Page 21 of Cruel Love

Rose, his wife, occasionally worked the hostess station.

“I just wanted”—he blew out a breath and looked at the ceiling again before settling on my baby bump—“to make sure you were doing okay. If you need to get off your feet or take reduced hours, we’ll make that happen.”

Oh, phew. I laughed, more in relief than anything else. “You had me worried there for a second. I’m fine, but I’ll let you know if anything changes.”

“Good. Good.” He nodded toward section three. “You’re good to take over Adel’s section. Did she brief you on what’s going on with them?”

“Yep.” There were only three tables, and she’d closed out two of them. I just had to check in on the last one to see if they needed anything else. “Is that it?” I couldn’t help but grin because he looked like he wanted to flee.

“Yeah, we’re good. I’m going to get some paperwork done in the office.”

“Have fun.” I grabbed my order pad as two people came in and were seated in my section. Then I got to work.

It was loud in the diner. Music pumped through the speakers, and people talked and laughed over the clink of silverware. I loved it there. Every shift I worked was busy and took my mind off my problems.

I took orders, moving back and forth from the kitchen to the bar, balancing heavy trays and clearing tables as the restaurant filled. Energy buzzed through the space, and I barely felt the ache in my lower back as I dropped checks off at several of my tables.

I didn’t think about Phoenix’s shouty text until I finished my shift and saw ten messages and five missed calls spanning my entire shift. I sent him a message that I had just gotten off work and would try calling from the dorms.

Once home, I changed into pajamas and tried to reach him. When he didn’t answer, I put whatever was going on with him out of my mind. I had a paper to write, an art project to finish, and two chapters to read. It was going to be a long night.

Hours later, I jolted awake as phone’s alarm blared too close to my head. Drool crusted in the corner of my mouth, and I swear it tasted like something had died there. With blurry eyes, I grabbed water and crackers, my cosmetics bag, and clothes and headed to the bathroom. The morning was all about multitasking. I’d stayed up late last night and fallen asleep only when I couldn’t see straight. Everything was done except for a few paragraphs for my lit paper. If I hurried, I could finish and make it to class on time.

I kept my head down, silenced my phone, and got busy. Time flew by. And by some miracle, I made it to class, got everything turned in, then let myself check my phone. Oh no. There were so many missed calls and texts from Phoenix.

My phone was still on silent. I fixed that and called him. After several rings, I rolled into voicemail. No one listened to those, so I didn’t bother leaving a message. I contemplated driving to his house while I walked to the dorm. When I got there, a hulking man leaned against my door.

I recognized Shane immediately, and there was nothing good about how he glared at me. “What’s wrong?” My hand shook as I got my keys out of my bag. Did something happen to Phoenix?

He pressed his lips more tightly together and then took the keys from my hand, opened my door, and threw them on my desk after ushering me in.

“Is Phoenix okay?” I glanced at my phone again, but there was nothing new. “We’ve been playing phone tag since yesterday. I had to work, and—”

“Spare me the details,” Shane growled, “and stop playing games with Phoenix. His head’s all messed up.”

“What are you talking about? I’m not playing games with him.”

“He’s been calling and texting you because he found out you’re pregnant. He’s stuck at home, wondering what the fuck is going on and freaking out. You need to do damage control. Tell Phoenix the baby isn’t his or something so his fourteen-year-old brain can accept the situation in stages.”

“I never told him I’m pregnant. And fuck you for thinking I would.” I jabbed my finger into his chest.

“I didn’t say you did, just that you need to fix it.”

He was such an alpha asshole. I could have kicked myself for letting my guard down so much. That was what Phoenix had been like before the accident, and I needed the reminder that he would most likely return to it when his memories came back—he would be like his brother.

“Thanks so much for your concern and unwarranted accusations.” I needed to do something, for sure, but probably not what Shane wanted me to do. “I’m the pregnant one, and I’m dealing with that by myself.”

“Just call him back and say whatever you need to, because my brother is losing his shit. He needs to get well before he deals with any of this.” He waved his arm at my stomach.

Asshole. “Fine with me.” I stomped to the door and held it open. After he’d walked through, I slammed it as hard as I could, wishing I could put an end to this nightmare. I’d told Shane I was okay with Phoenix not knowing.

That was a lie. It wasn’t fine at all.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

PHOENIX

Aspen’s avoiding me. It pissed me off. All I wanted to know was whether I was going to be a father. And for fuck’s sake, at fourteen, nineteen, whatever, I was way too young to be responsible for a kid.

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