Warning Track

  Her voice was so monotone, as if someone was standing in front of her with cue cards, telling her what to say; it wasn’t the same Margo he had known from college.

  “Margo, what’s wrong? I feel like you’re slipping away from me lately. Did I do something wrong?”

  “No, I just have a lot going on.”

  “Talk to me about it. I want to be able to help. Is it about a job out here? If you didn’t get the job, it’s okay, Mo. We’ll keep looking. There are plenty of animal-related jobs out here…”

  “I got the job, Parker,” Margo interjected.

  Parker felt like he had to shake his head to make sense of what she just said. “Wait, what? You got the job? That’s amazing! Why you didn’t tell me?” Parker wanted to jump through the roof he was so damn excited.

  There was silence on the other end of the phone, which made Parker nervous. Wasn’t this what she wanted? To move closer to him? Why wasn’t she jumping up and down about getting a job in Atlanta?

  “Margo, why didn’t you tell me?” Parker repeated himself.

  “I’m not sure if I’m going to take it,” Margo said weakly.

  “What do you mean you’re not going to take it? Was it a bad salary? Was it cleaning out cages all day? How would you not take a job when it’s here in Atlanta? You know you don’t even need a job…”

  “I’m not taking your money, Parker.”

  Growing agitated and not wanting to take it out on Margo, who was already distancing herself, Parker ran his hand over his face and took a deep breath. “I know, you’ve made that quite clear. So, why don’t you want the job?”

  “Just not sure yet. Can we not talk about this right now?”

  “Um, okay. I just thought that, since we’re in a relationship and all, maybe it would be nice to talk about a job opportunity you received, since it deals with our future.”

  Silence.

  Parker’s nerves started to run rampant in his stomach, as he tried to figure out what was going on with his girl. He didn’t like the silence and the brushing off and he really didn’t like the fact that her voice was so cold toward him.

  “Margo, you’re killing me here. I feel like you want to break up with me, but don’t know how to do it, so you’re just trying to spare my feelings. Is that what’s happening here?”

  Silence.

  “Are you still there?”

  “Yeah…” Margo squeaked out.

  “Are you breaking up with me?” Parker asked, as his stomach did acrobatics.

  “I’m sorry, Parker,” Margo cried into the phone as his stomach plummeted to the floor.

  “You’re breaking up with me? Why? I want a reason, Margo, because a week ago you were begging me to come back to San Diego, but now you want nothing to do with me? I think you can see where I’m confused, so please help me understand.” Parker wasn’t going to let go without a fight, even though he was slowly dying inside from what she was insisting.

  “We’re not the same people, Parker. In a month and a half, you’re going off to spring training and then the season will start. I don’t know if I can live in a whole new city where I know no one on the off-chance that our relationship might work out. I can’t give up everything when nothing is certain in our relationship.”

  “Are you insane?” Parker knew it wasn’t the right way to approach her, but he couldn’t help but let his emotions get the best of him. “I’m in this for the long haul, Margo. You’re my girl, you’re it for me. I want no one else. Why can’t you understand that?”

  “You say that now…”

  “And I will say that fifty years from now, Margo. I know I was an idiot in college, but I know what I want now. I know that I can’t be without you. You hold my heart, Margo. Don’t do this, trust in the fact that we can make it, that we are both made for each other, that there is no other place we would rather be than in each other’s arms.”

  More silence, but there were some light whimpers in the background, letting Parker know that Margo was indeed crying. If she was so upset, then why was she breaking up with him?

  “Margo, please.”

  “I can’t, Parker, I’m sorry.” With that, she hung up the phone, leaving Parker completely stunned.

  Parker spent the rest of the night trying to call her back, but she’d turned her phone off. He tried talking to Lexi, but she knew of nothing going on with Margo and Parker didn’t want to pressure Lexi, since he didn’t want their friend in the middle of their relationship. The only option he had was to fly out earlier than planned because hell if he was going to lose the best thing that had ever happened to him. There was no reason for her to act like this, besides possible nerves as to what was to come of them, but when he got to San Diego, he was going to prove to her that they were meant to be. He wasn’t going anywhere. She was stuck with him.

