Love Obsessed

by Veronica Short

  “Because he needs me right now, and it’s not forever. It’s just for a little while.” I reach my hand out and pick up the necklace from around her neck. My eyes grow cold, “I’m not comfortable with this. I don’t like it.”

  “I’m sorry, but when this is over, I’m all yours... if you still want me.”

  I lunge at Erin, engulfing her in a hug, and we crash to the ground, lips locked. “I’ll always want you, honey. Always and forever.”

  “Good.”

  Erin

  “What are you doing here?” Beth sneers when she sees me enter the doctor’s clinic with Brandon.

  “I’m here for Brandon.”

  “Leave her alone, Beth. Let’s get this over with,” Brandon says, squeezing my hand.

  “Nice way to talk about your son or daughter. Aren’t you meant to be in New York with Jake?” she directs toward me.

  “Change of plans,” I tell her. We take a seat in the waiting room and wait for the doctor to call Beth’s name.

  Beth has shown Brandon a positive pregnancy test, and today is the first ultra sound. Her name is called and Beth gets up. Brandon hesitates before he moves.

  “Breathe; I’ll be here when you get back. You’re here to confirm the test, and then we’ll go from there.” He’s at a loss for words. Worry and stress are evident in his facial features. He nods and walks to the back.

  When he emerges, he envelopes me and cries softly into my shoulder. She’s telling the truth. Beth really is pregnant.

  ***

  “The dates match up to the time we were together,” Brandon tells me before he downs a shot.

  “This isn’t over. We’ll get a paternity test.”

  “She is going to hate me if I ask for one.”

  “You have to know for sure. You don’t want to be stuck with Beth in your life forever if the baby isn’t yours. Make sure before you make any rush decisions.”

  “Mum and Dad are going to be so disappointed in me.”

  “They’ll understand.”

  “God, I’m going to have to marry her, and agh... What if she wants more kids? I can’t.”

  He shakes his head while pouring two more shots, “I don’t love her. I can’t marry someone I don’t love, but if it’s my baby, I’ll have to.” He downs his shot and I down mine. “And what if she doesn’t consent to the test? What then?”

  I pour the shots next, my hand shaking slightly. It was a new bottle when we brought it out, but now it’s past half empty. “If she doesn’t consent, we know that she’s hiding something.”

  “True. Good point. If she says no, then we know.”

  “Exactly.”

  “And if she says yes?” his voice drops. Brandon wants kids, just not yet, and he wants them with the right person; someone he loves.

  “Then we wait for the results.”

  “And in between?” More shots.

  “The results will be in before the baby is due, and babies don’t need anything while in the womb, so.....don’t worry about it... as much as you can’t worry about it anyway.”

  Brandon pours the next round, spilling the bottle as he does. “Shit,” he states so seriously it makes me break out laughing. Brandon joins in, too.

  “I blame graduation.”

  “Stupid graduation,” Brandon confirms.

  Cole

  My phone is ringing at an insane hour. I groan, rolling over to see who it is. “Erin.” I shoot out of bed, “What’s wrong? Where are you?” I start to get dressed and hear giggling. I freeze and listen to her laugh. “Are you drunk?” I ask.

  She laughs harder. “I have an idea,” she slurs out. She’s not just drunk; she’s smashed.

  “And what’s that?”

  “I want to sneak you in here. I miss you, and need you, and... and... Brandon passed out not long ago. Come over.”

  I chuckle a bit. “Brandon let you drink until he passed out. That doesn’t sound like him.”

  “It was a big day, a hard day. Speaking of hard... come over,” she whispers.

  “I shouldn’t have to sneak into my fiancés bedroom.”

  “Say it again.”

  “I shouldn’t have to sneak into my fiancés bedroom.”

  “Not that bit, silly.”

  “My fiancé.” I huskily speak. Erin moans and I’m out the door and on my way. When I arrive, the door is unlocked and the apartment is dark. I walk quietly into Erin’s bedroom and spot her on the bed, naked and passed out. She is beautiful. I walk over to her and pick her up, pulling the blankets back before placing her down again. She stirs and then stills again. I undress and climb into bed, pull the blankets up over us, and hold her in my arms.

