Effortless (Thoughtless #2)(70)
Author: S.C. Stephens

Denny cracked his too and I paused, shaking my head. "No, it will only make it worse if you come in." Sighing, I said, "Thank you for doing this…but you can go home now."

His dark brows bunched as he looked over my face. "Kiera, I don’t think…"

I placed my hand on his arm. "I’ll be fine, Denny, and you’ve done enough. More than enough." Smiling, I tilted my head at him. "Go home, get some sleep while you can…" Smiling wider, I added, "Or go call Abby and tell her how grateful you are to have her. I know she’d love to hear it." I laughed, feeling no humor in me.

Denny smiled and looked down. "Yeah, maybe I’ll do that." Peeking back up at me, his eyes narrowed. "You call me, though…when this is over." He raised his eyebrow and waited until I responded.

I sighed, a sadness washing over me. "Yeah…I will." Leaning over, I kissed his cheek. "Thank you, friend."

He smiled as I pushed open the door of his sporty rental. "Anytime…mate."

I grinned at the nickname he’d never, ever used on me, then stood and waited in front of the car. Waving as he backed away, I quietly thanked him again. I couldn’t see his response through the glass, but I was sure he was shaking his head at me, wishing me well, but thinking I was crazy for coming here.

Twisting back to Kellan’s house, I started to agree with him. Maybe I was crazy for coming here, especially since Kellan had been quite clear about the fact that things between us were no more, but I had to know. He knew what I’d been hiding…I had to know what he was hiding.

Exhaling shakily, I stepped up to his front door. Not wanting to use my key, since technically I shouldn’t anymore, I quietly knocked on it. I didn’t expect him to hear me, so I was preparing to knock even harder when the door cracked open.

Kellan’s cool eyes stared at me through the crack, then he rolled them and shut the door in my face. Not expecting that, I blinked and stared at the heavy wood in my vision. Did he seriously just slam the door on me?

Irritation beating back my nerves, I opened the door. Surprisingly, it was unlocked. Kellan’s back was the first thing I noticed-his back walking away from me again. After stepping in, I slammed the door behind me. He flinched and twisted to look at me.

Sighing, he ran a hand through his shaggy hair. "I’m not doing this, Kiera. I’m not having this conversation again…we’re over."

He twisted around again and I grabbed his arm. "No, we’re not, Kellan! Not until you tell me the truth."

He twisted to face me, his eyes dark with fury. "You first!"

I sighed, releasing his arm. Throwing my hands in the air, I sputtered, "I did! I told you the truth about Denny. Nothing happened! Goddamn it, why don’t you believe that anymore? Or did you ever really believe me? Was that a lie just to have sex with me one last time?"

His face paled as his jaw dropped. "You think I knew that I was going to break up with you before I slept with you? You think I’d even touch you, if I knew what I know now!" His eyes flashed down my body again and I flushed, furious.

"And what the hell do you think you know!"

His face disgusted, he backed away from me. "You still can’t be honest, can you?" Gritting his jaw, he lifted his chin defiantly. "I saw, Kiera. I saw the tests…the positive tests." His face darkening, he took a step towards me. "You shoved them in my drawer, with my clothes, just so I’d find them! Did you really think I’d stick around once I did?"

My jaw dropping, I took a step back. "What are you talking about?"

My nerves tingled as I started piecing together what he was so angry about. He didn’t let me puzzle it out for long, though. His hands flinging to my body, he yelled, "I know you’re f**king pregnant, Kiera, so stop acting like you’re f**king innocent!"

I was speechless as I stared at him. I could clearly remember Anna, in her denial stage, shoving a paper bag full of positive pregnancy tests into my dresser drawer…Kellan’s dresser drawer. He must have wanted to put on some clean clothes after our romp. He must have opened the drawer and seen them…and assumed they were mine.

And of course he would assume that. Why wouldn’t he? They were in my room, in the drawer I’d set aside for him. God, did he really think I’d ever tell him something that serious like that? How cold did he think I was?

I shook my head and his eyes sharpened dangerously. "Don’t even try and deny it now. Not now, now that you know I know. Admit it, Kiera. Admit the truth…for once in your life." His face softened and I saw the sorrow in his eyes. He thought I was pregnant. He thought Denny got me pregnant while he was gone…

I shook my head again, stepping up to him. "Kellan, no, Denny and I didn’t-"

He cut me off, shoving me back from where I’d tried to touch him. "Don’t, Kiera. Don’t give me another half-truth. You lied about Denny being here!" I shook my head and he added, "No, Kiera, a lie of omission is still a lie!" He leaned into me, "You should know that better than anyone," he whispered.

I flushed and swallowed, wanting to assure him that I wasn’t the one who was pregnant, but not knowing how to at this point. He wouldn’t believe anything I said right now. Having no idea what to say, I found myself whispering, "I’ve only been with you…"

He curled his lips into a sneer. "Until today, we hadn’t had sex since December," his eyes rested on my stomach, "and I intimately know that you’re not showing yet, so you’re not four or five months along." His hate-filled eyes flashed up to mine. "I’m not stupid, Kiera…I know the kid isn’t mine."

