Page 85 of Obligation
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Cory asked, his tone compassionate and devoid of any judgment or accusation. He crouched in front of Carissa and rested his hands on her knees.
“At first, I was in shock.” Carissa sniffled. “I did tell Mom and Dad.” She looked at her brother. “They weren’t happy, and Dad threatened to cut me off.”
Cory muttered a curse and shook his head.
“When I told Danny, he was so happy, and I thought maybe things would be okay, y’know?” She once again fidgeted with her hands in her lap. “He talked so much about our future and how we were going to have the perfect life. And for a little while, I agreed with him. But then I really started to think about everything, and I realized I didn’t want to be a mom. Not yet. I was too young.” Fresh tears streamed down her face.
No one spoke, but they all offered comforting touches and wore understanding expressions. She should’ve known her friends wouldn’t judge her or turn their backs on her for a mistake she’d made.
“But Danny just kept talking about marriage and buying a house and having more kids.” She laughed bitterly. “He was just so happy, and I didn’t know how to tell him I didn’t want to have a baby right now.” She wiped her tears and swallowed around the lump in her throat. “So, I began to find excuses not to spend as much time with him. He noticed.”
Tiffany shook her head sadly. “We noticed, too. I mean, that you two weren’t as hot and heavy as you used to be, but we just figured you two were finally out of the annoying honeymoon phase.”
Carissa chuckled.
“But if we had known…” Garrett sighed. “I don’t know. We could’ve helped somehow.”
She turned to smile at Garrett. “Thanks for that, but there really wasn’t anything you could’ve done. Danny and I became more distant, and then I had the miscarriage. The next day, I found out he’d cheated on me. I was devastated, and that’s when we began to fight so much.”
Cory shifted to sit on the floor in front of Carissa. “That explains a lot.”
Carissa nodded. “I was so angry with him. I still am. And our fighting has only gotten worse. He blames me for the miscarriage. He thinks I could’ve been more careful.” She huffed.
“I’m going to fucking kill him,” Cory mumbled.
Giving her brother a grateful smile, she shook her head. “That’s not going to help anything, but thanks anyway.” She sniffled again. “After he left me at the bonfire, I realized just how bad things really were, and I’m scared if something doesn’t change, he’ll get violent with me.”
“Over my dead body.” Cory curled his hands into fists. “I mean it, Carissa. I’ll kill him, and I’ll get away with it, too, because I happen to know a fantastic criminal law attorney.” He grinned.
Carissa laughed. “Knock it off.”
“Do you think he’ll do anything else now that you two broke up?” Tiffany asked.
“I don’t know.” Carissa blew out a breath. “When we broke up, he admitted he needed to deal with his grief over the miscarriage and that he was going to get help for his temper.”
“Do you really believe that bullshit?” Cory asked.
Carissa stood, carefully stepped around her brother, then snagged a couple of tissues from the box on her desk. She blew her nose. “I do. He sounded more sincere than he had in a very long time. He promised he was going to get better so he could prove that he was worthy of me.” She tossed the used tissue into the trashcan and reached for more.
“Please tell me you’re not going to go back to him,” Tiff said, genuine fearful concern in her tone.
“No, I’m not.” Carissa clutched the tissue in her hand. “But I did tell him I’d be here for him, that I’d help him get better.”
Garrett groaned. “Why would you do that?”
“Because Danny changed me. I’ve become this person I don’t recognize, and I refuse to let him keep changing me.” She wadded up the tissue and chucked it into the trash. “I don’t like who I am anymore, and part of me fixing myself is learning to get back to who I really am. And I am the type of person who would help another person in their time of need.”
“You’re way too good for him.” Cory shook his head, then rose to his feet and returned to sit on Tiffany’s bed.
“Agreed,” Tiffany said.
“That’s why I called you all here.” She crossed her arms and shifted on her feet. “Danny’s father was in a really bad accident, and he’s in the ICU. The doctors don’t know if he’s going to make it. Danny’s leaving to go home on Friday, and he’s asked me to go with him for emotional support.”
“No way.” Tiffany shook her head adamantly.
“Absolutely not,” Cory said, his expression livid.
“Please tell me you told him no,” Garrett said, his gaze pleading.