  I start to wake from the best dream. It’s of Erin and me. I moan and move my hands under the sheet finding Erin. I pick the blanket up, and there she is. It wasn’t a dream, but it is a fucking good way to be waked up.

  “Erin,” I moan. It feels so good. She moans around me, and I come in her mouth. Erin kisses her way up my body to my lips.

  “Morning,” she whispers.

  “Morning,” I say, rolling us over so that I’m on top of her. I love being with Erin this way. Aware that her ribs are still healing, I keep my body raised up. I can’t wait until she’s healed.

  “Sorry I passed out on you last night.”

  “It’s alright. You just made it up to me.”

  “Good. That was the aim.”

  Erin

  “I can’t believe that I have to sneak out,” Cole complains as he kisses my ear at the door.

  “That’s what you said about sneaking in,” I remind Cole.

  “I can’t wait until you move in with me.”

  “Soon, honey.”

  “I love you.”

  “Love you too.” I kiss him, and he leaves. I turn, closing the door behind me, and look at the state of the apartment. It’s a mess, so I get to work cleaning it up. I’m doing the kitchen, remembering the time I saw Brandon and Beth on the bench, and use extra cleaner. I’m scrubbing away when Brandon walks down the hallway.

  “You’re going to take the laminate off, if you keep at it.”

  “Well, I just want to make sure that Beth didn’t leave any germs here.”

  Brandon goes silent. I look up at him and he quietly curses, “I’m sorry, baby. I...”

  “Don’t. It’s ok. Let’s not remember that time in our lives.”

  “Deal. You hungry?”

  “Starving.”

  ***

  “This is your idea, isn’t it? Brandon trusted me before you came back into his life. You should have left and never returned. Brandon was better without you.” Beth is angry.

  “Don’t you dare talk to Erin that way. You want me to be in this baby’s life, but I need to know that it’s mine.”

  “I told you it’s yours. Now you want a paternity test.”

  “I was stupid for getting with you in the first place. I won’t be stupid again, when it comes to you and believing what you tell me.”

  “I didn’t have to tell you about the baby.”

  “No, you didn’t, but you have, and now you’re going to consent to the test.”

  Beth is silent for a moment, anger flowing off of her. “Fine. I’ll let you know when it’s done.”

  “He’ll be there for the test,” I chuck in. “They’ll need his DNA.” She stares at me, what I think is her intimidation stare. It doesn’t work, so she turns and walks away.

  Cole

  “What’s going on over there?” I asked Erin over the phone one night.

  “You know that I can’t say.”

  “But, it’s me.”

  “I’m sorry, but I promised Brandon that I won’t say.”

  “But, it’s me you’re talking too.”

  “Please don’t ask again, Cole. I can’t tell you.”

  That pisses me off, “I need to see you, Erin. Tonight.”

  “Ok. I’ll come around.”

  Erin

  I enter Cole
’s apartment, and he’s sitting on the couch waiting for me. He doesn’t look happy. “Why did it take you so long to get here?” he asks.

  “I had to wait for Brandon...”

  “Brandon!” He yells, throwing his hands up. I take an involuntary step back. Cole is angry. “You shouldn’t have to sneak out to see me, Erin. I thought that we were over all of this, and that we were going to be together openly for everyone to see, including Brandon.”

  “We are,” I defend.

  “No, we’re not!” Cole stares at me.

  “What do you want me to do? Brandon needs me right now!”

  “I need you!” Cole points a finger into his chest.

  “You have me!”

  “No, I don’t. Brandon has you, and I’m, as usual, second choice!”

  “You are not...” I start, but am interrupted

  “Yes I am! I’ve had enough of this. It’s been months, and I want my fiancé here with me, not with another man!”

  “I’m not with Brandon!” I throw my hands up in exasperation now.

  “You’re not here either!”

  “What do you want me to do?!”

  “Stay here! Move in here! Be here with me. Wear your engagement ring and be with me!”

  “I am with you!” I’m getting so angry that tears are threatening to fall.

  “Not while you’re with Brandon, you’re not!”

  “Do not make me choose, Cole!”

