In The End (Sequel to In Real Life - Nemi)

Olive & an Arrow

Seeing Wilmer dressed in a matching costume with Demi was like a stab in the heart. I deserved it. I hurt her. I had no right to be pissed if she moved on with Wilmer. I was not having him raise my baby. No. That wasn't happening. I'd die before I let that happen.

I tried to give Demi space after I saw her with Wilmer. I wanted to text her or call her or stalk her, but I was busy filming my show, thank God. I waited a few days before I sent her a text, simply asking her she was doing & how she was feeling. I got back a simple 'fine' & that was that. I gave her a few more days before I called her again. No answer, so I left a message to let her know I was thinking about her & told her to call me. I didn't hear from her.

I saw some photos of Wilmer & Demi online, but they weren't being affectionate at all. Of course, the rumors started that Wilmer was the father of her baby. That pissed me off, but what was I going to do? I hadn't even told my family that Demi had left me. Mike knew & Joe knew & that was it. They were both sworn to secrecy. As far as Demi's family, I was pretty sure she hadn't told them anything either.

Olivia & I were working one day & were shooting a scene outside. We were on a pier, sitting at a table, pretending to be on a date for our scene. We were holding hands & I was touching her hair & there was a kiss or two. Lots of people were taking photos as we shot & I didn't think anything of it, until Joe called me that night. It had been almost two weeks since I had seen Demi.

"Dude, are you & Olivia back together?" Joe asked when I answered the phone.

"No, why?"

"Wilmer called me & said Demi was convinced you guys were back together."

"What? Why?" My heart fluttered, thinking Demi was jealous right now. Maybe this was the olive branch I needed.

"She saw some photos of you guys together & I guess there was an article & a source close to you guys confirmed that you are hot & heavy on set & that you are so in love with her, that you decided to give her another chance."

"Jesus. Are you serious?" I rolled my eyes. I hated paparazzi. With a passion. "I'll go talk to her in the morning."

"Probably a good idea." Joe agreed. We talked for a few minutes longer, then I headed to bed. When I woke up, I jumped out of bed with a quickness. I needed to see Demi & explain that I wasn't with Olivia & I certainly wasn't in love with her. I showered, quickly, checked my sugar, ate & I was out the door.

Demi looked so beautiful when she answered the door, that I couldn't help but to smile. She didn't smile back, however. Instead, she rolled her eyes to the ceiling & sighed.

"Can I come in?" I asked. She shrugged her shoulders & let go of the door to turn around & walk back to her kitchen. I followed her, after I closed the door, quietly. As I walked to her kitchen, I couldn't help but to look around to see if I saw any signs of Wilmer. I didn't. Demi was sitting at her kitchen counter, eating a bowl of oatmeal & sipping some tea. "How you feeling?"

"Great." Her answer was flat.

"Good. I wanted to come tell you in person that the photos you saw of me & Olivia were from the show. We aren't back together."

"I really don't care." Demi stared at her phone.

"Joe said you were upset. He said you were convinced that we were back together."

Demi rolled her eyes again. "You probably are & I don't give a fuck. I'm done. We're done. I even got the paperwork for our dissolution that you can sign today." Demi stood up, keeping her eyes locked on mine as she took her bowl to the sink.

I felt my breath catch. "I'm not signing anything today. We're staying married until the baby is born."

Demi spun around. "I want out of this marriage as soon as possible."

"Well, you can wait until the baby is born." I said, my voice firm. "My daughter will not be born out of wedlock, Demi."

Tears sprang to Demi's eyes, confusing me. I watched her shake her head. "Just sign the papers, Nick."

"No. If you want a divorce I'll fight ya for it. I don't want to see my daughter for a few hours on weekends, so if you really want a divorce, I'll fight ya after she's born & maybe we'll have a custody battle, too. I'm not giving up on our family or my daughter."

"SHE'S NOT EVEN YOUR DAUGHTER!" Demi screamed.

I took a step back, reeling from what she just shouted in my face. "What did you say?"

Demi's face scrunched up in distress as the tears poured from her eyes. "I'm sorry, Nick. I know you probably think I'm no better than Olivia, but I didn't intentionally lie to you. I really thought this was your baby."

I shook my head in disbelief & confusion. I could feel warm tears behind my eyes now. "What are you talking about?"

"I had an ultrasound a few weeks ago & they told me I am two to three weeks farther along than they originally thought." Demi was blubbering as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. "I had sex with Wilmer before I left for Africa. About two weeks or so before you & I got together & we didn't use anything. It's Wilmer's baby, not yours. I'm so sorry."

I stared at her as she spoke. Was she fucking serious? I couldn't even speak. I felt a lump in my throat & the tears that burned my eyes, before, were now filling them up. I took another step away from Demi, feeling like I wanted to run out of there as fast as I could.

"Please don't hate me." She sobbed.

How could I not? Seriously. She was no better than Olivia. She betrayed me. In the worst possible way. "So were you going to tell me?"

"Yes. I swear! I just found out. I really thought it was yours. Wilmer & I had unprotected sex all the time over the years & I never got pregnant. It has to be his, though, with the dates as they are now. Nick, I never wanted to hurt you like this. Please believe me when I say that it wasn't intentional."

I backed away from her, slowly, feeling nauseous. "Don't tell anyone in our family or my friends. Please. I don't want to ruin anyone's holidays." I was in shock right now. I couldn't think clearly. I watched as Demi nodded, agreeing with me. "Are you going to marry him?"

"I don't know." She answered in a quiet voice.

I couldn't see clearly because of the tears in my eyes. I blinked a few times to let them escape. "I can't believe you lied. I mean you had to know there was a chance." I was starting to feel the anger building now within me.

She shook her head. "I didn't think it could be his at all. I had gotten my period the week I came home from Africa. Please believe me." She took a step toward me & I backed away again. "Nick, please don't hate me." She took a ragged breath. "I know you aren't in love with me, but I couldn't take it if you hated me."

"I need to go." I said, turning, quickly on my heel & heading toward her front door. I couldn't get out of there fast enough. Not only was I losing my wife, but I lost my baby & my best friend. I lost my everything, if I was being honest. I felt like I had absolutely nothing right now. I wanted to hit something. I needed to forget this was happening, as I made my way home.

Frank, one of the guys on the tv show was having a big party that night & I was going, thankfully. I think this was the distraction I needed. I got ready for the party, trying not to think about losing my family in an instant. I called a cab to take me to the party, figuring I'd catch a ride home with someone later or just catch another cab.

When I got to the restaurant, I went in & I saw the distraction I needed to forget everything that happened that day. I saw the bar, lined with bottle after bottle of hard liquor & dozens of different beers. Then I saw Olivia, dressed in a tight red dress with black heels, sitting at the bar, her legs crossed, showing off their sexiness. Her long hair was in waves, cascading halfway down her back & my mouth watered as I watched her sip a martini. I took a deep breath & made a B line straight to the distraction I needed to take away the pain I was feeling, from the arrow I had in my back.