Page 14 of Billionaire Enemy's Baby
“Fuck,” I whisper to myself as I race back to the car. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”
I need to lock myself away, I need to put a distance between me and Josh before he really causes me to crash over the edge and into madness. I’m feeling so mixed up; my head is all over the place. I really have gone back to that young eighteen-year-old holding a positive test.
The pregnancy test changed everything, but then so has seeing Josh again. If he’s planning to live in town once more, then what do we do? He can’t just ignore me and Mya if he sees us around. That would be sick, horrible, and would make him the worst of the worst.
By the time I actually get into my car, tears are streaming down my face. The tears I promised myself I would never cry over Josh again, years ago. Half of me is so angry I can’t hold the tears inside and the other half of me just hurts. It’s an agony that rips through my chest and makes me want to fall apart.
To actually crumble and just weep in a ball.
I never should have gone for the job interview, the moment I knew that it was Wyatt I should have turned away. I should have run the moment I saw Josh; I shouldn’t have let the shock capture me and keep me there.
So many mistakes. I don’t know how I’m supposed to recover from all these mistakes. Now I feel like I have a target on my back and everything might be about to crash down around me. Everything has been calm and peaceful, I have managed to make a life for myself even with all the changes I’ve unexpectedly faced along the way.
Now though, I might be about to face something I have no idea how to cope with. Josh Macauley is not a man that I am prepared for and he’s certainly not someone I can deal with. Especially if he’s going to react like that to me.
Having him back has only made things messier. I donotneed this.
Not at all. I start up the car to get me the hell out of here, because if I wait any longer then I risk Josh coming out of the office to confront me.
If I take the job, I risk seeing him every single day. I don’t think anything is worth that. I suppose it’s just lucky that Wyatt was being polite because I really don’t think he will want me to work for him.
I need to get back to reality, to Mya.
I have to remind myself of what is important here. I can’t let Josh get under my skin again.
ChapterFive
JOSH
I lift up my bottle of beer to clink it against Grayson’s, grateful that my brother wanted to join me tonight. Hanging out with Wyatt all day has made me want to rebuild all my bonds, especially with Grayson who I was closest to while we were growing up.
But he still seems a little distant, and I can’t work out why.
“Cheers.” I plaster a bright smile on my face. “Thanks for this, Grayson.”
“For what?” he asks, looking a little distracted, picking at his fingers as he talks.
“You know, for coming out with tonight. I know you’re pretty busy with work.”
He sighs heavily and his eyes glaze over. He has done this a couple of times actually when I’ve tried to find out what’s going on in his life. He’s been all mysterious and strange. He was never like this before, but I suppose five years of not really talking has created a wedge between us. I hate that, I need to get rid of it for sure. I guess it’ll just take time.
“Yeah, things have been a little strange,” he admits. “But you know me, I’ll work things out. I always do. I just need to figure out a direction. It’s a bit like I’m at a crossroads, and I just need to figure out which path I’m going to take, that’s all.”
I cock my head to one side curiously. “Something you want to talk about, buddy?”
“Nah, not at the moment. I will when I’m ready. For now I just want to drink.”
We both sip our beers for a while, taking in the ambiance of the local bar. Yeah, okay so it’s nothing like the swanky city bars, but there’s a charm to it, isn’t there? I don’t hate being here with Grayson near the sticky bar and the old-fashioned carpet, surrounded by vaguely familiar faces.
“So, what did you think about Wyatt’s bike shop?” Grayson turns the spotlight back around to me. “Pretty cool, huh? He’s doing really well for himself.”
“Howdidhe end up getting his act cleaned up? I’m intrigued.”
“I don’t know really,” Grayson admits. “I was too wrapped up in my own stuff at the time, and he’s never shared the story with me. I suppose for now we should just be glad he isn’t still in that place. He’s making life better for himself every single day.”
He’s right about that. I am pleased things are working out for him, but it’s hard for me not to be nosy. Patience though, that’s what I need to find in myself. Patience for him and all my other relationships here in Beaufort, and patience for my work as well.
Itwillhappen, I will get all the success I want, I just need to hold my shit together for a little bit.
