I turned away. I couldn’t look at either of them, and I didn’t really care what they thought anymore.
There must have been something in my expression, because Alex's eyes widened and his hand reached out towards me. When I flinched back, he let it drop. "Sam?"
Ignoring him, I said, "Don't worry about it guys. I knew you wouldn't want anything to do with the baby, so I wasn't planning on keeping it anyway."
"Oh, really? And what was your plan?" Jordan asked, his words heavy with disdain that I tried hard to ignore.
"I'm having an abortion."
Jordan stared at me for a long time. At first, I tried to see something, some emotion or thought, but I couldn't, so I gave up and gave him blank eyes back.
His breathing sped up, and his nostrils flared a little. It was more than unnerving and I began to feel a little afraid, cornered.
I took a step back from him, and he growled. My eyes widened, and pure fear crashed through me. My heart raced, I swallowed hard, and watched the man I loved shake with rage. At that moment, I knew what it felt like to be prey.
Just as my flight reflexes had been about to kick in, he abruptly turned around and strode to the door. "Good," he said as the door slammed shut behind him.
I almost crumpled to the floor it hurt so badly. I was still a little shaky as I turned to Alex. He walked slowly over, but thankfully kept some distance between us.
"Sam, let's talk…"
"No, Alex. I'm done talking. Please leave."
He looked at me for one long moment, his gaze searching. I wanted him to hold me and tell me everything would be all right. I wanted him to love me. I wanted him to want our baby.
I reminded myself that none of those things were going to happen and firmed my resolve. Making sure to keep my expression empty, I kept my gaze glued to Alex's, until he finally nodded and left.
As the door shut with a soft click, my knees buckled. I lay on the floor, curled into as tight a ball as I could get and sobbed. I couldn't think of anything except how bad my chest hurt. Whoever said a heart broke was full of shit, because it felt like it was being ripped from my feeble body.
3
Alex
"Damn it!"
Alex sighed, listening, as cabinet doors and drawers banged and slammed. Jordan was in one of his moods again, and I idly wondered what ticked him off this time.
More cursing came from the kitchen, as Jordan yelled, "Where in the hell is the coffee?"
Shit, I guess I was the cause of his temper this time. I used the last just that morning, planning to go to the store later. Sighing again, I stood from where I’d been working at the computer, when Jordan burst through the office door.
"Alex, did you drink the last of the coffee?" Jordan barked.
Hands in my jean's pockets, I looked at Jordan as he stood glaring at me and shook my head. The way his temper would ignite at the slightest things was starting to get old, and I’d begun wondering how much more I could take.
"You didn't? Well, where in the hell is it then? I can't find it anywhere."
“I was shaking my head at your behavior, not as an answer."
With his fists at his hips and eyes narrowed, I almost laughed at the picture he made. He was in a tantrum just like a toddler, and he looked like one too.
"Yes, I drank the last of the coffee, Jordan. There was only enough for one cup. I’m going to the grocery store later, unless you wanted to go instead?"
Shaking his head, he said, "No, you go. Damn it! I've been up all night working, and I needed that coffee."
Jordan continued his snit, but I wasn't moving. I crossed my arms over my chest. "So really, that's why there was no coffee this morning. You’ve been drinking it all night to stay up."
Imitating my stance by crossing his own arms, he stared defiantly. "Yes."
"What project are you working on?" I asked. "I wasn't aware we had anything pressing at the moment."
Jordan looked away, his tough facade crumpling a little. "Nothing you need to worry about."
"Excuse me?"
Something was definitely up. Jordan had been working nonstop for the past week, and I assumed it was to get his mind off other things, though, I wasn't so sure anymore.
"I believe I am a part of this company too, so I think I will worry about it."
Jordan closed his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose, sighed loudly. "You are not going to let this go, are you?"
"Absolutely not. What's going on, Jordan? You've been working crazy hours. I thought it was just to get your mind off of…"
Jordan threw up a hand, halting what I was about to say. "I don't want to talk about that."
Palms up, I placated, "Alright, alright. I'll skip it for now, but it is something we need to talk about… Soon," I warned.
And after the mess with work was finished, we would be discussing it sooner than Jordan thought. I was not about to let it go that easily.
"Fine. We got a call from Teij."