This Broken Beautiful Thing (22 page)

Looking at my phone I notice I don’t have any miss
ed calls or messages and my heart drops a little at the thought of Jace not even making it home last night.

I write
Momma a note thanking her for the talk and I tell her I will see her soon.

As I drive away from my old house and closer to my new one, the nerves within me build up. I take a slow drive home and stop for food
along the way. I only reach the Club House after three. Dropping my clothes on the bed I notice the bed is still neatly made, he didn’t stay here last night.

I make my way next door to
finally find him and it’s like déjà vu all over again. Everyone lying all over the place and the entire apartment is trashed
. Dad is going to freak out when he sees this…

I
make my way toward Jace’s room just as Rachelle is stepping out zipping up the side of her dress. She freezes when she spots me and her eyes start to water but I don’t pity her this time.

“I’m so sorry Harley.” She says walking up to me.

“Bullshit, how long has it been going on?” I say moving passed her to see a bare chested Jace lying on his bed on his stomach, out cold.

“It never stopped.” She says softly.

I feel the pain in my chest and I back away until my back hits the wall. I rest my head against it as I feel the tears fall. She tries to console me but I shove her off and she bursts out crying.

“Don’t cry. You can have him. I give up. You win.” I whisper trying to stop myself from sobbing
keeping my eyes closed.

“What’s going on?” I hear Hunter next to me
. I open my eyes to see him looking back and forth between Rachelle and I.

“Fuck sakes Rache
lle, you were supposed to be gone already.” He yells at her confirming what I thought all this time.

My mouth drops open and I’m out of breathe.
“You knew? You knew this whole time?” I ask in disbelief. I see the regret written all over his face.

I watch as
Jace’s door opens. “What’s all the shouting for?” he says wiping his face, the lines from his pillow still imprinted on his face. He sees me and looks at Rachelle.

“Fuck.” He whispers.

I step around Rachelle and walk away but he grabs my arm. “Wait baby please…” he begs but I turn around and push him away from me as the tears pour down my face.

“What Jace? What?
Wait, let me guess, it didn’t mean anything? You telling me I’m your girl while you’re fucking a tramp on the side these past few months, means nothing right? Fuck you Jace! It means… I’m not your girl…not anymore. What happened to not letting any girl in your bed? I was the only one right?” I look at Rachelle then back at him. “Right… You look like you slept just fine…you don’t need me anymore.” My voice dies down to a husky whisper as the tears fall. He attempts to touch me but I feel disgusted and want to get as far away from him as possible so I step away.

“I’m so sorry Harley.
I do need you, I took a sedative before we… and I’ve been stressed out and…” he stutters.

“
And what? The only way to deal with the stress was to fuck someone else? Fucking hell…” I shake my head. “I’m such an idiot! To think you would actually care about someone other than yourself?” I say shaking my head and running my hands through my hair.

“I do care about you and that baby-
” he says coming closer but Hunter stops him. We have an audience now.

“Really? Really Jace? You missed the appointment yesterday and
Hunter had to stand in for you, you didn’t even fucking realize I wasn’t home last night? You care about me? Really Jace?” I rhetorically ask wiping away the tears. He looks at Hunter then back at me.

“Where were you?
Why the fuck where you with her?” he asks Hunter and I ,ignoring the rest of what I just said.

“Where were you when I needed you Jace?” I ask him. He looks at Rache
lle but says nothing. The guilty look he’s giving me says it all.

“
Yeah while you were with her I was hours away trying to get the thought of you out my head.” I say backing away. Jace shouts out for me and starts shoving Hunter as he tries to get to me.

“
Stay away from me! All of you… just stay away from me.” I say as I back away from them.

“Wait
Harley, don’t fucking walk away from me. Please let me explain…please.” Jace begs as he comes running and kneels to the floor holding his head against my stomach. I try removing his arms but he’s too strong.

“No Jace I’m done, you can be with Rache
lle freely now, you don’t have to get everyone to lie to me for you.” I look up at Hunter purposefully as I say this and he gives me a pained look and steps closer but I shake my head making him stand frozen and look down at Jace.

“
You knew what Caleb did and how it broke my heart and that was once! You’ve done it how many times now? You’re worse than him! I can’t be around you right now Jace, I feel like such an idiot for believing everything you said, all those promises you made. I can’t…I can’t even look at you right now.” He reluctantly lets go as I say this and I watch his eyes gloss and watch his jaw work as he swallows the tears.

“Please don’t leave me baby….
I was thinking about you when I was with her.” He says softly.

“
No Jace, don’t even say that. I can’t do this anymore. You don’t get it, you don’t see how much I cared for you, how much I love you….” I hear his quick intake of breath as he hears that and I cover my mouth.
I just told him I loved him.
We have told each other how much we care for each other but never used that four letter word… ever.

He smiles at me and stands up, “
Baby I lo-”

“No Jace…don’t you dare say that to me
! Not after all this shit.” I say backing away from him as I feel the tears falling again.

“
It’s true though… I want you to hear it. I lo-” He yells coming closer to me but Hunter grabs him again. Hunter turns Jace to face him with his hands on both of Jace’s shoulders looking him in the eyes.

“You need to calm down bro. Have you taken your pills today?” Jace ignores him and Hunters words have left me completely confused.

What pills? Are these the same ones I saw Jace take that first morning? I hear something fall and the glass shattering breaks my thoughts, I look to see Hunter and Jace struggling, Jace has him up against the wall with his hands around Hunters neck.

“Jace
stop! Stop!” I shout and he quickly drops Hunter and looks at me full of panic.

