Page 80 of Mr. Edwards

Those words do nothing to calm me. Things may be going well for Ashton and Emma at the moment, but the jury is still out on my true feelings for him. Grayson may wear rose-colored glasses when it comes to his best friend, but I see a whole different side to him. He’s a swine and has made my friend cry too many times for my liking.

I throw on yesterday’s clothes and head to the bathroom to brush my hair and teeth. I need a shower, but it’ll have to wait. Emma needs us, and she’s my priority right now.

We take my new car because it’s the one closest to the exit, but I let him drive. My head’s not in a good place, I’m too worried about Em.

My nerves are shot by the time we arrive at the hospital. I’ve worked myself into a state, imagining every scenario possible. None of them good. I’ve tried to callEmma countless times on the drive here, but it kept going to voicemail. I have no idea what’s going on, but I won’t be able to relax until I know she’s okay.

I’m out of the car and striding across the parking lot before Grayson’s even turned off the engine.

“Carlee, wait up,” he calls out, jogging to catch me.

I burst through the glass doors like a woman on a mission. I have no idea where she is, but I’ll find her, even if I have to scale every damn inch of this place.

I make my way toward the desk that sits along the back wall, but before I reach it, I hear her.

“Carlee,” she says.

Pausing, my eyes scan the rows of seats that line the waiting room. The moment I see her, my heart drops. She looks so sad, so frightened. Her fingers are knitted together, resting in her lap, and her eyes are red and puffy.

“Em.”

I close the distance between us in a few strides. My arms are open, ready, and waiting for her. The moment she stands, I engulf her and she breaks down, sobbing. I don’t let go until she’s let it all out.

“I’ve got you,” I whisper, rubbing my hand up and down her spine.

Only when she draws back and wipes her eyes, do I ask the million-dollar question. “What’s going on?”

“I’m pregnant.”

“You’re what?”

“I’m having a baby, Car. Ashton’s baby.”

“Is that why he left you here?”

“I don’t know.” She sniffles, swiping the back of her hand under her nose. “I think so. The doctor gave us the news and he just got up and walked out. I thought he needed a moment… that he’d come back, but he never did.”

Ashton Black is a fucking dead man.

“I’m gonna kill you,” I scream the moment I open Emma’s door and see Ashton standing there. He’s got a nerve showing his face around here after what he just did. “I’m going to tear you apart, limb by limb.”

Grayson appears behind me in an instant, wrapping his arms around my waist just as I lunge for his friend.

“Let me go.” My arms and legs flail around in the air like a woman possessed.

“Settle down, Rambo,” Grayson says, chuckling.

“Your ass is mine, Black. Do you hear me?”

“Not on my watch,” Grayson replies.

Is he kidding me? Maybe he needs his ass whipped too.

“You’ve got some nerve showing your face around here,” I scoff, trying to wiggle myself out of Grayson’s hold.

“I’m here to see Emma,” Ashton says, shoving his hands into his pockets. I, however, want to shove my fist into his face. His gaze moves to the floor. “I need to talk to her.”

“You should’ve thought about that before you abandoned her at the damn hospital.”