“What’s going on, Al?” he asked with a look of concern on his face as he collapsed onto the couch.
“Teddy,” I huffed, really not wanting to talk to him about this but I knew he would bother me until I told him what was wrong. “Nick, my boyfriend…ex-boyfriend, he broke up with me, apparently things weren’t working out.” I rolled my eyes to the ceiling, still trying to comprehend that one. I don’t think I would ever really understand it.
“I’m sorry, Al.” I looked up, and he really did look genuinely sorry. He stood up from where he had been sitting and came to stand in front of me. “But now that things are over, maybe you’ll be willing to give us another chance?”
I snorted loudly. “Wow, Teddy. Really?” I stood up quickly, knocking into him roughly. “I am so sick of men and their shit.” I pushed against his shoulder, and his brown eyes widened.
“What the hell, Ally?”
“I don’t know why you think you can just keep coming back into my life over and over again. I tried to be nice about it, Teddy, I really did, but apparently, you aren’t getting the picture. You ruined our marriage, the second I caught you banging that bleach-headed slut in our bed. There is no forgetting that, ever. So please, if you’re ever going to do anything for me again, just leave me alone. That’s all I need from you. That’s all I need, Teddy.” I pushed him again towards the direction of the door, and he threw up his hands, his brown eyes giving me a defeated look.
“Okay, Ally,” he mumbled. “I promise, this is the last time you’ll have to deal with me.”
And it had been so far. Hopefully he stuck to his word this time. Last I read in some trashy tabloid magazine, he was in a relationship with the newest model to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated. Just his type. I really did hope things worked out for him.
Nick looked lost for words as I snapped back to reality and he raked his hands through his hair again, squeezing his eyes shut. I should’ve taken that opportunity to just leave. I knew if I stayed here much longer, I might give in. It was a definite possibility. Those blue eyes could do crazy things to me with just one look.
He silently brushed his thumb across my cheek, causing my whole body to shiver at the simple touch. I felt myself lean into it, and I knew I was in so much trouble, my body betraying me like this.
Chapter 27
Nick
To say I had been shocked to see Ally in my house was an understatement. I felt like I was in a dream when I came out of my bedroom, expecting to see my mom, who normally came over for her daily baby fix, and instead saw Ally. I’m pretty sure she was hoping I hadn’t seen her, she looked like she was ready to bolt, but I couldn’t let her go. Not again.
After things ended with Ally, I couldn’t have been more miserable, everyone could tell, including Kara. At first, she tried to make things work between the two of us, like we were an actual couple. I tried, I really did, but I just couldn’t. So, instead, I just tried to be friends with her. I figured if we could at least get along, she would stay, and not take Ariel away from me. I couldn’t let that happen.
I woke up one morning, not even a week after we brought Ariel home, to a note sitting on the coffee table. I noticed Kara’s handwriting right away but really had no clue what it could be. Yeah, there had been signs that she wasn’t happy. She barely touched the baby, and she didn’t seem to have any kind of bond with Ariel. I don’t know if she had planned this all from the start, but it’s like she was trying to not get attached.
Even with all of those clues, I still felt like the floor had been pulled out from under me when I read the note, saying that she couldn’t do this anymore and I was on my own. The only good thing that I got out of it is that she thought Ariel had the best dad possible. I wasn’t going to lie, I actually felt a little bit of relief that Kara was out of my life, even though I didn’t want Ariel without a mother. She needed a mother.
My first thought was to get Ally back. The excitement that overwhelmed me at the possibility was unbelievable. But before I could get too worked up, I quickly squashed that thought.
Would Ally want anything to do with me after I had crushed her like that? I had beaten myself up since that day over the way I handled things. Ally didn’t deserve that kind of treatment. Above everything, I wanted her to be happy, and maybe I could be the one to bring her that some day, but right then I needed to get my life totally straightened out.