Red (A Brett MacLean Duet)

  IT HAD BEEN two weeks since I left Evvie at the hospital alone. I didn’t know if she was okay. I didn’t know if her father had been released yet. The only thing I had heard was through Kane and that her father was going to be okay. That lifted some of the tension off of my shoulders but it still wasn’t enough.

  As I was getting ready to head home one evening, Claire strolled into my office like she owned the place.

  “Hi, baby. Miss me?”

  “Like a toothache,” I mumbled. “What do you want?” I still never got that restraining order.

  “We need to talk.”

  “Right.” I scoffed. “You already told me that you’re pregnant with my kid. What more could you lay on me?”

  “You broke up with that whore but I still want something else from you.” Claire shrugged, twirling a red curl around her finger.

  “Why? We’re not together, Claire. What more could you want from me?”

  She only grinned.

  I stood, attempting to make my way to the door when she stopped me.

  “We will be together,” she crooned, pressing her body against mine.

  Months ago and I would have reacted. I was a man and she was a woman. I never fucked her because I had feelings for her. She had a hole and back then, that was all she was good for.

  “Brett.” She licked her lips.

  “Enough.” I gripped her arms, pushing her away. “I’m not doing this.” Even if Evvie and I never worked through our shit, there was no way I would end up with Claire. She was like the black widow and would only destroy me in the end.

  “Come on.” She struggled out of my hold, running her hands down my chest. “Kiss me, Brett. I know you want me. You’re not with that little whore anymore, so what will it hurt?”

  I pushed her back, holding her at arm’s length. “I don’t want you,” I snarled.

  “But you need me, handsome.” She licked up the side of my neck.

  “No I fucking don’t,” I snarled, trying to keep her off of me.

  “You’re stuck with me for life and I’ll do anything to make you mine.”

  Even if that meant ruining my life. Hate was a powerful word, but that was what I felt for this woman. At first I felt sorry for her but now, it was pure raw loathing.

  A soft gasp sounded from the door.

  My gaze snapped to Evvie standing just inside my office. Shit .

  Claire smirked. “As much as I don’t like you, you’re more than welcome to join us.”

  Evvie paled, shaking her head.

  I shoved Claire back. “Get out.”

  “I don’t fucking think so.” Claire’s cheeks reddened. “We were just getting started.” She reached for me but I stepped back, keeping my distance from her.

  “And now it’s ended. Get. Out,” I boomed, keeping my gaze locked with Evvie’s.

  “Bitch,” Claire mumbled. “I’ll be back, Brett. You can’t get rid of me that easily.”

  “I don’t care. Threaten me all you want. Just get the fuck out,” I yelled.

  Claire glared at me, giving me the middle finger, and stomping to the door.

  She shouldered past Evvie, muttering something to her that I didn’t hear.

  “Evvie,” I whispered when we were finally alone and took a tentative step toward her.

  Her deep blue eyes hardened. Just when I thought she was going to run, she slapped me instead.

  My cheek tingled from the impact of her palm. As much as I deserved it, it still sent a rush of fury racing through me.

  “I hate you. I hate you for what you’ve done to me. I hate you for changing me.” She punched my chest as a hard sob escaped her. “I hate you for making me fall in love with you.”

  “I love you,” I said softly.

  “No,” she screamed. “If you loved me, you would be with me.”

  I wanted to touch her. To comfort her. To tell her I was wrong and made a mistake, but those words froze on my tongue instead. “I’m sorry you walked in on that.”

  “Why?” She asked, her chin quivering. “Why would you go back to her?”

  “I didn’t,” I mumbled.

  Evvie pushed me, punching me in the shoulder. “You could have had me if you’d only explained. God, I’ve thrown myself at you like an obsessed teen. I’ve begged, pleaded for you to tell me what’s going on. So don’t you tell me that you can’t have me because you haven’t even tried.”

  “I’m so sorry. So fucking sorry for everything I put you through, Evvie,” I said, my voice thick.

