The Heart of Mine (2 page)

The other side of me was white as a ghost, sitting in the corner hyperventilating. I mean, I'm only seventeen almost eighteen, but a teenager regardless. I didn't know the first thing about raising a baby and I was pretty sure that Madison was goin' to shit a brick when I told him.

The day of his grandfather's funeral wasn't the day to tell him that his future was changing in a matter of months. Shit! I had totally forgotten about the record deal. Of course, the decision was up in the air at the moment, due to the sad loss of Madison's granddad, but what was I going to do if he decided to go? This had been my biggest fear from the start. I never wanted him to have to give up anything to be with me. I wanted him to have it all.

I knew Madison well enough to know, that he would never do anything he didn't want to do, but I also knew how much he loved me and would do anything for me. My head and heart were bein' pulled in a million different directions and I felt as though I was being torn in two.

I caught a glimpse of Cami and Glenn out of the corner of my eye, and couldn't help but smile. She was sittin' on his lap laughing at some ridiculous joke that he had just told her. At that very instant, I found myself jealous of what they had. I knew I had it just as good, but there were days when I wondered when it would all come crashing down around me. Just as I felt a stray tear slide down my cheek, a warm hand appeared, wiping it away. When I turned, Madison was pulling me onto his lap and smiling.

"What's wrong, pretty girl? You know I don't like seein' ya cry?"

Was he for real? Today of all days, he was worried about
me,
when I should be the one worried about
him
.

"I'm okay. It's just a sad day. Your granddad was such an amazing man. It's sad that he's gone." Madison's face fell as his smile disappeared. I ran the back of my hand down his cheek and instantly regretted even bringing it up. "I'm sorry, cowboy."

"For what? It's not your fault. It is what it is, I suppose. Thank you for bein' here."

"There's nowhere else I would rather be. You know that, right?"

His frown was replaced with that mega watt smile and I couldn't help but smile right along with him. I gently pressed my lips against his and sucked in a large breath. Regardless of how I felt, Madison was going to make an amazing father. I just knew deep down, that he would try his damnedest to be everything his father wasn't. This baby growing inside of me was one lucky little boy or girl.

We all hung out on the couch watching random movies on the television. I lay unmoving in Madison's arms that were securely wrapped around me. In that very instant, I realized that I never wanted to leave his embrace. I wanted to stay just like this for as long as possible. Apparently, that
was
too much to ask. Seconds later, Madison's phone started ringing nonstop. He tried to ignore it as long as he could, until I finally nudged him. He gave a roll of his eyes when he saw who it was calling, but I urged him to answer anyway.

"Hello?"

I couldn't hear Joey on the other line, but by Madison's reaction I could tell it wasn't anything good. Every muscle in his body flexed and tightened under my hand. I could feel the anger radiating off of him and transferring onto me. My body stiffened in response to his anger and I could feel myself getting closer to ripping that stupid phone out of his hand.

"Yeah, I hear ya. Thanks, man. I owe you, I guess."

The screen on his phone went black as his knuckles turned white underneath his tight grip. "What did he say?"

"Nothing of importance. Kayla, I think I should probably head up to bed. Glenn can you make sure the girls get home?"

"Yeah, bro. Of course."

I shot up into a standing position right in front of Madison, demanding answers. "You better plan on tellin' me what the hell is goin' on?"

"Tomorrow, pretty girl. I promise."

His hands gripped around my shoulders tightly before planting a kiss to the top of my head and releasing me. Before I could get in a word edge wise, he was gone. I turned towards Cami, who could sense my breakdown coming on. She quickly rushed to my side, waving off Glenn when he tried to ask what was goin' on.

"Take me home please." I whispered into her hair as she held me tightly against her small body.

"Of course."

She quickly let Glenn know that she would walk me home. Glenn of course tried to protest, but what Cami wanted, she usually got. We made our way out the back door and in the direction of my house. I glanced back over my shoulder and up at Madison's window. I caught sight of his shadow in the small window above his bed, but as quickly as it appeared, it disappeared.

When we reached my backdoor, my grandmother and grandfather sat on the porch awaiting my arrival. I gave a halfhearted smile and proceeded inside. I wasn't in the mood to deal with anyone, especially not my overbearing grandparents. I needed to be alone to digest all the events of the last week, but most of all, I needed sleep.

Madison

I found myself pressing my hands against the cool glass on my window as I watched her and Cami walking by. I could feel her pull to me. I could feel her heart hurting for me, just as my heart hurt for her. When she glanced up at me, I quickly turned off my light and settled in for a long nights rest.

I was overwhelmed with the events of today and yesterday. My life was beginning to get beyond complicated, and I could feel myself getting to the edge of never. Everything inside of me was tellin' me to jump. To just let go and let everyone else deal with the consequences, but I couldn't. I wouldn't in a million years ever put Kayla through that. She deserved me at my best and damn it if I wasn't willing to prove that to her.

As I lay there on my bed, staring aimlessly at the ceiling, Joey's words from early kept invading my thoughts. They were haunting me, taunting me to do something I knew I would instantly regret, only because I knew that my actions had the power to take away everything of importance to me. I clicked the home button on my phone, illuminating the screen, so I could see what time it was.

Unfortunately, it was only ten o'clock at night. I let out a loud sigh just as I heard a small knock at my door. Everything inside of me wanted it to be Kayla. I imagined runnin' to my door, swinging it open wide and pullin' her up and into my embrace. I could feel her skin against mine, wiling me to undress her amazing little body to take full advantage of what was mine.

To my dismay, it was my gran. She looked tattered and worn down, and my heart jumped into my throat. My throat that was now constricting and dry. Her look was full of worry and I was at a loss for words to comfort her.

