You've Got it Bad

Forty Nine

Jade's POV

Perrie and I were in the car sitting outside the apartment. We had just finished grocery shopping and neither of us were prepared to actually carry the stuff up the stairs.

Plus, there was the lump of baby in the backseat who conveniently falls asleep right before it's time to get out of the car.

I looked in the back and sighed. On one side was a kid and on the other were bags of groceries.

"You get the kid, I get the food?" I looked at Perrie and she nodded.

My phone started to ring and I could feel her eyes boring into me as I looked at the caller ID and slipped the phone back into my pocket.

Bad timing.

She looked like she wanted to say something, but closed her mouth instead.

I hate doing this to her. I just need her to trust me.

"Ready?" I asked, grabbing her hand, trying to make her feel at ease.

I rolled my eyes when I heard my phone ring again, thinking it was her again, but it wasn't. I looked at the caller ID and didn't recognize the number.

Perrie pulled her hand away from me, and I watched her bite her lip again, fighting so hard not to say anything.

Don't fuck this up, Jade.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Jade, we had a deal."

"Who is—what deal?" I asked.

"You know what I'm talking about. You swore you'd come home."

"I am home!" I shouted, causing Perrie's face to soften as she looked over at me. I mouthed an apology.

"You know what I mean! Ma wants to see you!"

"No, she doesn't! She doesn't care about me! Why do you keep lying for her?!" I said angrily.

"She does! She wants to see you and your kid."

My jaw tightened before I even realized it. "Don't mention him ever again in your life, do you understand me? That's where I draw the line."

"Fine, Jade. Relax. When are you booking your flight so I can tell her?"

"I'm not booking a flight." I replied.

"You swore!"

"That was then! Someone I love's life was on the line." I said.

"That's bullshit, Jade, and you know it! I should've never helped you. I should've just let her—"

"I swear to God if you say what I think you're about to say, I will book a flight just to come and rip your tongue off your fucking face!" I shouted.

"I don't have the energy to do this with you. Your mother wants to see you!"

"I don't have a mother! She made that clear ages ago!" I felt Perrie rub my leg, and I looked over at her. She pointed in the backseat and I could see Jaden starting to stir.

"Go inside, babe. I'll be up in a minute." I held the phone away and said to her. She looked conflicted, like she shouldn't leave me alone. "I'm fine, baby. I promise. I'll be up soon." She nodded and I leaned over and kissed her.

I watched as she grabbed Jaden out of his seat and carried him into our apartment building.

"Listen. I don't know why you're calling on behalf of her, or why she all of a sudden is ready to see me again after all of these years, but I—"