Yes, she knew…they both knew, any birth control she chose, other than abstinence, would always bear a risk. Even her doctor reminded her of that fact several times when she went in for the pregnancy test. And here she was, living proof of that medical statistic.
“No. He doesn’t know. I don’t want to tell him yet.” At the disgruntled look on Sonya’s face, she rushed to finish her statement, “but I will. He has a right to know.”
“But…” Sonya pressed.
Sighing, she turned her head in his direction and saw him talking to another guy in a suit. Recalling that he was someone who worked with Tanner, she looked around the restaurant and noticed some of his other co-workers as well. Over the years, he’d pointed them out, so she would be aware of who they were.
“But I want him to choose me because of his love for me, not because I’m carrying his child.”
“Girl, I love you but you’re going about this the wrong damn way.”
Chantell rolled her eyes. If she wanted things sugar-coated, she’d picked the wrong friend to talk to. “Aren’t you supposed to be on my side?”
“I’m on both your sides and you know it. Let’s be real, as soon as you told him to get up outta your house, you knew you’d made a mistake. Tell me I’m wrong.” After a couple seconds with the two of them doing a staredown, Sonya continued. “That’s what I thought. My $0.02, you’ve pushed him into a corner. Men are odd creatures and Tanner might respond the way you want him to. Be honest with yourself, even if you’re not honest with me. Are you prepared for what happens if he doesn’t do what you expect him to?”
Over the past few days, she’d thought about that a lot. One thing she prided herself on, was being a straight shooter. She wasn’t in the habit of doing stupid shit to get a rise out of people, especially Tanner.
But wasn’t that exactly what she was doing now? Hiding things from him? Giving him ultimatums based on information only she knew?
It was all jumbled up in her head. But she knew one thing without a doubt. Tanner had to be willing to give it all up and walk away. For her. If he loved her as much as he claimed, the thought of losing her for good should make him think twice about what was important.
And as for her, she also had to decide. Could she be with someone so willing to hide her? Especially when there was a child involved?
That answer came swiftly.
No. She could not.
Six
Tanner
Two hours later, Tanner stood outside the door of the home he’d shared with Chantell for more than five years. Maybe “shared” wasn’t the right word. She’d bought the home in her name, but he’d given the down payment and made the mortgage payments. They’d picked out the furniture together one long weekend in the next city over and had it all shipped to the house. Well, everything except that god-awful chaise lounge she swore was a must-have for her lazy Saturdays filled with reading.
They’d built a home together. A life. It may not be conventional, but it was theirs. Lifting his hand to knock, he paused. He should leave. Coming here had been the wrong decision. But he couldn’t stay away from her. These last few nights at the apartment he maintained for appearance had almost killed him.
Sleeping alone in the bed, he’d tossed and turned every night, getting no more than four hours of sleep. He wasn’t used to being without Chantell at night. He missed the warmth of her body next to his, the smell of her cocoa butter lotion, and the feel of her softness pressed against his after they made love. This whole, fucked up situation was beginning to affect his work.
Rubbing his hand down his face, he yawned. God, he just needed to sleep in their bed so he could get a good night’s rest. He couldn’t keep this up for much longer. Tanner knew he was on the verge of seriously fucking up something at the office. Having a fight with his girlfriend wasn’t a good enough excuse to screw up a million-dollar case for a client. He needed to get his shit together and being here tonight was his best option. Chantell would have to understand.
Instead of knocking, he pulled out his house keys. There was no way in hell he was going to act like a guest in his own home. Sure, they were fighting right now, but he was positive they’d get past this. At least, he fucking hoped they could. His bad attitude couldn’t get much worse, and if it did, he’d need to take some time away from everyone If he snapped at his secretary one more time, she was going to walk out on him.
To make matters worse, his father began calling him twice a day for some reason. The only thing he wanted to discuss was Tanner meeting some woman or another over dinner. He hung up the phone each time, not giving his dad time to finish pleading the woman’s case.
This shit with Chantell had him all fucked up and no one was immune. His father’s meddling and bullshit racist behavior are what caused this situation in the first place.
Breathing deep, he could admit it wasn’t his father who’d caused the situation he was in right now. Bertrand Scott was set in his ways and there was no changing him, but that wasn’t the biggest issue.
It was Tanner who’d made the decision to keep the status quo until he could claim his inheritance. The plan was, once the funds had been claimed, he was packing up his woman and getting the hell out of town. Until then, the plan was to stick around, play the game for his father, hide his love for Chantell, and keep their relationship out of the public eye.
He’d had it all figured out. Or thought he did.
Once they moved, he’d take his law degree and join a larger firm. Her nursing degree, with a specialty in obstetrics, was a guarantee for entry into any hospital she wanted. They didn’t need this town. Fuck this backward ass place.
But the one thing Tanner knew, was that he needed Chantell with him when he made moves. More than he needed to breathe, he needed his woman by his side. She was the only one for him and nothing would change that. It had been that way for him since he’d first kissed her when he was nine.
When he’d suggested keeping their relationship going in the background, it seemed like the perfect plan. His father wouldn’t see it coming until Tanner and Chantell were driving away. In his mind, he’d worked it all out.
Looking back now, he could see why Chantell had kicked his ass out of their home.