I pulled her into my arms and gave her a small squeeze. "What is it, Gran?"

I could feel her sobs making her body tremble. "He's gone, Madi. What in the world am I supposed to do without him? He was my world, my everything, and now I have nothing."

"That's where you're wrong, Gran. You have me. You will
always
have me."

I bent down, scooping my gran in my arms, before carrying her off to bed. By the time we reached her doorway, she was fast asleep in my arms. I placed a small kiss against her tear-streaked cheek and placed her on top of her mattress, pulling the comforter up and over her.

There was nothin' I wouldn't do for this little old lady in front of me. I would go to the ends of the earth for her. Hell, I would die for her, if it meant she would be safe and happy. As I stood there looking down at the only woman who had ever loved me unconditionally and without question, I vowed to keep the one man away from her that could hurt her more than anything else in this world.

I could instantly feel my anger rush through my veins with a force that I wasn't used to. I slowly backed out of the room, closing the door behind me. I tried to go back to my room, I honestly did, but there was somethin' I
had
to do.

I snatched my keys off of the table and ran like hell out to my truck. Before I had time to talk myself outta it, I pressed my foot to the floor, pushing the truck faster with every passing mile. I was vaguely aware of my surroundings, when I pulled into the parking lot of the local bar. I was underage and knew it was highly unlikely that I would be able to get in, but I had to try. Someone sat behind those doors that had the potential to ruin everything I have.

I slipped my keys and phone into my front pocket before makin' my way up to the side entrance. Relief washed over me, as I caught sight of Bryan manning the door. I made my way up to him just as the last person waiting in line made their way inside. Bryan's hard look quickly turned soft as I approached him, and I could only assume that Glenn had told him what had happened. I stuck my hand out as I got closer, but Bryan pulled me into a deep manly hug instead.

"I'm so sorry, bro."

"Thanks, man. Hey I have a huge favor to ask of you. I know we aren't close or anything, but I need to get inside for a minute. I promise I won't cause any problems, I just need to see if someone I know is here."

"Bro, you know I would love to help you, but if you guys aren't playin' it's real hard for me to do that."

"It's a matter of life and death. And not my life, Kayla's." Yeah, I played the Kayla card. I knew how much he cared for my girl and knowing that, made it easy for me to play him. "Alright, you've got ten minutes."

"Thanks, Bryan."

"Sure thing, man."

I slapped my hand down on Bryan's shoulder as I entered the bar in a show of appreciation. I quickly did a once over of everyone in front of the stage before makin' my way over to the bar area. The band that was playin' tonight was gearing up to go on stage, so I had to move quickly. As soon as the lights went down, there was no way in hell I would be able to spot him.

I slid past a few people pressed up against the bar, when I caught sight of his dirty blonde hair sticking up in every direction. I had never seen him before, but Joey was pretty descriptive with his description of him earlier. When he turned and I caught sight of his face, it took every ounce of control inside of me not to go runnin' over the top of people and tables to get to him.

I stood, stuck in place when I felt a hand clasp down onto my shoulder. I turned quickly, ready for a fight if that's what it came down to. I cocked my fist back ready to unleash as I caught sight of Bryan's tall frame in front of me. I dropped my fist and followed him as he led me through the crowd and out the side entrance.

"Thanks Bryan. I owe you."

"No worries, man. Take care of that girl and tell her I say hi."

"Will do."

I shook his hand and made my way out to my truck. Life just got ten times more complicated than I could've imagined. I started my truck and intentionally squealed the tires as I took off in the direction of my house.

Kayla

I squinted my eyes as the rising sun came shining through my bedroom window. I knew I had only gotten maybe three hours of sleep, which explained the exhaustion I felt. My eyes were dry and burning as I lay staring into the direct sunlight. I could feel my hand resting against my flat stomach and I swiftly brought it out from under the covers. As I turned onto my other side, I came face to face with my best friend staring in my direction.

"Well good mornin' sunshine." I whispered in her direction.

"Good morning. When were you going to tell me Kay?"

My mouth instantly went dry. "What are you talkin' about?"

"Don't play dumb with me. I saw the test in the bathroom trash can."

A million different emotions ran through me before I could find my voice to respond. "I..I.."

"I swear to god, if you try to lie to me right now, I will beat your Texan ass."

"I was going to tell you, I swear I was. I found out yesterday before the funeral and well...it just didn't seem like the right time."

"I get it."

I lay there staring directly into my best friend's curious eyes. I wanted to tell
her
more than anything yesterday, and I had every intention in doing so, but part of me didn't want to believe it was true.

"Look, I haven't told Madison, and I'm not exactly sure when I will. With everything that's happened, I just need it to be the right time, you know?"

"Is it his?"

Her voice was no louder than a whisper and I found myself short of breath as I let her question sink in. When I didn't answer right away, Cami pushed my arm gently.

"Um.." I sat up against my headboard counting in my head. I wasn't sure how far along I was and that was what would determine whose it was. I hadn't even factored in what had happened with Wren.

Oh my god, what if it was his? I wasn't even sure how Madison would react knowing he was going to be a father, but I
really
didn't know how he would react if I said the baby wasn't his. Cami must've sensed my horror, because she was quickly sitting next to me with her arm draped over my shoulders.

"Honey, I didn't mean to scare you. I was just curious. Just breathe, we will figure it out. I promise."

"Cami, what if it is Wren's? What if I lose Madison?" My head dropped into my hands as tears rolled down my fingers.

"Oh love, you know Madison would never leave you because of something like that. I'm sure everything will be just fine. Now stop crying and let's get you some breakfast. That baby needs to eat and so do you. You haven't eaten anything since yesterday morning."