Page 92 of Love Thief

“Why are you crying? Surely you’re happy about it.” He’s gone back to quiet, vicious.

I sort of shake my head. “I went for my shot and...”

His laugh is cold, harsh. “Yeah, right, and what? A surprise.” I nod. “Why? You knew. You. Knew. You. Of all people.”

He’s gone pale, and worse, distant. I don’t know this man. Who the fuck is he? The look of hate on his face. I feel sick.

“How long?”

“Seventeen weeks.”

His eyes pop out of his head at that. “Seventeen fucking weeks? Were you going to tell me? Or turn up with the baby after eighteen years again.”

My eyes widen, it was not my fault that happened. How dare he throw that in my face when it was his damn parents. But I try to remain calm, tamp down my panic. One of us has to.

“No, I wanted to tell you, I only just found out.”

“You knew. That’s why you fucked off to the lakes. What? You thought, get past sixteen weeks and I might be happy? You might as well have stayed there. For good. How the fuck could you?”

He grabs my shoulders, staring into my eyes, his dead and bottomless. I’m screaming on the inside, dread gripping me, and just as quick, he removes his hands

“Kellen, please let me tell you!” I sound desperate.

“No! Shut the fuck up. You’ve ripped my heart out. My. Fucking. Soul. Is. Dead.” He’s banging his chest with every word screamed. “You, of all people, knew. I am death, Evie. Fucking death. You know this. Well, now you’re my death. You’ve killed me tonight.

“Do you think you’re different? Do you have hope because you had James? You have no idea. You’ve killed me, everything. You’ve killed it.”

He’s gasping for air, clutching at his chest, pulling his hair out.

I try to draw air into my lungs to talk, to try to explain, but before I can, he goes out the door, totally naked.

I dash out after him, also totally naked. “Kellen, wait. Please.”

“Get the fuck off me.” He pushes away from me blindly and I see Jude jump up and run towards us.

“Kellen, what the fuck?” Jude shouts.

“Did you know when you took her there? Of course you did. I bet you all fucking know. Fucking Greystones, ganging together again. And you’ve helped her put a death sentence on herself, me, and that baby.”

“You don’t know that,” Jude shouts.

“I. Fucking. Do.” He roars at everyone now stood in the kitchen.

Jude takes his T-shirt off and gives it to me as I try to reason with him again. “Kellen, please listen. I’ve been and seen the doctor. She says?—”

“Shut the fuck up, Evie,” he shouts. “I never want to hear your voice again. You told me you loved me. For me. Not for any babies I couldn’t give you. And now you’ve signed my death warrant? Put me in agony until that phone call comes? You never loved me like I loved you. Otherwise you wouldn’t have that baby in your stomach.”

“Babies,” shouts Jude, clearly fed up with him. “Twins, you fucker. Boys. Are you listening now? Identical twins, you selfish fuck. Do you seriously think she’s not scared, too?”

He starts to laugh, and it’s a terrible sound. “Oh, Evie, always the extreme. Not happy to kill one baby, you’ll have two to bury in a few weeks.”

Jonno goes towards him and Xan moves in front of him. “No, Jonno. You don’t know what you’ve all done. Leave him the fuck alone.”

“She knows. She fucking knew, and still got pregnant,” Kellen seethes from behind Xander.

“Not on purpose,” I shout at him. “I did not get pregnant on purpose. It takes two to make a baby, Kellen. Why didn’t you get a vasectomy if you’re so fucking bothered?” I’m sick of him saying it’s my fault, and my terror turns to anger in self defence.

“You fucking bitch. Think you know it all.” His voice is like venom. “I wish I’d never gone into that fucking pub. I should have left you there. At least I was happy then. Now nothing but you, a pain in my arse, running me down. Keeping me on a fucking leash. I can’t even fuck who I want anymore.” He’s lashing out, every word a slash of the whip.

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