All I Ask(25)

“I would tell him to fuck off!” I yell. Now I’m pissed. If Meghan has an issue with me, then she could’ve talked to me. Instead, she makes him cut me off? Fuck them both.

“You wouldn’t.” He sighs and then sniffs.

He doesn’t get to cry. I’m the one breaking. “Well, I guess there’s nothing more to say,” I say and then wince. “You clearly have made your decision, screw me and the baby you promised to be there for.”

“I’m sorry, Teagan. I hope you and the baby will be happy. I want nothing more than for you to find everything you want. I wish there was another way.”

The tears won’t stop and I wipe them away. “There’s always another way. That’s what’s real, but apparently our friendship wasn’t. You want me to stop calling and talking to you, fine. Just do me one favor, don’t ever contact me again because I can’t…I can’t even breathe right now. I thought…well, I thought wrong and I’m done. I’ll be happy because what choice do I have? You’re a fucking coward and I don’t ever want to hear from you again! Goodbye, Derek.”

I hang up the call, throwing the phone against the wall, shattering onto the floor.

Another stabbing pain hits my stomach and I stand up, only to have a gush of water fall to the floor.

My water broke, just like my heart.





Chapter Fourteen





Teagan




Present



“I don’t want to go to school,” Chastity complains as I try to get her ass out of bed.

“Well, you have to.”

“Anyone ever tell you that you suck?”

I laugh. “Daily. You’ve met my mother, remember? Now, get your butt up and get ready.”

She sits up, groans, and then flops back down on her pillow. “Where were you last night?”

“In my bed.”

“No, I looked for you before I went to sleep and you weren’t there.”

My mind immediately goes back to the beach. The words Derek said and the way he said them. How much disappointment filled me and is still there. I’m…unlovable. That’s all I can come up with.

Two men, one who I loved with my whole being and the other who I should’ve never given a chance, both found the idea of loving me so disgusting they cut me out. I’m winning at life for sure.

“I was at the beach.”

Chastity nods. “I should’ve figured.”

“I needed perspective.”

“Did you find any?”

“Nope,” I tell her as I get to my feet.

“Maybe you should try a park next time.”

I really would like to throttle her some days. “Maybe you should get to school before I call the cops for truancy.”

Chastity gasps. “You wouldn’t.”

“You’re right.” I sigh. “I’ll just call Grandma.”

She throws the covers off, mumbling about mutiny and treason, but I grin. When Chastity is like this, I can’t help it. I love that we can verbally spar in a way I never could with my mother.

I head into the kitchen of my tiny apartment and once again, hate my life. There is only one bedroom, which is Chastity’s, and then I took the dining room and made it into a bedroom.

She emerges from her room wearing a T-shirt that says: DAMN THE MAN.

Okay, I really do love this kid.

I love that my thirteen-year-old quotes Empire Records on her clothing.

“So, today you need to get along with Everly,” I say as I sip my coffee.

“You act like I’m the bully here. That girl is mean and I defend myself and get in trouble? I hate this town.”

That makes two of us. “I know, but you’re going to have to be the bigger person. Her grandfather is the town vet that you’re working for and now people are going to be watching how you act more.”

Chastity rolls her eyes. “I can’t wait for college.”

“You’ve got a few years there, sweetheart.”

“I could get in early.”

“You’re not Doogie Howser, settle down.”

Her eyes narrow and she looks at me like I’ve sprouted two heads. “Who is Doogie Howser?”

I feel old.

“Just…go to school and try not to get in trouble. If I have to leave work again, your grandmother will ask questions.”

She snorts. “She’d probably be proud I finally acted a little like you.”

“Hey!” I protest.

“I’m serious, Mom. She’s always talking about how popular you were. Which is code for you were so cool. But I know what popular and cool mean. You were probably just like Everly.”

I’d love to deny it, but that would be lying right to her face, which I’ve always avoided. Chastity is a good kid and while I don’t overshare with her, I don’t hide things either. We’re a team. She doesn’t judge me for my past and is appreciative for how I keep our lives together with duct tape and chewing gum.

“It’s nothing I’m proud of.”

“I don’t know how you could be like her.”

Oh, how I wish I could go back in time.

“Girls like her are usually scared. They’re often insecure or afraid that people they thought were their friends would turn on them. Bullies are sort of in the mentality of bully-or-be-bullied.”