Dad smiles at Ethan. “But you know you have your hands full with this one, right?”
I look away, not wanting to see Ethan’s expression. It’s still too painful.
My parents don’t know we broke up. I mean, I guess we broke up. Ethan never came to see me last night, and now that the adrenaline from the live birth experience is waning, all the reasons why I’m pissed at him are falling into place like a game of Tetris.
So I’m shocked—stunned—when Ethan pulls me to his chest and kisses my forehead. “Well, I love her, so I’ll gladly take whatever she’s offering.”
I shove him away. “Now? You tell me thatnow?”
My dad laughs and pats him on the back. “Good luck with my little fireball.”
“We need to talk.” Angrily, I poke Ethan in the chest, and everyone behind me chuckles except Brady. I’m pretty sure if he weren’t about to cradle his baby, he’d be in Ethan’s face right now for letting Jamie treat me like shit.
I give my brother-in-law a look.
I got this.
Ethan
Tori marches out of the hospital room and into the hall, breathing flames of fury and looking so damn beautiful, she takes my breath away. Even with God knows what on her t-shirt and her half-skewed hair bun.
My heart’s been in my throat all morning. I need to talk to her. Want to wrap my arms around her and explain.
I was frantic to find her, racing back to her sister’s house only to spot Kat’s truck in the parking lot of the diner. Since then, well, Kat giving birth took precedence.
In the hall, I pause at the nurse’s station to swipe an extra set of scrubs. “Tori, wait.”
Reluctantly, she slows down, but doesn’t turn to look at me.
I get it. I fucked up last night. Just… I need to explain.
Jogging, I catch up to her and drag her into an empty room and close the door behind us. It’s quiet here on the maternity ward, and I don’t bother turning on the lights. I’m half-afraid they’ll be too harsh and startle her.
“Here.” I hand her the scrubs and wave to her top. “You, uh, you got some blood on you. Thought you might want to change.” Her nostrils flare, and I smile. “Don’t be stubborn. Take it.”
“Don’t tell me what to do.”
I love this. Her fierceness.
My smile widens when she snatches it outta my hand. She doesn’t bother turning around. Just whips off her t-shirt and is halfway into the scrubs when she steps into the sliver of sunlight peeking through the window blinds.
Just like that, my humor dries up.
“What the fuck is this?” I run my finger over the purple marks on her arm.It looks like a hand wrapped around her.Slowly, I turn her to the other side where I find a matching bruise. “Is this from—” I should’ve killed him last night instead of breaking his nose.
She shrugs out of my hold, and though her stance is strong—legs apart, chin up—her voice wavers. “When you went out back to check on Cody, your wife and Jamie threw me out of the house.”
“She’s not my wife.” I stalk closer, backing her up against the wall, and cup her face. “Baby, he touched you?” It pains me to say those words. She tries to look away, but I tilt her chin up. “Don’t hide from me.” I take a breath. “Did he touch you?”
The scrubs wrap around the front of her chest and forearms. Slender pink straps from her bra peek up over her shoulders. She’s so vulnerable like this. Bare and half-clothed. The thought of James hurting her makes me want to punch a hole through the drywall.
Those big hazel eyes water, so much emotion brimming between us. A single tear spills over her lashes. “Yes. He dragged me out of the house. Threw me down on the ground.”
I’m almost grateful I don’t have my shotgun because at this very moment, I’m tempted to use it on that asshole.
“Motherfucker.”I take a breath to calm down before leaning closer. “I’m so sorry he hurt you and that I wasn’t there to stop him.” If I ever see that lowlife again, I will end him.
Like a dam that breaks, her choked sob nearly does me in, and I whisper more apologies. Whisper how much she means to me. How much I love her.