  She wiped the tears from under her eyes. “Do you know how I felt just now walking in on you and Claire?”

  I looked away, the guilt weighing heavily on my shoulders even though it wasn’t my fault.

  “No? Because I’m going to tell you. I felt like you shoved your hand into my chest, grabbed my heart, and pulled it out. You told me that I have that control. You also told me that you were mine. ‘Mind, body and soul, I’m yours, Evvie.’ Do you remember that?” She asked, grabbing my arm.

  I shoved out of her grip but wouldn’t meet her gaze.

  “Do you?” she pressed.

  “Yes, I fucking remember.” I spun on her, forcing her back a step. “I remember everything. About you. About us. Every breath, every sound, every fucking smell, I remember it.”

  “Tell me why you broke up with me then,” she insisted. “The real reason.”

  “No.” It was too soon.

  Evvie took a step in front of me, pushing me back. “Tell me. I, at least, deserve that much.”

  “I can’t have you because I got her fucking pregnant,” I yelled.

  Evvie’s mouth opened and closed. “You...you...”

  I took a step back, pinching the bridge of my nose. “I didn’t cheat on you. I would never cheat on you. I’m so fucking sorry I said that but I didn’t know what else to do so I lied.”

  “Why didn’t you just tell me?”

  “I couldn’t handle it if you broke up with me over my own stupidity, so as much as it killed me, I broke up with you instead,” I said, scrubbing a hand down my face.

  “You don’t know me at all, do you?”

  My eyes narrowed. “What the hell does that mean?”

  She shook her head. “Do you think that little of me that you couldn’t come to me with something like this? You slept with her before me. I would know that it wasn’t because you cheated on me. I loved…love…” She huffed. “I trusted you.”

  “Did you? Did you really trust me, Evvie? I don’t think so.”

  “Did you…did you use a condom?”

  I closed the distance between us and pinched her chin, tilting her head back. “Yes. You are the only woman I’ve slept with where I didn’t. The only woman I’ve actually felt.”

  She swallowed hard. “I wish you would have told me.”

  “I was scared,” I confessed. “I’m not ready to be a father. I’m still learning how to take care of myself.”

  “So now she has a grip on you forever.”

  My jaw tightened.

  “I feel like there’s something else that you’re not telling me,” she whispered, pulling from my grasp.

  I shook my head. “I’m done.”

  “I think we could have worked through our trust issues.”

  I sat on the couch and rubbed the back of my neck. “Would you want to raise someone else’s baby?”

  “If it meant being with you...” Her breath hitched. “I love you, Brett. I will always love you.”

  ***

  I was done. I couldn’t deal with this shit anymore. I needed Claire out of my life and Evvie back in it.

  Pacing back and forth in my living room, I couldn’t concentrate. I couldn’t eat or sleep. I couldn’t fucking do anything. I was desperate for her but I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know how to get Evvie back. But I did know that I had to do something.

  Claire threatened my career. But what was a career if I didn’t have the woman I loved beside me to share it wi
th?

  Fuck it.

  Grabbing my keys, I stormed out of my apartment.

  Giving Claire a call, I prayed with everything in me that she was home. I needed to get this shit dealt with once and for all.

  “Brett, finally come to your senses?”

  I gripped the phone tight. “Are you home?” I asked, ignoring her.

  “Why?”

  “Are you home?” I demanded.

  “Yes.”

  I hung up.

  Once I arrived at Claire’s house, I banged on the door. “Claire. Open up.”

  A moment later, she stood in front of me, wearing nothing but a housecoat.

  “Put some clothes on,” I told her. “You have nothing I want.”

  She glared, spun on her heel, and headed back into the house.

  I followed her, shutting the door behind me.

  Claire slipped into her bedroom and came out a minute later wearing shorts and a tank top.

  It was better, but it still left nothing to the imagination. I bit back an eye roll.

  “What are you doing here, Brett?”

  “I’m done playing these games. I don’t give a shit if you ruin me. I will be with Evvie again.”