  “Why not! Brandon did!” He has his arms crossed now.

  “That was different!”

  “No it wasn’t! Me or Brandon? Choose!”

  I stare at him. “Don’t do this, Cole, please,” I plead quietly.

  “You choose Brandon,” he whispers.

  “He needs me right now,” I say, stressing that he needs me.

  “I need you more,” is all Cole says before he leaves the apartment, leaving me to collapse to the floor and cry.

  ***

  “It’s mine,” Brandon says, plonking himself down on the chair next to me. I can’t believe it, either. The paternity test came back positive. The baby is Brandon’s. “What are mum and dad going to think?”

  “They’ll understand,” I assure him.

  He shakes his head, “I’m going to have to marry her. I don’t want to marry her.”

  “Brandon, these days, people have babies all the time without getting married. You don’t have to marry her.”

  “Not my kids. I always thought that my wife would have my kids, not some fling.”

  I hold his hand and squeeze it, “It’s going to be fine.”

  “No. It’s not. She’s stuck in my life forever, and now I have a kid. God, Erin, a kid. I’m going to be a dad.” He sinks back into his chair. This is killing him.

  “I’m right here, Brandon. For all you know, Beth doesn’t want to marry you.”

  He shrugs, “I don’t know. I guess that’s an option.”

  “Let’s sleep on it, and then make decisions later.” Brandon isn’t convinced, and neither am I.

  Cole

  We’ve all been summoned to Mum and Dad’s. Brandon has something to tell us. We’re all seated in the living room, when both Erin and Brandon walk in, holding hands. I want to jump up and punch him in the face, but remain calm. The ‘hellos’ go around, and then they sit down. Something isn’t right. Brandon looks devastated and scared.

  “I have something to tell you,” he starts, his voice cracking and tears evident in his eyes. He looks at Erin, who pats their joined hands and smiles slightly. This is what she was hiding from me.

  “I’m going to be a dad.” The air in the room stills. No one moves. No one breathes. “You guys have never met her. Well, you did, Cole.” No. Fucking. Way.

  “You got that bitch pregnant!” I stand up, and Brandon doesn’t move a muscle.

  “Don’t, Cole. He’s beating himself up enough as it is,” Erin says.

  “This is what you were hiding from me? That he knocked up some random bitch who made your life hell? You should have told me!”

  “Don’t yell at Erin!” Brandon says in the background.

  “It was not my news to tell, Cole. I told you that. All you had to do was wait a little bit longer.”

  “If you had told me.....”

  “I don’t think that it would have changed anything.” She’s serious. I stop and frown at her. What is she trying to say?

  “What’s the plan now? Are you going to be in the baby’s life, or....” Ryan trails off.

  “As much as I hate to, I was raised right. My child will have my name, and I will be in its life, so I’m going to marry her.”

  I don’t know what to say. “What do you have to say about this, Erin?” I asked, wanting to know her feelings about the situation.

  “This isn’t about me.”

  “I’m making it about you. Brandon is being taken away from you. How do you feel about that?” My sarcasm is very evident.

  “Cole,” Ryan says. Mum and Dad still haven’t said anything about this.

  “I’m a big girl. I can look after myself, without Brandon.”

  “Yeah? How did that work out for you the last time?” I know that it’s wrong the moment I say it. Erin’s eyes widened.

  “Cole!” Ryan says, and then Brandon hits me in the face and I’m on the floor.

  Erin

  Brandon asks Beth to marry him, and she says yes on one condition; that I move out of Brandon’s and limit all contact to virtually nothing. I agree before Brandon can say anything. He is going through enough as it is, and I don’t want him to have to choose, so I do it for him. It sucks and hurts, but I’m doing what’s right for Brandon.

  “I’ll always be here. A phone call away,” I assure him. We’re standing outside his apartment, the car packed, saying our goodbyes.

  “I’m such a bad person. I’m so sorry, baby.”

  “It’s ok, Brandon. Just remember that I’m a phone call away, no matter when or where. Call me.”

  He hugs me so tightly, I feel like my insides are going to explode. “I love you. You remember that.”

  “I will and I love you too. You remember that.”

  “Always. Let me know where you end up.”

