Stolen Course (Wrecked and Ruined #2)

“Then make it that easy.” He leans forward like he just unlocked the secrets of the universe when in actuality he just said the equivalent of Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign. I can’t help but start laughing at him. He rolls his eyes and heads for the door. “I’ll let Jesse know I’ll be covering for you in a few weeks.”


“We’ll see,” I respond, but I know he’s right.





“WHAT DID he say!?” I scream at Hunter while trying to snatch my phone out of his hand.

“Nothing you need to worry about,” he answers, dodging me.

“Tell me!”

Caleb got the ring today. I got the UPS alert on my phone the minute it was delivered to his house, and I’ve spent the entire day freaking out about it. Finally at five, I started drinking. I have no idea how Caleb is going to react to getting Manda’s ring back, but I know I’m not strong enough to deal with it right now. So two glasses of wine in, I gave Hunter my phone. And now, a whole bottle later, I’m pretty sloshed and begging for it back.

“Who said he even text?”

“He text, I know he did. Delete it. Please just delete it,” I say, sobering for only a moment.

“Already did, sugar.”

“Stop calling me sugar!” I scream at him yet again. “Did he sound happy? Sad? Pissed off?” I ask, nervously pulling my hair into a ponytail.

“He sounded like an asshole,” Hunter says, sitting down beside me.

“Yeah, he always sounds like that.” I sigh, defeated. “I really love him.” I lean my head down on Hunter’s shoulder.

“I know you do. If it’s any consolation, I think he loves you too.”

“What?” My head springs up off his shoulder. “Oh my God, what did he say?”

“Nothing. I’m just saying, when I saw y’all together—when he wasn’t glaring at me—he was always staring at you.”

“Don’t tell me shit like that.” I smack him across the chest. “You are the worst best friend in history.” I lean my head back down.

Hunter throws an arm around my shoulders and takes a deep breath. “He said he was sorry y’all tried.”

My whole body stills as the pain of those words slice through me. I nod against his chest and try to fight back the tears but fail miserably.

“That definitely sounds like Caleb.”

“I know this shit hurts. I still remember it like yesterday when Lacey and I fell apart. I’m so sorry, Em.”

“Yeah, me too.”





“NO. NO. No. No. No. This is not happening.”

“Emma, calm down.”

“No, you calm down.”

“I am calm!” Hunter laughs beside me.

“I swear to God, if you laugh again, I will castrate you while you sleep.”

“Jesus! That is not even funny,” he says, appalled.

“Neither is this,” I hiss through clinched teeth.

“Emma, we’re having a baby.” He gives me a huge smile.

“Um, no. I am having a baby with a man who freaking hates us both. He hasn’t spoken to me in two months, and I can guarantee if he ever hears you call this your baby he will kill you on the spot. Oh my God, how is this even possible?” I settle my head back against the table and stare up at the butterflies painted on the doctor’s office ceiling.

“When a man and woman love each other—”

“Get out!” I yell just as the ultrasound tech comes walking in.

“I can come back.” She turns to walk back out.

“No, wait. I was talking to my friend. I’m sorry. Please come in.”

“I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she says, walking in with a warm smile.

“No, I’m sorry. I’m just a little nervous and he was cracking jokes.”

“The dads are always more laid back than the moms. Well, at least until delivery.” She winks then starts typing into a computer.

“We really are more relaxed.” Hunter chimes in with a teasing smile.

“He carries a gun for a living. At this point, I won’t even try to stop him,” I say pointedly.

I should have brought Alex, but when he found out that there was even a slight chance he would have to see any part of my body naked, he immediately had to work.

“So let’s see what we have here,” she says, squirting warm jelly on my stomach. “Now keep in mind, if we don’t see anything, don’t worry. It might just be too early to see on the abdominal ultrasound.”

I nod nervously.

She rolls it around on my slick stomach for a few seconds while black-and-white images blur across the TV mounted in the corner of the room. Suddenly, a small image comes into view.

“Oh my God,” Hunter breathes beside me and reaches out to grab my hand.

“Is that her?” I barely squeak out as tears fill my eyes.

“Yes, that’s her or him,” she clarifies, smiling over for only a second before she goes back to taking measurements.

“You okay?” Hunter leans down, resting his head next to mine and kissing my hand.

“Nope,” I answer honestly.

“You will be.” And no sooner than he finishes that sentence, a fast thumping fills the air.

“Baby has a perfect heartbeat of 136,” she announces, hanging the wand back up. “You are measuring at ten weeks, two days. He or she looks great! Here are some paper towels for you to clean up with. I’ll be right outside with some pictures for you to take home. Okay?” She heads for the door, and I know I must look like a deer in headlights.