Page 40

He smirked and reached into his pocket to pull out his card, “The pin is 2-5-7-9, feel free to knock yourself out.”

When I didn’t take it from him, he slipped it into my breast pocket and walked towards the men’s line, leaving me standing there with my mouth gaping open and my eyes wide.

I couldn’t meet his eye as we browsed through racks of clothes. I could still feel his card in my pocket and it burned my skin as I thought about how his hand brushed against my skin when he placed the card in.

“I don’t think a clown fit is good for this weather,” Nathan whispered and that was when I realized I had been staring at the same costume for a while.

“I’m thinking about how good it would look on you.” I quipped.

“Everything looks good on me,” he said with such an air of self assurance that I wanted to slap him, “Are you done; the checkout line is empty.”

Instead of answering, I made my way there and I was about to hand my own card to the cashier when Nathan leaned into my ear.

“Give her your card and I swear I’ll break it.”

“You wouldn’t dare. ”

“Try me.”

I knew his taunt was genuine so I sighed and put my card back into my back pocket and handed the cashier his own. Her eyes were drifting from his face to mine and she had a small smile on her face that I didn’t want to dissect.

She was bagging the things when I heard a disgruntled huff from behind us. I turned and saw a young girl standing in front of a row of baby clothes. She had two hangers up in front of her and she was staring at them hard as if she was trying to figure out which one to choose.

I didn’t realize when I drifted over to her side, “Would you like some help?” She jumped when she heard my voice, “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Something about her looked familiar but I couldn’t quite place my finger on it. She was very tan and she was in blue overalls with a plaid shirt over it. Her hair was in a messy ponytail and judging by the bulge in her stomach, she was heavily pregnant.

“It’s no problem, I’m very jumpy,” she smiled, “I do need some help; would you prefer the giraffe or the elephant onesie?”

“The elephant,” I said without hesitation, “The color is sharper and the ears are just adorable.”

“Thank you so much,” she placed it in her trolley, “I am so indecisive and I have been stuck on those two for the past five minutes.”

“It is fine,” I assured her, “Congratulations by the way, how far along are you?”

“Twenty five weeks,” she beamed with pride as she spoke, “It is my first and I am super excited and also very scared. ”

“I’m sure that everything will be fine.”

“Bailey-,”

I knew that name but most importantly I knew that voice and when the girl in front of me turned around to respond I realized where I had seen her before, on instagram.

A smile took over her face, “That’s my boyfriend.” She told me as she waved him over.

I looked up at my ex fiancé who I haven’t seen in months and when he saw me his steps faltered. He was in jeans and a matching plaid shirt as the one Bailey was wearing, he was also a lot tanner than the last time I saw him.

Bailey didn’t seem to notice the tension that had fallen over the place because she rushed to show him the onesie I had just picked out for her, their child.

“Adira,” my name left Joseph’s lips and I had to shut my eyes to prevent the onslaught of emotions that threatened to speed roll through me.

Bailey turned to me with horror in her eyes. I guess he must have told her about me.

“You’re Adira?” she asked and I shrugged

“In the flesh,” I chuckled awkwardly.

“I wasn’t expecting to see you here,” Joseph said suddenly, “You told me you would rather die than set foot in a small town.”

Bailey was still staring at the both of us with a guarded and slightly embarrassed expression and I noticed her hand rubbing her belly in small circular motions then it hit me. Joseph was her boyfriend and she was six months pregnant .

Joseph seemed to realize the conclusion I had come to because he reached for me but I moved out of his reach and stormed out of the store. I heard the door slam behind me shortly after and I knew that he had followed me.

“You should go back to your girl and kid.” I said without looking up, “It is bad manners for you to run after your ex.”

“Adira, it is not what you think.”

“She is six months pregnant,” I whirled on him, “We ended things less than two months ago. So unless you want to tell me that is not your kid then you fucked her while we were engaged.”

“Please don’t shout; she wouldn’t want people to know.”

“I was- you- she-,”

I hated that I couldn’t articulate my words and I hated that my breath was now coming out in heavy pants. I wanted to scream at him, I wanted to call him names but I couldn’t form anything other than single words.

Joseph reached for me and before I had the time to pull back, I felt a hand around my waist, pulling me away from him.

“I was looking for you, sunshine.”

I let out a breath of relief and I felt my muscles slack against Nathan’s hold.

I looked up at him and although he didn’t utter the words, his eyes told me that he had my back.

I have never been more grateful for Nathan Cowe than I was in that moment.

I wanted to ask him to hold me and never let go because he was the only thing keeping me grounded.

“Who are you?” I had forgotten Joseph was there until he spoke.

Nathan looked him over with barely concealed disdain, “I’m Nathan and you are? ”

“I’m Joseph; we were having a conversation before you-.”

“One that is ultimately over now,” Nathan cut in, “Your girlfriend is waiting for you inside and she looks like someone kicked her puppy. I suggest you go in and attend to her. I can take care of things here.”

Joseph turned to me, almost as if he was expecting me to tell Nathan off but I kept my mouth shut and dealt him the harshest glare I could think of. He scoffed and turned on his heels then stormed into the store.

As soon as he left, all the bravado left me and my knees buckled. I felt the same overwhelming feeling rush over my body and tears pricked the back of my eyelids. Suddenly, I was turned and Nathan tilted my chin up so he was looking at me.

“You have been flour bombed and egged in the middle of the street,” he began, “Are you really going to let him be the reason you break down in public?”

I shook my head and he brushed his thumb across my cheek, wiping away a stray tear.

“Good, now we are going to walk back to the inn as if nothing happened. Can you do that?” I nodded, “That’s my girl.”