  **Lucy**

  Lucy stood outside of Connor’s house, holding her bags and praying to God that he didn’t kick her back to her place. She had given him enough time; she couldn’t stand to give him any more. She was afraid the distance they put between themselves was only hurting them, not helping them. That was why she was standing outside his house with her bags packed and a terminated rental agreement. She was moving in, whether he liked it or not. She’d had movers come by and move all her furniture to storage until they were able to figure out what to do with it, but she was done with her apartment. It was detrimental to their relationship, and she needed to dispose of it.

  Lucy knocked on his door as she shifted back and forth, hoping Connor would answer. When he didn’t she rang the doorbell a couple of times, but nothing. She dug around in her purse for her spare key, but realized she had left it in her other purse…that was now packed up and put into storage. He should be home from work by now, she thought, as she took a seat at his front door.

  The usually-hot Atlanta air was a little chilly, but then again, it was December. Lucy pulled out a jacket from her bag, wrapped it around her and curled up next to her suitcase. She would just have to wait for him.

  Just as her eyes started to droop, her phone rang. Springing into action to answer, thinking it might be Connor, she dug through her purse and answered on the third ring.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, Luce. How’s the little bastard doing today?”

  Austin.

  Lucy had no clue what she had ever seen in the man; he was an ass. Ever since Molly dug her claws into him, he’d changed in a drastic way. He was almost unbearable to be around. He didn’t care about the baby, all he cared about was himself, and of course, driving Connor and her apart. He was doing a damn good job at it right now, Lucy had to admit.

  “What do you want?” Lucy asked, while sitting up against Connor’s door.

  “Can’t a guy call his oldest and dearest friend?”

  “We’re not friends, Austin, we’re barely acquaintances at this point. Just tell me what you want so I can hang up on you.”

  “Shit, those pregnancy hormones are really taking a toll on you, aren’t they? You’re kind of a bitch.”

  “I’m hanging up on you…”

  “Fine, I just wanted to tell you I saw your lover out and about with a woman today. They seemed awfully cozy.”

  Lucy’s face paled as she thought of Connor with someone else. She knew Austin was an ass, but he wasn’t that big of an ass to make up such a story. Was he?

  “What are you talking about?” Lucy asked, almost holding her breath, as her heartbeat sped up a couple of paces.

  “Ah, now you want to talk to me.”

  “Austin, just fucking tell me.”

  The bastard laughed into the phone, making Lucy even crazier.

  “I was getting takeout today at Freddie’s and I saw Connor having lunch with a blonde in some kind of power suit. I gave him props because the chick was fucking fine as hell. I was surprised the douche could actually hold two hot women at once. I underestimated him.”

  “What…what were they doing?” Lucy choked out. br />
  “They were eating, talking, and having what seemed like a good time.”

  “You’re wrong.”

  “I didn’t know that being delusional was a side-effect of being pregnant. Isn’t he taking a break with you right now? Earth to Lucy, it’s because he is getting some non-pregnant ass on the side.”

  “Go to hell, Austin.”

  “Hey, don’t shoot the messenger. I was just trying to protect you.”

  “No!” Lucy shouted. “Ever since you found out this baby is yours, you’ve been nothing but an arrogant ass and tried to destroy any kind of relationship I have with Connor. Don’t you have something better to do with your life than destroy everyone else’s?”

  “I’m getting the feeling that you’re pissed for some reason, but don’t fucking take it out on me when Connor is the one cheating on you.”

  “He’s not cheating on me!” Lucy shouted. She wanted to reach through the phone and strangle him. She hated him…at this very moment, she hated Austin to her core. Normally, a friend would be sympathetic about a situation where you have to tell a friend that their boyfriend is cheating on them, but not with Austin. It was almost as if he was gloating, that he was happy that her life was slowly being ruined with every word he spoke.

