Both EJ and Skyler had been weird.I think they both revealed things to me that they hadn’t meant to and now felt awkward about it. I didn’t want to pressure either of them, but I was a bored pregnant lady, so what the hell else was there to do?I noticed that when people touched my stomach, they were more vulnerable, since I was being vulnerable too. “Hey Sky, wanna touch my bump?” I asked standing in front of her. “It might make you feel better.”Skyler nodded and rubbed my stomach. She smiled slightly when the babies kicked for her. I think they were recognizing the important people in my life.“You’re gonna be a great mother, Scarlett,” She whispered. “I hope so. I’ll have so much help. You’ll be a great mother too, you know? Someday really soon.”“Hm.”“What are your plans for when Avery returns? You must be excited to start trying for a baby again. Especially after like almost a month apart.”Skyler pulled her hand away. “I don’t really want to talk about that.”“Why not? You
I never deleted my dealer’s number.I knew I should have. It was one of the rules, but it was like somehow I knew the sober life wouldn’t be for me. That I wasn’t meant to be clean and happy, no matter how much Avery convinced me I was.Avery.I still didn’t know what that perfect man wanted with a fuck up like me. We met at a college party.I didn’t even actually attend college. That’s how much of a loser I was. I went to parties with people I barely knew just because I knew I could get drinks and drugs from them.Avery was doing neither. Maybe that’s what I liked about him. “Do you know Ray?” I asked a quiet blonde guy sitting on the couch.“I don’t know anyone here, except for my roommate who is off getting laid.” He informed me.“Lucky him, I guess.”“I don’t know, I’m talking to you, I think I’m the lucky one.”“Are you flirting?”“No, actually I’m Avery.” He smiled.I couldn't help but laugh. That was so cheesy! He was so strange and dorky and yet I found him so appealing. “Do
I was relieved to find out Avery found Skyler.She hadn’t relapsed, but she was seconds from it. I felt awful. She was going through hell all by herself and I felt like I didn’t give her the idea that I would be willing to listen. I would have to do better. She and Avery were going away for a few weeks to get themselves together. It had been a rough few months for both of them and they needed it. Since it was Spring Break, that left one person to be home with me. EJ.We mostly watched TV and went over some of the future projects he was going to have. After the whole deal with Skyler, I didn’t want to press him to talk about what we had talked about the night of my mom’s wedding. “Are Lee and Grayson okay with you going to dinner with me and my parents?” EJ questioned. “Yeah, why wouldn’t they be?” I asked. “I don’t know, I just get so scared that they don’t like me and I really want them to. Especially Lee.”“Lee likes you, so does Grayson.”“It’s just you know, Lee’s dad was r
I was never supposed to find out I was adopted. I never suspected that I was. I was just a happy only child with parents I knew worked hard and loved me as well as they could.Who would have thought a goddamn biology class would change my entire life?“Elliot, I just got the labs back for your project, why didn’t you mention you were adopted?” Mrs. Stephens asked. “Huh?”“If I had known, I would have given you a different assignment. The whole point was to take DNA from you and your parents in an effort to see the similarities. So when the lab said there was no way that you and your parents were related, I realized my mistake. I’m so sorry about that.”What was she saying? There was no way I was related to my parents? How could that be? Was I actually adopted?!“Um, it’s okay. Sorry I didn’t mention it.” I muttered. “It’s okay. You’ll still get an A because I know you were very much willing to do the assignment.”“Thanks.”At least I got an A.--“How was your day honey?” Mom asked
I couldn’t breathe.I heard all of EJ’s words and even understood them, but it was like I couldn't fully process them. My brother that I had thought had died all those years ago was sitting in front of me. I had grieved him and thought about him daily, wishing I could have met him. And now here he was.He had been here for months. Working with me, making moves on the woman I loved, having breakfast with my father. Father. Did he know who EJ was? No he couldn’t have. EJ said Dad never wanted to know. “Lee,” EJ whispered. “Can you…will please just say something?”“Your name was going to be Samuel,” I breathed. “I was so ready to meet you.”It was strange but now looking at EJ and knowing who he was I could see the similarities between us. Our eyes were the same. We both had that strong Windsor jaw and we kind of had the same smile. He was actually my brother.Here I was thinking that he just wanted to take over my life. Maybe that was still true. I mean he had so many opportunities t
“I…I don’t understand Brantley.”I threw the note in front of him.I could see his eyes skimming the words and then he looked at EJ. “Where did you get this?”“I found it in my parents' things,” EJ answered. “And the check you wrote. They never cashed it.”“I um…look I can explain.”“Can you?” I asked. “Because last I checked my brother was dead and now he’s sitting next to me and has been in my life for months!”Scarlett gently squeezed my thigh.I took a deep breath. “Explain yourself.”“I thought your mom could make it through, I really did. I was never prepared to lose her,” Dad started. “She had given birth early and for some odd reason I thought that was a sign that things would get better.”“But I was there when she died,” I pointed out. “I watched it happen, there was no baby.”“EJ was in the NICU. I didn’t tell you your mom had given birth because it was supposed to be a surprise. I thought she would recover and we could surprise you with your brother. But things took a turn
“I’m sensing some…tension here.” Dr. Malik frowned. “Yeah you are,” I commented. “It’s been kind of a week.”“What happened?”Grayson and I looked over at Lee.“Remember how I told you my brother died with my mom?” Dr. Malik nodded. “Well that was a lie my father told me. He's alive."“Oh. And how did you find this out?” Dr. Malik questioned. “Remember my friend EJ?” I asked. Again Dr. Malik nodded. “That’s Lee’s brother.”“Oh my, this will be an interesting session.”“It sure will be.” I muttered. “So Lee…how are you feeling?”“Honestly? Betrayed, furious, hurt, rejected.”“Rejected? Why rejected?”“Because that’s what my father did to me. He rejected me ever since my mom died. He rejected my efforts and my love and anything that made me happy except for Scarlett. She’s the only thing in relation to me that he likes.”“And why is that?” Dr. Malik questioned. “Because he thinks she’s better than me. He thinks without her I’m mediocre.”“Do you think you’re mediocre without her?”
“I told you he was hiding something!” Skyler gasped. “But did you think it was this?”“No, of course not! Who in the world could have guessed that! However I definitely knew he was in love with you.”“Well everyone knew that.” I rolled my eyes. “How is Lee?”“He’s good. He and EJ have been spending a lot of time together. It’s cute.”“Have you talked to EJ alone since then?” She questioned. I shook my head. “No I have not. I um…I don’t know what to say,” I whispered. “I can’t pretend that I didn’t kiss him back.”“Scar…he’s only nineteen. He’s practically a kid and you know it. How could he ever take care of you and the babies?”“Well, he’s now a billionaire,” “Fine, financially he can take care of you guys, but what does he know about being a father?” Skyler questioned. “What do Grayson or Lee know about it?” I shot back.“At least they’ve finished college and have jobs and responsibilities. EJ is still in his first year of college. One of these kids is his nephew. I mean…I know