Page 107 of Rival
A set of arms pick me up and yank me away with a rushed, “Just hang on, darlin’,” before he hauls me upstairs to my old bathroom. Lifting the far cleaner lid, I’m vomiting before he’s even lowered me to my feet.
I heave over and over, emptying what little was in my stomach from lunch, images of the downstairs bathroom making me gag again. Griffin gently brushes my hair back to hold in his fist, whispering that it’s okay and just get it all out.
“Here,” Jaxon says sympathetically. I’m not what he’s referring to until I feel Griffin press a cool, damp cloth to the back of my neck. The cold distracts me enough that I’m able to stop thinking about every disgusting thing I’ve already encountered in this house. My body crumbles with the last purge, depleting the little strength I had left for tonight.
Turning to the side, I hide my face as I grab the rag from my neck to dab at my mouth, then fold it over so I can press it against my heated cheeks.
How freaking embarrassing.Not even five minutes and I’ve hurled my lunch in front of two of them. Peeling my eyes open, Icome face to face with Mason and I groan low.Threeof them. All three are here to witness my shame.
“Why are youallin here?” My question is broken from how sore my throat is.
Griffin runs his hand over the back of my head before he helps me stand and walk over to the sink. To Jaxon, he asks, “Grab her a clean cup from downstairs, would ya, Jax?”
He disappears to do as he’s told, and I catch the familiar way Griffin referred to him. I want to ask, but I won’t. Not right now. With an arm around my waist, supporting my stomach as if he’s been doing it every day with me, he helps me lean forward to scoop water and rinse my face better.
“Cup,” Jaxon says, returning to the bathroom. Mason takes it from him and reaches in front of me to fill it under the faucet, then pushes it into my hand.
“Drink, girl. Rinse your mouth and drink the rest of it down. After all that, you definitely don’t want to risk gettin’ dehydrated.” I roll my eyes at Mason’s order, but I do it anyway. I know I need the water.
Tipping the cup back, I catch Griffin watching me in the mirror carefully. My hand shakes a bit, but I down it all. His chest is pressed against me, so when I try to turn, it’s cumbersome and I can’t do it without having to actually ask him to move.
He knows it too, because his smile spreads quickly, and he drops his chin to my shoulder. “You know, darlin’, you’re absolutelystunnin’. Motherhood looks good on you.”
I snort. No way do I look any sort of anything other than drained and ragged. My biggest issue during this whole pregnancy has been weight control. At this point, my doctor is just happy if I’m maintaining my weight, but we haven’t found anything that’s helped.
“Is this normal? Or was this something out of the ordinary?” Jaxon asks while Mason watches me carefully. I know I can’t lie to them. He’ll call me out for it before I can finish the stinking lie.
“Yes and no.” I push back and force Griffin to release me, then head into my old bedroom. My eyes take in the space as I keep talking. “It’s a problem with the pregnancy I’ve been in constant contact with my doctor about, but this particular time was because of the smell downstairs. Then the—” My eyes fall shut as I inhale slowly through my mouth, doing my best to avoid smelling even a hint of stale tar clinging to probably every inch in this entire place.
“Stay with me,” both Griffin and Mason stay in unison, then glare at each other, daring the other one to back down.
“Why don’t I give Ruth a call, see if they’ve got a spare room for you until we can get this place overhauled? We should have done that before you even got back.” Jaxon is frowning as if he’s fucked up.
Shaking my head, I stop him. “I wouldn’t have wanted anyone to do that. I’m just going to get someone out here to clear his things out and all the junk outside. There’s nothing I want. Then I’ll pack my stuff and find an apartment. I want to get rid of this place as soon as possible.”
And I do. I want nothing to do with this house. I have my clothes and a few items I’ve saved over the years, but even then, there’s nothing really of value that I own. My father’s horse is being taken care of over at Mason’s, which once I get working, I’ll settle the fees with him. Maybe sell him. As much as I’d love to keep him, I just can’t.
“Edith?”
I have no idea who called my name, but it pulls me from my spiraling thoughts. I’ve been doing it so often lately while tryingto plan out what the heck I’m going to do now, especially as a single mom.
Eyeing the guys, I can tell I won’t be forced to do it one hundred percent of the time, but to begin, I will. One of them will have rights to her and I don’t really see any of them refusing to see her at least sometimes.
“I’ll call Ruth,” I whisper. Without looking at them, I add, “I appreciate you helping just now, but I would like you all to leave. I’ve got my old phone back, so I’ll reach out when or if I’d like to talk. I’m sure you’re all anxious to know who the father is, as am I, but I decided I don’t want to risk that test before she—”
“She?” Mason’s question is raspy, as if that bit of information just rocked him to his core.
I nod slowly and check to see how the other two feel about it as well. Jaxon’s eyes are swimming with something I can’t identify, and Griffin has another massive smile.I just… I can’t do this right now.
Exhausted and so ready to be done with this entire week, I sit down. “Yes, she’s a girl. So, if you’re just waiting around to check paternity, you’ve got another three months or so. But tonight, I just want to get my things and sleep.”
I am allowed to say no when I don’t want people in my space.
With pleading eyes, I let them see how desperate I am to have them gone. “Please, leave me be tonight.”
They don’t argue, but I know they aren’t happy. In the end though, Mason, Jaxon, and Griffin walk out after soft goodbyes. And I make a phone call.
Chapter Forty-Seven
