Sweet Temptation (56 page)

“Merry Christmas, Sky.”

“
Craig,
” she sobbed.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, alarmed.

“I need you,” she whispered.

“Shit. I’m on my way, honey. I’m only down the road; stay on the phone with me.”

“I can’t breathe, and everything hurts,” she gasped.

“Take deep breaths in and out slowly, darling. I’m coming around the corner now, okay? Fuck… I’m going to hang up and call Alex? I’ll be there in a second.”

“No, please don’t go,” she sobbed.

“Okay, I won’t. Where are you in the house? I’m parking my truck now.”

“In my room,” she whispered.

Craig jumped out of his truck and ran straight to her room, and stopped dead in his tracks. The door slammed against the wall. Skylar was curled up in the corner of her room in a fetal position, shaking. Walking quickly towards her, he dropped down next to her.

“What the fuck happened, Sky?” He reached over to lift her up and walked over to the bed. Her whole body was shaking now. Skylar curled up on his lap, and he pulled her closer.

“What happened? You need to tell me, so I can help you, baby.”

“Nate,” she sobbed.

Craig saw red, what had he done now that upset her this bad? This was the worst he has ever seen her. This was worse than what happened weeks ago to her. Pulling out his phone, he found Alex’s number and dialled.

“Hey.”

“I need you to come over to Skylar’s, now,” he growled.

       “What’s going on?”

“Something happened, and it’s to do with Nate.”

“Are you kidding me, what has he done now? What’s his damn problem
?”

“I’ll find out when you get here.” Hanging up, he lifted up her chin and looked into her eyes. Her eyes were bloodshot and her face puffy, from crying. “I need you to tell me what happened.”

“I gave Nate the pregnancy test. He said he didn’t want it, and told me to get rid of it. He doesn’t want me or the baby. Then he left.”

“Goddamn it.” He heard Alex’s truck pull up out front, and heard him running into the house.

“Craig,” he yelled.

“In here,” he replied.

Alex came running in. “Jesus Christ.” He couldn’t take his eyes off Skylar.

“I need you to stay with her. I’ll be back soon.” As he nodded, Craig passed Skylar to him. “Baby, I’ll be back soon. Everything will be fine. We’ll sort it out together.”

Skylar nodded; she couldn’t say anything. Leaving Skylar with Alex, he made his way outside to his truck and pulled out his phone.

“Hey. I’ll be there soon,” Dom said.

“I need you to get here now. I’m out front. I’m ringing Clint to meet us here,” he answered.

“Sure, what’s the problem?”

“The problem is that asshole of a friend of yours, what the fuck is his problem?”

“What’s he done now?” Dom asked, jumping in his truck.

“He won’t have a chance to tell me, after I break his jaw,” Craig growled.

“It’s that bad?”

“After what he did to Skylar, by the look of things, she’ll end up in hospital for having a nervous breakdown or she’ll harm herself and the baby. That’s my guess.”

“Jesus Christ. I’m on my way, now.”

Once he hung up, he threw his phone across the veranda. She did the right thing by telling Nate, and they all thought that he would be happy about the baby, but apparently he wasn’t. He knew he should have been with her when she told him, but she wanted to do it herself. Shaking his head, he stomped to the stairs, when he heard Dom arriving. Dom ran up the stairs to meet him there.

“What has he done, this time?” he asked.

“He’s dead. After everything she has been through, he had to do this,” Craig said.

“What?”

Wiping his hand over his face, he told Dom, “Skylar gave him the pregnancy test, this morning. From what she told me, he doesn’t want it, or her. Told her to get rid of it, then he left.” Craig slammed his fist into the wall.

“They were fine yesterday when I left. What the fuck is wrong with him? I don’t get it, he said he wanted to be with her,” Dom thought aloud.

“I know, but he’s fucked up now, I’m telling you. I need to find him.”

Dom grabbed Craig’s arm. “Let’s go see Skylar first, okay? She needs you here.”

Controlling his breathing, they walked back into the house towards her room. Opening the door, Dom walked in after Craig. Skylar was curled up on Alex’s lap. Dom knelt down in front of her. “Skylar,” he said.

She lifted her head towards him, “He doesn’t want me or the baby, Dom,” she whispered. “He left me.” It was breaking his heart seeing her like this. Who could do somethi
ng like this to the one you love; obviously Nate could.