  “Of course.” Brandon kisses my cheek, and I climb into my car and drive away, with no destination in mind. I’m starting from scratch. I can do this. It isn’t until I clear the city limits that the tears start to flow.

  ***

  I found a nice little apartment in a lovely area in the outer city. It wasn’t hard to find a new job; teachers are needed everywhere. The school is older, but no matter where you go, kids are kids, and that will never change. It’s been a few weeks since I moved away from everyone, and I have spoken to everyone but Cole. He hasn’t called, and I haven’t called him either.

  “Hey, honey.”

  “Hey, Dad.”

  “Mum wants to know if you’ll be coming for dinner this week. You haven’t been to the last few, and she’s getting worried that something’s wrong. I’m starting to get worried as well, to tell you the truth.”

  “I had unpacking to do, and then I started my new job. I’ve been busy, dad.”

  “So, dinner this weekend?”

  I guess that I can’t put off dinner any longer. With a deep breath, I answer, “Yeah. I’ll be there.”

  “Great.” I can hear his smile, “See you then.”

  “Yeah.”

  ***

  Sunday, I arrive for dinner, and I’m the only one here so far. I help Mum out in the kitchen. We all catch up and wait for everyone to get here.

  As we’re setting the table, the front door opens, “Erin.” I turn to see Ryan walking out from the house. “Hey,” he says, coming over to me.

  I go over and hug him, “Hey Ry.” When I pull back, I notice Cole standing behind him. He just stares at me, and then walks away and through the house. We hear a door close. I sit back down and just look at the table.

  “Ignore him. He’s
just being an asshole,” Ryan says, clearly pissed off Cole’s behaviour.

  “It’s alright,” I assure him. We have finished setting the table, when Cole appears again.

  “What are you doing here!?” he steps outside. “I have been fucking freaking out, because you just up and disappeared again. What the hell, Erin? Make up your mind where you’re going to be, and stop fucking doing this! You’re here, or you’re not! You can’t have it both ways!”

  Dad stands up and moves around the table. “Erin is here for dinner. If you have a problem with that, you need to leave,” Dad says.

  “Just like when she brought Jake here?” Cole asks. I freeze at his name, and Ryan must have felt it, because he grabs my hand.

  “That’s enough, Cole,” Dad says.

  “I should go,” I say quietly.

  “Good idea.” I turn to see Beth and Brandon walk out of the lounge room. “Did you know that she was going to be here?” she asks Brandon.

  “Don’t start, Beth,” he says, looking at me.

  “You always take her side,” Beth whines.

  I get up and Ryan gets up with me “You don’t have to go. This is just as much your home, too.” If only that was true.

  “Stay, Erin. We’ll go,” Brandon says.

  “It’s ok, Brandon,” I start to walk back into the house.

  “Bye,” Beth says snidely.

  “Don’t talk to her,” Brandon says.

  “I was just saying bye.”

  “That’s enough from you, Beth,” Ryan says.

  “Are you going to let him talk to me like that?” she whines.

  “Leave it, Beth,” Brandon says, and Beth storms past me and goes outside.

  “Sorry, baby,” Brandon offers.

  I offer him a small smile and go over for a hug, “It’s ok. It was good seeing you all again.”

  “You’re not going anywhere Erin,” Dad firmly declares.

  “Yeah, I’m just going to head home.” I go up and hug him.

  “We’ll walk you out, then,” Dad says.

  We walk through the house and out to the drive way. “You don’t have to go,” Mum says.

  “Yeah I do. I know when I’m not wanted.”

  “We’re sorry about this,” Dad says. They both kiss and hug me before I get into the car to drive home.

  Cole

  “What?” I ask Ryan, sick of him looking at me.

  “What the fuck was that?! We come over here for a family dinner, you see Erin, and you verbally attack her! You’re an asshole! You know that, right? You’re a self centred prick and are so self consumed. The whole world rotates around Cole. You’re a fucking moron, and I’m starting to see that Brandon was right in keeping Erin away from you. You don’t care about anyone else but you. You have no right to talk to her the way you did. You don’t deserve her. First, you kick her out of your apartment after making a cheater out of her...”