  Claire crossed her arms under her chest, the movement pushing up her fake tits. My body would have reacted months ago but now, it only disgusted me.

  “I meant what I said.”

  “I don’t give a shit what you said,” I told her. “This is over. I’m not doing this anymore and I’m sure as hell not living my life under your damn thumb.”

  “I love you,” she whispered, her shoulders slumping.

  “You should have thought of that before you ruined my life.” I let out a hard sigh. “Listen, I—”

  “I lost the baby.”

  “You what?” My chest tightened.

  “I lost it.” She pulled a piece of paper out of her bag. “Here. So you have proof and don’t accuse me of lying.”

  I grabbed the paper from her. “You were there two days ago.” I glanced up when she didn’t say anything. “Why didn’t you call me?”

  “Would you have come? I lost the baby a couple of weeks ago but went for a follow-up appointment to make sure everything is okay.”

  “You should have told me.”

  She snorted. “Right.”

  “I’m not heartless.” I thought a moment. “Was the baby even mine?”

  She looked away.

  “Fuck. You ruined my relationship.” I shot up from the couch. “You threatened my fucking career. What the hell did I ever do to you?”

  Claire stood, shoving me back. “You didn’t love me,” she screamed. “That’s why I never told you in the first place that I lost it. I didn’t want to lose you. I thought having your baby would make you want to be with me.”

  “That’s no reason to be with someone. That’s not fair to either of us or the baby.” I took a breath. “If you would have just told me in a civil manner, we could have dealt with this like adults.”

  “I was trying to make you love me,” she whispered, her chin quivering. “It hurt too much seeing you with her. I was desperate.”

  I was taken aback. All of this just because I didn’t return her feelings?

  Just as I was going to respond, the door to the apartment opened.

  “Everything okay here?”

  Fuck me. “What are you doing here, Mathis?”

  “I came by to make sure my dear sister-in-law here, is fine,” Mathis said, handing her a bag.

  She took it from him and headed to the kitchen. “Ex sister-in-law,” she corrected him.

  “Semantics.” He turned his attention to me. “I told Evvie you agreed to come to New York.”

  I should have been pissed but I only nodded instead.

  “Tell me what’s going on here.”

  “She ruined my relationship.” I rubbed the back of my neck, letting out a hard sigh.

  “You’re the reason Evvie was upset the other night,” Mathis accused, pointing at Claire.

  “When the hell did you see her?” I shouldn’t have been surprised. Mathis liked to butt his nose in where it didn’t belong.

  “Calm down.” Mathis rolled his eyes. “I saw her at a coffee shop. You hurt her. It’s none of my business but you fucked up, and you need to get her back. And you.” He spun on Claire as she came back into the living room. “You need to leave this couple the fuck alone.”

  Claire stiffened. “He got me pregnant.”

  Mathis raised an eyebrow. “Was it actually his?”

  Claire didn’t say anything as she looked between us both. Without so much as a word, she stomped out of the living room and headed down the hall.

  A moment later, a door slammed shut.

  “Listen, Brett.” Mathis turned toward me. “I know we started out rocky but I highly respect you. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have asked you to help me with my club. But you need to go to Evvie before you leave for New York.”

  “I know.” I rubbed the back of my neck, letting out a slow breath. “You think the baby wasn’t mine as well?”

  “I don’t know.” Mathis shook his head. “Claire is family. Even though her and my brother didn’t make it, I feel inclined to take care of her.”

  I had to respect that. “How did you know that I would go to New York?”

  He grinned. “Kidneys.” He tapped his temple.

  “I have no idea what the fuck that means.”

  He chuckled. “It’s from a joke. But it doesn’t matter. Go to Evvie. I’ll deal with Claire.”

  I nodded and headed to the door. It would probably be the only time where I appreciated the fact that he stuck his nose in my business.

  “Oh and, Brett?”

  I met his gaze.

  His jaw ticked. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

  ***

  I banged on Evvie’s door, not caring in the least about the time. I needed to talk to her and I couldn’t wait anymore.