I swallowed and tried to tell him that I wasn’t pregnant, but he didn’t let me speak. Bringing his face right into mine, he seethed, "If you’re still going to try denying that you slept with Denny, then go ahead, Kiera…tell me the only thing you can. Tell me you were raped." His eyes flashed, the anger in them powerful enough to make my knees start shaking. "I dare you," he added.

My jaw dropped at where he’d taken the conversation. Anger surged through me and my hand came out to smack him. I was inches from his face when I stopped my hand. I couldn’t blame him for saying that to me, thinking what he thought. It was his history coming around to bite me in the ass. His mom had done it to his dad, and his dad had hated Kellan for it, in utero.

Kellan didn’t even flinch from my near-strike. He only continued staring me down. I dropped my hand and Kellan smirked at me. Shaking his head, he quietly said, "You can leave now."

My eyes tearing up, I whispered, "You’re so wrong…"

Turning away from me, he started walking into the living room. "Am I?" he tossed over his shoulder.

Balling my hands into fists, I started to follow him. "Yes, you are completely off on this one. I didn’t sleep with Denny, I didn’t sleep with anyone. I’m not the one who-"

His jacket, hanging on a hook near me, chirped, signaling a new text message. Remembering why I’d really come here- to get the truth from him, the hypocrite- I made a beeline for his coat. His eyes widened as he realized what I was doing.

"Kiera, no!"

He moved towards me fast, but I was much faster. I had the phone retrieved and the message displayed before he got anywhere near me. Shaking my head, I read the text aloud to him. "Call me. I need to see you." My voice shook in my own sudden anger.

Kellan’s face was pale as he looked at the phone and my eyes, seeming like he was afraid about what I might do. His hand shaking, he extended it to me. "Please, give it back, Kiera."

Gripping it tighter, my body shaking as his secret started bubbling to the surface, I shook my head. "No, no I think I’ll text the hussy back." I started to type in a message, but Kellan…flipped out.

Running to my side, he snatched the phone away and shoved my shoulder. He’d pushed me into the jacket hooks and a flash of pain went through me as I scraped against one. I winced and rubbed my arm. Kellan’s eyes softened apologetically, but he clenched the phone to himself in relief.

Shaking my head, tears in my eyes, I snapped, "Who’s the liar now, Kellan!"

He shook his head, his face still pale. "This is different. This isn’t about you and me."

I put my hands on my hips, confused. "Then tell me the truth. What are you hiding?"

His eyes flashed to my body, hardening up again. "It doesn’t concern you, and I don’t have to tell you anything anymore."

Stubborn, angry tears leaking down my cheeks, I threw my hands in the air. "Fine, keep your f**king secrets, Kellan." He blinked at my seldom used swear, then gritted his jaw.

Knowing nothing good would happen if I stayed, I twisted back to the front door. He did nothing to stop me from opening it. The cool night air refreshing my face, I paused as I stared out into the empty night. Feeling just as empty inside, I tossed over my shoulder, "And just so you know, I’m not pregnant, a**hole…Anna is. Griffin knocked her up in Boise and she’s freaking out about it."

With those words, I stepped outside, slamming the door shut behind me.

I was halfway across the street, having no idea where I was going, since I didn’t feel like going anywhere, when Kellan opened his front door. "Kiera, wait!" He yelled at me to stop, but I didn’t. We were done. I didn’t have to listen to him anymore…and I was pretty pissed off.

I was on the other side of the street when he finally caught up to me. Breathing heavier, he jerked my arm to make me stop. A slight wind whipped around the light lounge pants I was wearing, but I barely felt the chill. I had way too much adrenaline in me.

His gorgeous face looking like I’d just told him that pigs had started flying, he stared at me open-mouthed. "Anna? Anna’s pregnant?"

I jerked my arm away from him, raising my chin. "Yes." My answer was crisp, as clipped as I could make the sound.

He flinched at my tone, then tenderly tried to put his hand on my arm. I pulled away, not letting him touch me. "Why didn’t you tell me?" he whispered.

I sighed, feeling the tug of love in my soul as his sad eyes flicked over my face. I wanted to forgive him everything, but I couldn’t. I didn’t trust him. "Anna made me promise not to say anything." Hanging my head, I added, "She’s not sure if she’s going…to keep it."

Kellan’s body straightened in my vision. I peeked up at his face, the light wind ruffling his hair. His eyes were cautious. "She’s not…she’s not going to…"

He swallowed, not finishing his question. I shook my head, understanding it. "No, she’s going through with the pregnancy, she’s just not sure about…adoption." I sighed again, hoping my sister didn’t go that route. Even being half-Griffin, I wanted to know my niece or nephew. It wasn’t my choice, though, and I’d support her, no matter what she decided.

Kellan let out an exhale. "Oh, good, I’d hate for…"

He trailed off and bit his lip. I watched his contemplative eyes. Kellan could have been an aborted baby, his mom had had reason enough. I supposed he had a strong feeling on the matter, since he could have easily never been born. I wondered how he felt about adoption, since that might have been an easier childhood for him. Then I hardened my heart again. It didn’t matter what he thought…not anymore.

Just as Kellan rolled his eyes and muttered, "Damn Griffin…I’m gonna kill him…" I twisted to keep walking down the street to nowhere.