Sweet Nothing(75)

“Fucking great,” I grumbled, nodding in her direction. Her smile spread as she made her way around the bar.

“Who’s that?” Hope asked in a hushed tone.

“Stage five clinger.”

“Didn’t expect to see you here, Josh,” Ashton purred as she eyed Hope. “Who’s your friend?”

“Hope, this is Carissa Ashton. Ashton, this is Hope, my neighbor.”

“Oh.” Ashton held out her hand to Hope, who reluctantly shook it. “I work with Josh’s wife, Avery.”

“Neat.” Hope shrugged as she picked up her shot glass and held it up for Ginger to see.

“Yeah, how is your wife, Josh? She looks like she’s ready to pop any day now.”

“Nine weeks,” I mumbled, hating that I had to make small talk with her. The moment Avery began to show, Ashton took every opportunity to make little digs about Avery’s marginal weight gain.

Ashton smirked as she tipped her martini glass to her unnaturally pink lips. “Tell Avery I said hello … if you happen to see her tonight.”

My nose wrinkled. “Why wouldn’t I see her tonight?”

Ashton shrugged innocently, looking to Hope. “You just look sort of busy.”

I sighed, the whiskey erasing any patience I usually maintained with Ashton. “Fuck. Off. And when you get there, f*ck off again until you come back. And you will because you’ll never leave me the f*ck alone!”

Ashton turned her back to me, pretending it wasn’t her I was yelling at. She retreated to her side of the bar with a satisfied grin.

Hope’s eyebrows shot up. “That was—”

“Stupid,” I said. “Carissa Ashton is a vindictive little bitch.” I stood from my stool. “I’d better get back home.”

“Did you drive?” she asked as she gulped down her newest drink. I dug my wallet from my back pocket, tossing cash on the wooden surface. “Yeah.”

Hope stood as she looked me over. “I took a cab here. I should drive you home. You need to make it back to Avery in one piece.”

I thought about it for a moment and then nodded. “Go ahead. I’ll tab out.” I slipped Hope the keys, knowing Ashton was clocking our every move. Even if Avery heard the truth, it would hurt her. Between the pregnancy, the headaches, and flashes, she had become fragile.





I shoved open the door to our quiet apartment, slipping inside and pushing it closed behind me. The moon was hidden behind clouds and all the lights were off, making it hard to navigate. The sound of Dax’s claws making their way across the linoleum gave me pause. I bent down, running my hand over his head and letting him lick my fingers.

“Where’s Avery?” I stopped just outside the bathroom when a shuffling sound caught my attention.

The bathroom door was slightly ajar. I pushed it open the rest of the way and flipped on the light. My eyes adjusted, and Avery came into view. She was sitting on the floor, her knees pulled up against her belly and her face streaked with tears.

“Ashton didn’t waste any time, did she?” I said, kneeling in front of my wife.

“Just leave,” she sobbed, wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand.

“I wasn’t there with Hope.” I hunched over until I was eye level with her, noticing her cell clutched in her left palm.

“Late night chat?” I asked, reaching for her phone.

“Don’t,” she warned. Her eyes wide and wild as they met mine, wet mascara smeared beneath.

“Okay.” I held up my palms and settled onto my knees.

“Avery—”

“I said don’t.”

“I just want to talk.”

“Sounds like you’ve been talking quite a bit already this evening.”

I laughed once, trying to lighten the mood. “Yes, I talked to her. You talk to other guys all day long, but I know you love me. And you are the only woman I have ever—will ever—love.”

“Yeah.” She nodded, swallowing hard before she looked up at me again. “I know you didn’t love any of those women before me either, but that didn’t stop you from sleeping with them. Why would it be any different now?”

“Because I have you.”

Avery’s long hair fell into her face, blocking me from getting a good look at her. “Getting upset isn’t good for the baby.”

A sob racked her body as she banded her arms around her knees, hugging herself tightly.

“Whatever it is, I can explain. Please talk to me, Avery. What did Ashton say? Ginger was there and saw the whole thing. I was drinking at the bar. Hope showed up. We chatted. Ashton came over to stir up trouble, I told her to f*ck off, and then I left. The end.”

A knock at the door got my attention for half a second, but I quickly focused back on Avery. “Baby …”

“Avery?” Deb’s voice echoed in the apartment as the front room illuminated.

“Back here,” Avery called out. She glared at me while she yelled, as if she could see betrayal in my eyes.

“What are you doing?” I asked. “Why is Deb here?”

My pregnant wife pushed up to her feet, and panic pushed through my veins.

“Avery?” Deb said, stopping when she saw her friend. “You ready?”