Conspiring by J. B. McGee Page B

Eat.”
    I am flabbergasted by his boldness, but I must admit I find it so incredibly sexy. If I had the energy I would run after him, but I don’t. I pull my duvet up and cover my naked, sated body as I drift off to sleep.

Chapter 10
     

     
    Ian
    Veronica doesn’t know that I’ve been following her. At least I don’t think she does. It’s very unlike me to act like such a stalker. I don’t know what she’s doing. She’s just been sitting in her car as if she’s waiting on someone.
    The last six months of my life has felt so empty and dull. The time, although brief, we spent together was the best time of my life. I realized that I was falling in love with her, that I am in love with her.
    I was such a douche. I don’t know that I’d blame her if she never forgives me. In the past, I’ve always made poor decisions, and it looks like that is going to be the story of my life. Ian has the best girl in the world, and he finds a way to screw it up.
    Lindsey doesn’t count because she was a bitch. She was a bad distraction, a sign of my weakness. I should have never let her come between me and Gabby. Stupid hormonal teenager that I was gave into peer pressure. I know I broke Gabby’s heart. I didn’t understand at the time how special she really was.
    I run my fingers through my hair as I accept that I let the first love of my life slip away, shattering her. It’s harder to swallow the fact that I’ve shattered Veronica. I have to fix it for the sake of our child. I have to put us back together. I am not proud that I knocked her up, but it is what it is. I’m least proud of how I reacted. That I ran away like a scared little boy, like a coward. I was scared – I’m still scared. I feel like I’m still a kid myself. I have a lot of growing up to do, but I can. I will do it for her and for our little guy. Or maybe it’s a little girl. The thought of a little Veronica running around makes my chin quiver as I fight back tears. I don’t cry. I don’t know that I can take much more of this.
    I can’t believe my eyes. I quickly swipe the tears away to make sure that what I’m seeing is real. Gabby. My Gabby . That is way too big of a coincidence. What in the hell are they up to? Part of me wants to jump out of my car, charge them, and demand answers. But Veronica has yet to get out of her car, and Gabby doesn’t seem to even know Veronica is there. I don’t want the first time I talk to Veronica to be confrontational. I definitely don’t want to have to go into the entire ex spiel if she doesn’t know Gabby. I decide I’ll wait and see how this unfolds before I play my cards.
    Gabby walks into the building with an overnight bag. She looks good. No, she looks better than good. I’ve always wanted her to be happy. She deserves happiness more than anyone in the world.
    A few minutes after Gabby goes inside, Veronica follows. It’s strange seeing the two loves of my life in the same place. Except, one of those girls is my future, carrying the child I almost walked away from. I will not lose them.
    I feel like I’m in some episode of a crime TV show. Crazy stalker ex-boyfriend watches as the ex-girlfriends conspire on how to take him down. It is taking every ounce of self-control for me to not march myself into that building and demand answers from them.
    I know I have to be careful and do this right. I can’t have Veronica think any less of me than she already does. I’m an expert at ruining things. So if my knee jerk reaction is to run inside, I’m going to do the opposite this time.
    I can’t imagine what they are doing in this upscale apartment building that is taking so long. I feel beads of sweat on my forehead. I brush them away with my clammy palms. I realize that I feel like I’m in a car in the summer. Like I felt the first time I was in a car alone with Gabby. Except this time, there’s no fun and games to be played. My entire life is on the line, playing out before my eyes as if I’m a