“
Is this a fucking game to you? Do you enjoy breaking my heart? Well, you win Jace…it’s broken and there’s nothing left for you to destroy. Are you happy? Does that make you happy?” He looks down at his hands then back up at me but doesn’t say a word.

“
I think it’s best if I stay away for a little while.” I say and turn toward the door, I mumble a goodbye as I shut the door after me. I run as fast as I can down the stairs and out the door towards my apartment. I hear Jace’s shouts from the street. Making my way into my apartment out of breath, I’m leaning against the door trying to control my breathing when I feel warm liquid running down my legs.

“God no…” I cry out as I see the liquid pooling at my bare feet.

It’s not blood though…thank God.

I run
trying to find my phone, I don’t know who to call, my dad and Anna are hours away and so is my mother. I can’t call Jace or Hunter. I lean against the counter, clutching my stomach. I try Jesse’s number but his phones off. I burst into tears feeling really truly alone for the first time.

I look down at my phone as I find his number.

“Hello? Harley?” I hear his deep voice on the other end.

“Brent? I need your help.” I say sniffing trying to control my breathing.

“What’s happening babe? Are you crying?” he asks sounding worried.

“Brent…I think my water just broke and I
have no one here to help me. I would drive myself but I don’t think it would be a good idea in my…..” I say softly unable to finish my sentence as the sobs take hold again.

“No, I’ll be there soon Harley. Just give me your address and stay
calm. Everything will be okay babe.” He says as I hear keys jingling in the background.

I tell him my address and he says he’s just around the corner from me. I call Dr. Smith and she says she will be waiting at the hospital for me.

I hear my door open and Brent comes running up toward me. He helps me up and looks me over.

“You okay? Where’s your boyfriend? Do we need to take anything with you?” he asks looking worried.

“Yeah I got a bag, this shouldn’t be happening… it’s a week too soon Brent.” I say ignoring his question about my boyfriend.

“Where’s he Harley? Why isn’t he here for you?” Brent repeats.

“It’s only me and her Brent, can you just get me to the hospital and then I’ll be out of your hair.” I say getting frustrated with him.

“I’m sorry babe
. You’re
not in my hair.
I’m glad you called me Harley. I thought you would never speak to me again.” He says sadly.

“Brent…as much as I’d like to sit here
and reconcile, I’d much rather like to get to the hospital and have this baby. Okay?” I sigh pushing him out the door.

“
Right. Sorry babe let’s get this baby out.” He smiles and I shake my head.

We arrive
at the hospital and I called my parents on the way telling them about the baby. Dad said he was leaving right away and ordered me to keep that baby inside me until he got there. He didn’t even ask about Jace, guess he just presumed he was with me.

Dad paid for me to get a private room that allowed for Anna and him to be in there when I gave birth. I wasn’t too fond of the idea of an audience while I
was giving birth but at the rate this baby is going I think she will be out of there before they arrive.

As the doctor gets me comfortable in bed she asks, “Where’s Jace? He better hurry and get here, looks like your baby
wants out of there.” She eyes Brent cautiously.

“He’s not coming.” I say flatly.

“Doesn’t he want to see his daughter born?” she asks confused.

“She’s not his daughter and no he doesn’t. If my parents don’t make it in time then it’ll be just me.” I say looking away from her judging eyes.

“And me.” My head whips to Brent as he announces this. He takes my hand and kisses it.

“You
don’t have to sit with me through this. I’m scared and I don’t want to be alone but I can’t ask you to do this.” I say looking up at him.

“You don’t have to ask me Harley. I want to be here and besides, I owe you at least this much for that whole going behind your back and trying to set you and Caleb up. I’m sorry for that by the way.
I will never betray you again Harley.” He says and I smile and nod then turn my attention back to the Doctor who stands watching Brent and I the entire time.
She probably thinks I’m the biggest whore around with the number of different men she’s seen me with.

“The baby isn’t due for over
week, why is this happening now?” I ask her worriedly.

“Stress does that to you. Just by standing here I can see how stressed you are sweetheart.
” She pats my hand. “Sometimes these things happen but your baby is healthy and I just need you to calm down so that everything runs smoothly. You can never plan things perfectly when it comes to the birth of your baby. Just stay calm and all you need to focus on now is the fact that  you’ll be seeing your little girl soon.” She smiles and pats my baby bump.

I hear my phone ring and Brent picks it up. “Jesse?” he asks and I take the phone from him.

“Harley you alright?” he says sounding concerned.

“No Jesse I’m…um.
..in the hospital.” I hear him gasp.

“I’m alright now, a friend picked me up. My water broke and I panicked because I didn’t know who to call.” I say.

“I’m on my way babe. Why didn’t you call Jace? Or Hunter?” he says and I hear doors being opened and closed on his side of the phone.

“Uh…Jace and I aren’t… I mean
, I caught him with Rachelle…again. I ended things. Hunter knew about it the whole time. I didn’t have anyone to call. Brent’s with me now but I don’t know if Mom and dad are going to make it in time.” I say looking at Brent as he brings me tissues.

“Fuck babe…I’m so sorry. We will talk about this later
, you just focus on that baby of yours. I’m on my way, I’ll see you soon Hun.” Jesse says and we end the call.

I
hand the phone back to Brent and notice him frowning at me.

“I know
… okay? I have bad taste…I get that now. I’m done with guys… my heart can only break so many times.” I say avoiding his eyes as he sits on the bed next to my hand and puts it on his lap.

“You deserve so much better.” He says looking down at me with a sad smile.