The Lies That Bind

|4| In My Veins

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                                                Chapter 4: In My Veins

Nothing goes as planned
Everything will break
People say goodbye
In their own special way
All that you rely on
And all that you can fake
Will leave you in the morning
But find you in the day

     My cell phone ringing in my purse snaps me from my sour thoughts. It's that loud, beeping Android ringtone that just gets louder as the seconds tick. I shuffle though my messy bag until I find it, surprised that it's Ray's number on the caller ID.

      "Hey," I greet him with a smile.

     "Where the hell are you, Scarlett?" he hollers into the phone, his voice worried and angry at the same time.

     I roll my eyes, shaking my head. "I am fine," I reply in assurance. "I am just taking a detour," I add as I glance at Blake who gives me a curious look.

     "And you didn't have the decency to call me?" he bits out furiously. "I've been worried sick that you were kidnapped or dying in some dark alley, or something."

     Guilt shoots right through me as his words sink in. Ray is my best friend. He is the one who holds me together. Through every single step of this pregnancy, the move, the job, the new life; he's like a guardian angel who watches over me. I can't thank him enough for what he's done for me. I owe everything to him.

     "I'm sorry."

     The words escape my lips but I feel like they are overused and meaningless. I say them to Blake like a broken record and somehow it doesn't feel right for Ray. Somehow, I feel like Ray deserves an explanation. Yet, as I gaze at Blake's confused expression that darkens as he realizes it's a man's voice on the other line, I know I can't do that.

     "Where are you right now?" he questions hurriedly, dismissing my apology. "I'll pick you up."

    "I...I've got a ride, Ray," I decline. "I'll explain everything tomorrow. Will you tell Julian I won't be able to come in tomorrow?"

     "Scar," he mutters into the phone with a sigh. "Where the hell are you?"

     I wince at his tone and notice as Blake's fingers start to twitch. I don't dare look at him, knowing he'd probably demand for an explanation as well.

     "I met a...friend. He's going to take me home."

     "What friend, Scar? You don't know anyone in this city."

     I sigh heavily and lean my head back into the seat. "Can you hold off your interrogation until tomorrow? I promise you I'm okay and I'll tell you everything tomorrow."

     "You promise?"

     "Yes," I reply smiling confidently. "I promise." 

     "And this friend of yours...does he happen to be the father of your baby?"

     My eyes widen in surprise at his statement. "Yes," I breathe out in a whisper.

     There is a short wave of silence on the line before I hear him again. "I guess you couldn't hide forever, huh?" he chuckles dryly. I am not sure if his tone is laced with disappointment or defeat.