  “Evvie,” I called out, slamming my fist against the barrier stopping me from getting to my woman. “I know you’re in there.” I banged the door again. “Open up.”

  The door finally opened with the chain lock still in place. Evvie stood there in only a shirt with her hair a mess on top of her head. God, she was beautiful.

  “What do you want?” she demanded.

  “To talk.”

  Her brows narrowed. “Do you know what time it is, Brett?”

  “Let me in.” I did not want to have to do this in the hallway.

  “No.” She attempted to close the door but I stopped it with my foot. I was not backing down from this until she heard what I had to say.

  She frowned. “Brett.”

  “Let. Me. In.”

  “Are you going to tell me what’s going on? The real reason why you broke up with me in the first place?”

  My eyes narrowed.

  She huffed. “I didn’t think so.”

  “If you don’t let me in, I’ll fucking break down this door,” I bit out.

  “You wouldn’t.”

  I smirked. “Try me.”

  Her pupils dilated. “Fuck you.”

  I chuckled. That’s my girl. “We’ve done that already, lover, and look where it got us.”

  “That’s not my fault.”

  “It’s not my fault either. God.” I shook my head. “Evvie, let me in.”

  She glared at me. “Why the hell should I?”

  “I want to talk.”

  She let out an exasperated sigh and stepped back. “Move your foot.”

  I did as she said.

  She closed the door and unlocked the chain.

  When I entered her apartment, I found her heading to the living room. Closing the distance between us, I grabbed her hand and pulled her against me. She felt so damn good being back in my arms.

  Evvie’s hands landed against my chest. Her lips parted, her heated gaze looking up at me like I was her everything and nothing all at the same time.
/>
  My lips tingled. I wanted to kiss her. I wanted to savor and worship her like she deserved.

  But instead, I did something I never thought I would do. I fell to my knees, wrapped my arms around her waist, and submitted.

  I WAS ON my knees, begging Evvie for her forgiveness. I would kiss the very ground she walked on for the rest of our lives just to get her to smile again for me.

  “I’m so fucking sorry for everything. Please forgive me,” I mumbled, rubbing my face against her stomach.

  “Brett.” She tried pushing out of my grasp but I only tightened my hold on her. “Let me go.”

  “No.” I refused. “I’m never letting you go.”

  “I can’t do this,” she said, her voice cracking. She pried out of my grip, taking a step away from me.

  My shoulders slumped. “I can’t sleep. I can’t eat. I can’t even fucking work. I love you. I need you.”

  Evvie shook her head and walked over to the couch, flopping down on it. She dropped her head in her hands.

  “Evvie.” I moved in front of her, wrapping my hands around her wrists and knelt at her feet. “I have so much to say but I don’t know where to begin.”

  “I don’t want to hear it.”

  “I need to tell you—”

  “No,” she snapped, focusing her angered eyes on me. “I can’t have you tell me you love me and then leave me. I won’t go through that again.”

  “I don’t want to leave you. I want to be here, with you, if you’ll have me,” I said, stroking my thumb along the inside of her wrist.

  “I don’t understand,” she whispered. “Why now? Why after all of this time, Brett?”

  I sat back on my heels and wrapped a hand around her ankle. “I...” My jaw tightened as I struggled to figure out what the hell to say to her. How could I make this up to her? “Claire isn’t pregnant.”

  Evvie’s eyes widened.

  “She had a miscarriage but honestly, I don’t even know if it was mine. I guess I’ll never know,” I said, staring down at my hand wrapped around her ankle.

  “Is she okay?”

  I met her gaze. The fact she was worried if Claire was okay after everything she had done, made me fall in love with her even more.

  “As far as I know, yes.”

  She chewed her bottom lip. “Are you okay?”

  I let out a heavy sigh. “Yeah.” Rising to my knees, I grabbed her hands, and kissed her knuckles. “I’m going to beg for your forgiveness. I will make you fall in love with me again and if it’s the last thing I fucking do, I will make you mine. Again.”