Chapter 128: Chapter Thirty-one

Alec

“What the hell?” I blinked once, twice, and saw Nat, Alyssa, and Demetri standing over me. Demetri was busy spraying me with something that smelled like rotten cabbage. “What is that?”

“Hairspray.” He shrugged. “It's Angelica's. It makes Jaymeson sneeze, so we thought it would either wake you up or cause a seizure.”

“I voted for seizure.” This from Alyssa. Damn protective women sticking together through thick and thin.

“I bet you did,” I grumbled as Demetri helped me to my feet and over to the couch. “Did I pass out?”

“Yup.” Demetri grinned. “You hit the floor hard. It was freaking hilarious.”

I glared.

“Or, uh…” He cleared his throat. “It would have been had you not hit your head so hard. P.S.

“Make sure to stay awake for at least six hours, and try not to crap your pants.” He gave me a thumbs up and put his arm around Alyssa.

I couldn't wrap my head around it. Nat was pregnant? Forget being excited. It scared the hell out of me! I couldn't even take care of Nat, let alone a tiny human being. I felt like throwing up.

Her glare was murderous, so I decided that instead of answering right away, I should probably think before I said anything else.

Nat sighed and joined me on the floor. My body and mind waged war against one another. Part of me needed her closer, yet my conscience wouldn't allow it.

I finally decided on saying the one thing I knew people always said when they did something stupid.

I hated even saying it, because by saying it I was being like every other person out there that said it over and over again but kept repeating the same shitty behavior. “I'm sorry.”

“Are you?” She huffed. “Do you even know what you're sorry about?”

“Everything.” I swallowed. “Every damn thing.”

“The baby? Are you sorry about that?”

“No! Hell, no.” I reached for her hand and held it, even though I wanted to tug her into my arms. “Nat, listen to me. I'm scared as hell, but I would never take back what we've shared.”

Her face fell. “Shared?”

I released her hand. “Nat, you have to know—”

“—No.” She jumped to her feet and turned to glare at me. “No, you don't get to play that part. Get your head out of your ass, Alec Daniels, or so help me God I'm going to punch you again.”

“What—”

“—No.” Nat licked her lips and pointed her finger in my face. “You're the only person who doesn't see it, Alec. And I'm sick and tired of your martyr attitude.

“You think everyone would be better off without you, am I right?

Holy shit. What the hell kind of crazy person was possessing her? I jumped to my feet to argue with her. She had it all wrong. I was protecting her! “Nat.” I laughed bitterly. “You don't understand.”

The crack of her hand hitting my cheek was so loud I could have sworn the earth shifted beneath my feet. “Snap. The. Hell. Out. Of. It.” Tears welled in her eyes. “For me, for our baby.

“Alec, you can't control this. You can't fix this. You can't wish it away, and you sure as hell can't abandon everyone who loves you! Together.

Her chest rose and fell with exertion as tears poured down her face. I pulled her trembling body into my arms and closed my eyes.

“Shit,” Jaymeson said, forcing me to open my eyes and glare at him to leave or reap the consequences. “She just made me want to apologize, and I didn't even do anything.”

“Jaymeson, this isn't a good time—”

He held up his hand. “Clearly you guys have got issues to deal with, and as much as I want to watch her slap you again and then take my own turn — you need to see this.”

He held out a cell phone.

Nat stepped back and examined it with me.

Jaymeson sighed. “It's my step-mom's cell phone. She drank like all night last night, and I went to check on her a few minutes ago.

“Her phone was ringing off the hook so finally I went to check her messages. She was still sleeping or something, I don't know. Her bedroom door was closed.”

“And?” My heart dropped into my stomach.

“Dude…” Jaymeson shook his head. “As much as I hate you right now, she freaking played you like a fiddle.”

“Pardon?”

“Just read the messages.” He placed the phone in my hands and leaned against the kitchen counter.

I flipped through the first two not seeing anything alarming until I came to a group of messages from Ruben, the producer of the show.

GREAT PERFORMANCE! THANKS AGAIN. NICE DOING BUSINESS WITH YOU. WILL CUT YOU THE CHECK FRIDAY.

“What the hell?” I scrolled to the next message.

I WANT THIS EMBARRASSMENT OVER — DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO. —CARTWRIGHT

“Son of a bitch!” I clenched the phone tightly in my hand and counted to ten to keep myself from breaking something.

Jaymeson sighed. “Look, I don't know what she's got going on, but—” His cell phone rang. “Hold on.” He rolled his eyes and answered. “Hey, mom. Yeah, I took your phone, but—”

Face pale, Jaymeson swore. “Stay there, just stay there, okay? I'm calling the ambulance. It's going to be fine, okay?” Jaymeson's hands were shaking as he ended the call and dialed 911.

“My mom just overdosed. Her name's April Cartwright. She's at 1211 N. Prom Avenue. Yeah, I don't know. She didn't say what the pills were.

“She just said she thinks she took too many and she feels funny.” Jaymeson swore. “Make it faster!”

He hung up and slammed his phone against the counter. “Damn it!”

Demetri and Alyssa barged into the house.

I moved to stop him, but Demetri had his arms around Jaymeson before I had a chance to.

“This is all your fault! All of it!” Jaymeson jerked against Demetri, but he pinned his arms down.

“Your mom needs you right now,” I said, calmly walking toward him. “You need to get your shit together and fast.” I looked up to see Demetri's confused gaze. “April is being taken to the hospital.

Demetri swore violently as Jaymeson finally sagged against him and stopped hitting things. As it was, his knuckles were already starting to bleed from hitting the granite.

“I'll drive him.” Demetri sighed and let go of Jaymeson, grabbing the keys to the SUV. “Come on.”

Alyssa put her arm around Jaymeson as they walked out of the house, leaving Nat and me in complete shock.

“We need to be there for him.” I didn't want to change the subject. I didn't even want to go. How selfish did that make me? All I wanted was to fix this chasm between Nat and me.

She nodded and walked toward the stairs. “Just let me shower really quick and we can go, I'll be five minutes.”

Our eyes locked — so many things were unspoken — so many things needed to be said. I nodded once and opened my mouth but again nothing came.