  “Suit yourself; I know what I saw, but if you want to live in the land of denial where unicorns mate with leprechauns, by all means have fun. Send me a pic when the unicorn gives birth, I want a pic of that mythical deformity. See ya, Luce.”

  Lucy chucked her phone into her purse and leaned against Connor’s front door. There was no way Connor was cheating on her. He loved her, he told her he loved her. He wouldn’t turn his back on her, not after everything they’d been through. They were going through a rough patch, but nothing that would warrant Connor seeking out another set of warm arms to drown in….right?

  Worry spread through Lucy’s body, as she thought about getting up and leaving. She could stay with Patty, she wouldn’t mind, since Lucy gave up her apartment like a dumbass. Her plan to make an elaborate statement of love was really starting to backfire now.

  Lucy was just about to get up and go to her car when a pair of headlights worked their way up Connor’s driveway. He was home. Relief washed through her until another pair of headlights followed right behind.

  The driveway was to the left of the front door, so she wasn’t spotted yet, except for her car on the curb, but it was dark, maybe Connor hadn’t seen it. Lucy heard two car doors slam shut and a nervous feeling took up residence in the pit of her stomach.

  Connor’s masculine laugh soared through the night air as he approached the front door. The porch light was on, so when he stepped up to the front door, the look of shock on his face was unmistakable.

  “Lucy, what are you doing here, is everything okay?”

  Just as Lucy was about to answer, a blonde, the blonde Austin must have been talking about, walked right up behind Connor. Austin was right, she was really hot.

  “Lucy, are you okay?” Connor asked again.

  Lucy struggled to get up, thanks to her pregnant belly, and Connor tried to help her, but she pushed him away.

  “I’m sorry for interrupting. I’ll just grab my things and go.”

  “Lucy, don’t be ridiculous…”

  “Don’t, Connor.” Lucy looked him in the eyes as she threw her bags over her shoulders and said, “The least you could have done was told me the truth instead of giving me some crap of wanting time to pull yourself together. I at least deserved the truth.”

  “Lucy…”

  She didn’t stay to listen, instead she lifted her head and hauled her bags to her car. She could cry later, but right now, she was going to save some dignity, even though she was in a pair of ratty sweats and an oversized shirt, whereas Miss Perfect was in a magnificently tailored power suit that showed off her body perfectly. Stupid Bitch.

  **Brady**

  “Why are you guys having this party?” Marc asked, as he held onto a beer while staring Brady down.

  “I couldn’t get Jane to cancel. She said we needed to put on a good face for all of our friends, which is ridiculous because all this party is doing is exposing the ticking time bomb that is my marriage with Jane and how beyond-depressed we are.” Brady looked toward their house as he sat on a lawn chair next to Marc. “What makes me sick is that she won’t even talk to me. She doesn’t even sleep with me anymore. It’s as if she thinks I’m the one who killed the baby.”

  “She doesn’t think that, man.”

  “I’m not so sure at this point. She looks at me with either complete disdain or with no feeling at all. That’s not the woman I married.”

  “She’s hurting, Brady.”

  “You don’t think I know that? I’m hurting too, damn it, and the last thing I want right now is to be distanced from my wife. Don’t you think we should be going through this together? For better or worse, that’s what we promised each other, but right now, I don’t see an end to this madness. I can’t even get through to her.”

  “Have you tried talking to someone, like a therapist?” Marc suggested.

  “Any time I try to even talk to her about it, she either starts crying hysterically and leaves, or she lashes out at me. It’s come to the point now where I don’t even talk to her because I figure she’ll be less upset if I just leave her alone.”

  “You can’t do that, you can’t give up on her. The minute you give up, the minute you stop fighting, then it’s really going to be over for you two. You have to keep trying, man.”

