Page 7 of Maybe, Probably
“It’s outbursts like this that are the reason I pulled away. You always blow everything out of proportion.” He laughs. “You know what? I’m glad it’s over. It honestly should have happened sooner. But I found some satisfaction in doing this behind your back and you had no idea.”
My head snaps in his direction at his confession. I stand in utter disbelief of the words that came out of his mouth. This isn’t the Dalton I fell in love with. Hell, this isn’t even the Dalton I have shared a life with over all these years.
The man standing in front of me is a complete stranger.
Taking a deep breath, I look back up to him, and it’s like a weight has been lifted. As much as what he said hurts, it was exactly what I needed to hear. “Just get out.”
“Gladly.” He turns and stomps out the door, slamming it so hard, it rattles.
I sit back down on the couch and take a minute to just breathe. Staring across the living room, I take a moment to let everything sink in that’s just happened over the last hour. The break-up sucked initially, but I like to think I was making the steps to move forward. I should have known there was another shoe to drop. Because why wouldn’t there be? A sardonic laugh bubbles past my mouth as I think about everything. Then I feel a nudge at my hand and I look down at Winnie who had jumped up on the couch and laid down next to me, with a concerned, but love-filled, look on his face.
“It’s okay Winnie boy. We won’t be seeing that man again, I promise.” I lean down and kiss the top of his head. Clearly, that was noted as an invitation to also receive kisses too, because he bounced up quickly andbegan licking my face. I laugh, and lightly push him away so I can breathe. “Okay buddy that’s enough. Let's get some supper.”
Chapter Five
Harper
It’sbeenacoupleweeks since the whole cheating debacle happened. After Dalton left, I texted Evie the cliffnotes of what went down. She called immediately to check-in and see if I was okay. We talked on the phone for hours, which ended with Evie falling asleep on me at around two in the morning. Whenever Evie is just about to drift off into a heavy sleep, she lets out this weird moaning noise. Once that happens, she is dead to the world, and there is no waking her up. Trust me, I’ve tried many times. She came over the next morning and has been making a point to come over in the evenings. Most nights, we eat and play board games to pass the time.
I know she’s doing this intentionally. She wants to make sure I don’t turn inside myself and become a recluse. Which, honestly sounds tempting, but my last minute decision to adopt a dog in the throes of a new break-up worked in my favor.
Winnie forces me to be present. I wake early during the week to make sure he’s able to have his walk, and I carve time at the end of the day for another trek. On the weekend, we go for a hike at some of the nearby trails. I want to let him off leash when we do these hikes, so I’ve been slowly training him in the yard. I think he’s ready, and I’ve been mentally planning our first off-leash excursion this weekend.
The only time I've allowed myself to cry was the day Dalton took the remainder of his things. I took a hot shower and let the tears flow down with the warm spray of the water. I don’t knowwhothat man is anymore, and I think that’s what hurts the most of all. He wasn’talways like this. As soon as he started at his firm, he began to change. I could see the stress starting to consume him as he tried to impress the partners, and work his way up there. I did what I could to try and help him de-stress at home, but he just brushed it off, claiming he was fine. As it turns out, he may have been fine, butweweren’t.
In the kitchen, I’m staring into my fridge, debating on whether to cook or order delivery. I’m craving pad thai, and it’s been awhile since I had some. Collecting the take out menus from the side of my fridge, I find the restaurant and begin perusing appetizers when I hear Winnie race to the front door. Seconds later, I hear the front door open, then close. Winnie comes barging in the room with excitement and alerts me of our guest arriving. Not like I couldn’t hear her. Even if the dog didn’t bark, Evie is so loud when she comes into the house. Without even looking, I can tell you her jacket is thrown on the bench, her keys tossed into my key bowl.
And there she is, coming into my view like the queen she is.
“My saviour. I was just about to order something.” I meet her at the table and begin to unpack the bag, realizing that she hit up the exact place I was about to order. “You really are my best friend. This isexactlywhat I was craving.”
Evie gives me a small smile. “Well duh, I’m your person. Of course I know what you want.” She heads to the kitchen to get drinks and comes back quickly. We eat, and I groan in response to my first couple bites of pad thai. I’m halfway through my food when I realize that Evie has barely touched hers.
“Evie, what is it?”
She snaps out of whatever turmoil was going on in her mind and smiles. Maybe someone else would buy that smile and think she’s okay. But I know better.
“Evie Rose Parker, I know your bullshit happy smile.” I point my fork toward her face. “Tell me what’s going on right now.”
The fake smile instantly drops, and she grimaces. “Okay…I may have come here with an ulterior motive of sorts.”
I raise my eyebrow at her and give her a go on motion with my hands.
“So…” She clears her throat, “I found out something. Something that is big. I mean I think it’s big?Ithink it is. It definitely changes a lot. Or I think it would…”
“Evie,” I huff. “Just rip the bandaid off already, jeez.” But the more she rambles, the more my anxiety starts to climb. I hate beating around the bush when it comes to information. I grab my drink as I wait. “Dalton got Chloe pregnant.”
My shock makes me spit my drink across the table, covering all of our food. After I cough a couple times, I take my hand and wipe it across my mouth.
“I’m sorry, I must be having a fever dream.I thought I heard you say Chloe.Dalton’sChloe. The girl he cheated on me with… is pregnant.”
“Correct.”
“With Dalton’s child?Dalton?You’re sure?”
Evie winces. “Well, I mean, yes? At least, that’s what it looks like.”
We sit in silence while I process this new information. This has to be some sick sort of joke, right? Turning, I look my best friend in the eyes. They’re full of concern as she takes in my reaction.
