Page 31 of Recon Rendezvous

I put some fake cheer in my voice before answering. “I’m swell and Chicago is fantastic!”

He ignores my sarcasm or maybe he just doesn’t care enough to worry about it. “I’m glad to hear it.”

Clearing his throat, I wait for him to continue. Travis hates awkward silences, but I’m not going to do him any favors and help him out.

“I’m sure you’re wondering why I’m calling.”

I lose the fight to stop my eye roll, and I almost give myself a headache. “The thought had crossed my mind.”

He mumbles a curse before sighing. “I wanted you to hear this from me. You know, out of respect.”

My stomach tumbles at his words, and I close my eyes, bracing for whatever he’s going to say. “Okay,” I murmur.

“I’ve been seeing someone,” he says softly.

“Okay,” I repeat. It’s almost been a year since our relationship ended. It’s to be expected.

“And…”

I hold my breath as he hesitates.

“We’re engaged.”

Clanging bangs in my ears as I repeat the word to myself.Engaged?After eight months?

“Thanks for letting me know.” I expel a breath. “Oh, erm… congratulations.”

“Thank you. We’re really excited to start our lives together.”

I just nod as he rambles on about how they met and their plans to wed this summer.

“Also, she’s pregnant.”

Record. Fucking. Scratch.My brain goes offline at his words, my stomach drops, and I instinctively try to curl into a ball to protect myself.

“What?” I whisper.

“She’s pregnant. It’s early on, but we’ll be sharing our news soon.”

“But you don’t want kids,” I say, like an idiot.

“Things change, Lo. I’m a different person now.”

I scoff. “You’re a completely different person after eight months? Seriously?”

“I guess. Or maybe she makes everything better. She makes me a better man and I couldn’t wait to start a life with her. She’s not out here trying to fight me for head of household. She knowsher place and she’s happy to have dinner waiting for me when I get home. I don’t have to compete with everything else in her life.”

That blow bashes me in the chest and I suppress a whimper, the rest of the room fading as his words sink in. I’ve heard shit like that for years, but it still manages to wound me every time

“Wow. I guess I never knew you for thoseseven years.” I seethe.

I can picture him shrugging as he says, “I don’t know what to tell you. Besides, maybe you’ll understand if you ever find a person who wants to be with you forever.”

Heat rushes over my body and my scalp prickles with sweat at the cruelty he so easily heaps on me. How did I not see the snake in my own yard?

“Relax. There’s no reason to get nasty.”

“I’m not. You did this. You’re always questioning me. I’m finally happy and of course you have to shit all over it. She listens and doesn’t give me this fucking attitude all the time. No wonder I didn’t want to have kids with you,” he hisses.

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