  Brady took a swig of his beer as he watched Jane flitter through the house, passing out drinks and being the ever-present hostess.

  “Why am I the one who has to reach out?” Brady asked, while pointing to his chest. “Why do I have to make the first move? I lost a daughter too. I’m fucking hurting too.”

  Marc moved so he was sitting right next to Brady on a lounge chair that lined Brady and Jane’s immaculate pool.

  “I’m going to be honest with you, Brady, I would do anything to bring that baby back to you…anything. I know how much she meant to you and how excited you were to be a father, but you have to think about it from Jane’s perspective. She was the one who was holding the baby, protecting the baby and making sure she was as healthy as possible. Not only did she have to give birth to her dead daughter, but she must have wondered what the hell she did that was so wrong. She’s probably wondering what she could have done differently that would have saved her baby. She’s probably overanalyzing every last thing she did during her pregnancy. You lost a baby, but Jane not only lost her baby, she has to face the fact that she was the one who carried that baby and, in her mind, failed.”

  Shit.

  Brady had never thought about it like that. He never considered the fact that Jane might be feeling guilty for the loss of their daughter.

  “Listen,” Marc continued. “You have to keep fighting, no matter what. Don’t let her shut you out, because the minute that door closes, you’re going to have one hell of a time trying to open it back up.

  Brady nodded his head in appreciation and thanks to his friend. They finished off their beers and headed back into the party. Jolly Christmas music played throughout the house, as friends mingled with each other amongst the white Christmas lights Jane had placed all around the house. Decorating was one thing that kept her mind off of the loss, so Brady didn’t say a thing when she went over the top with the decorations. Anything that got her mind off of the baby was fine with him.

  “Brady, I think we’re going to take off,” Molly said, as she held Luke’s hand. “I told everyone else to slowly make their way out as well. I know you guys wanted to try to be normal and have this party, but I think it’s killing Jane and I can’t stand to see her like this. I tried talking to her, but she’s on a different planet. I didn’t push her too far, not wanting to press my luck, but I think we all need to leave because it seems like she’s at her breaking point.”

  Brady eyed Jane, who
was frantically walking around the house, straightening things out and picking up trash.

  “Yeah, I think it’s time for everyone to leave. Thanks, Molly. I’ll have a talk with her.”

  “Good luck,” Molly patted Brady’s arm. “Let us know if you need anything.”

  “I will, and hey, I’m glad you two are working things out.”

  They all smiled at each other and then separated. Slowly, the guests started to trickle out of the party, leaving Jane and Brady alone. Thanks to Jane’s incessant cleaning throughout the party, there was practically no mess to clean up. Just some dishes to do, which was kind of nice, since Brady hated picking up after a party.

  Jane was in the kitchen cleaning up when Brady walked up behind her. He placed both of his hands on her hips and spun her around so she had to look him in the eyes.

  “Hi, pip-squeak.”

  “I’m cleaning, Brady.”

  “Well, stop for a second.”

  “No, things will crust over if I stop.”

  “Well, let them fucking crust over. I want to talk to you.”

  Jane blew out a heavy breath, crossed her arms, and looked up at him. “What?”

  He didn’t really know what he wanted to say, but he knew he needed to say something.

  “Can we not fight right now? It’s two days until Christmas and I would love to spend the next couple of days loving you and holding you.”

  “We have too much to do…we can’t waste time holding each other.”

  She could have smacked him and he wouldn’t have been as shocked. They always held each other; they couldn’t take their hands off of each other they were so in love. Jane had never turned down an opportunity to cuddle with him.

  “What the hell do we have to do two days before Christmas?”

  “We have to take down the nursery; all that stuff can’t stay in there forever.”

  “Jane.”

  “Don’t start with me, Brady. It’s coming down and we are donating everything. I don’t want any reminders.”

  “Sweet thing, I know you’re hurting, but there’s no need to…”