thursday, the 25th.