“I need to have a shower. Lizzy, Clint and Seth will be here soon,” she said.

Alex stood, with her still in his arms and went into the bathroom. Craig and Dom sat on the bed. “What are we going to do? She doesn’t look good.” Dom asked.

“I don’t know. I want to take her to the hospital, but I know she won’t go. Maybe we just keep a real close eye on her.”

Dom nodded. They both sat there in silence. Maybe he should go and talk to Nate himself; if Craig went, he knew there wouldn’t be any talking. Alex walked out and grabbed some clothes, then walked back into the bathroom. Skylar came out minutes later, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, and she crawled back onto the bed and curled up.

Craig turned around to face her and he placed his hand on her leg, “Skylar, I need to go do something, will you be all right until I get back?” Skylar only nodded.

As he walked towards the door, she told him, “Craig, please don’t go and find Nate. There’s no point. He already said how he feels. You can’t change his mind about it.”

Gripping the door handle, he answered her. “Skylar, someone has to teach him a lesson on how he treats someone else. That’s his goddamn baby you’re carrying; he needs to take responsibility.”

She sat up quickly. “Violence doesn’t solve anything, Craig. Just leave it, please,” she whispered.

“You know I can’t do that, baby. I hate seeing you like this.”

“I agree with Skylar, Craig. I would love nothing more than to knock some sense into him, but she does have a point. Lizzy and Clint will be here really soon. We’ll get through today and sort something out tonight,” Dom said. “Plus, we have no idea where he is; it would be just a waste of time trying to look for him now.”

Groaning, Craig turned around and faced her. “Fine, but later tonight, I don’t care what you say. I’m going to find him. He can’t keep treating you like this, Sky.” 

“I know, just let me try to enjoy the rest of the day, okay? Then you can do what you want,” she replied. “Let’s go wait in the lounge for the others.” Skylar stood and walked towards the door. She reached for Craig’s hand and squeezed, “I’m so glad you’re here. I don’t know what I would have done if you weren’t.”

“There is nowhere I’d rather be.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Let’s go open some presents.”

She grimly smiled. “That sounds like a good idea.”

Alex and Dom followed them both, wishing that this day got a lot better than what it was right now.

Chapter 35

Nate drove around for hours, he wasn’t going anywhere in particular, but he needed to leave. He couldn’t think straight after everything that happened this morning. Skylar was pregnant, with his child. Slamming his fist on the steering wheel, he yelled “
Fuck
.” He needed to forget everything that had happened and what was said between them. Pulling into Joey’s bar, he parked out back near the shed. Stomping through the parking lot and through the back door, he headed to the main bar. He flopped into a chair, and waited until one of the bartenders came over.

“What you after?”

“Shots. Don’t care what they are, just keep them coming,” Nate said.

“Sure.” The bartender left for a moment and was back with several bottles, placing them under the counter. He poured a double, sliding it to him. Nate picked it up and slammed it back, feeling the burn. He slapped it back on the counter, flicking his finger for another.

“Isn’t it a bit early to be drinking like this?”

“Do I tell you how to do your job?” Nate glared at him.

The bartender shook his head, “Whatever, man.” He left the bottle for him and walked away. Looking around, he noticed he wasn’t the only one in here. A couple of people lounged around.

Three-quarters through the bottle, he stood, needing to sit on something more comfortable.

As he staggered to the closest booth, with the bottle in hand, a sweet voice asked him, “Do you need some help?”

“I’m good” he said, stumbling against the wall.

“Really, you can’t even walk straight.”

He kept hearing Skylar’s voice, but he knew it wasn’t her. She wouldn’t be here with him now, after what he said to her; plus they broke up. An arm went around his waist to guide him over to the booth. Nate slouched on the chair. He looked over towards who helped him. She had long blond hair, blue eyes, large breasts under the tight black top she was wearing, and tight black jeans showing off her figure.

“Nate,” he pushed his hand out, placing hers in his.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Angela.”

Nodding, he reached for the bottle and took a swig. Nate passed the bottle to her, offering her a drink.

“What’s the occasion?” she purred into his ear.

“I just split up with my girl,” he said, shaking his head.

Grabbing the bottle from him, she whispered, “What a shame; her loss.” He needed to get his mind off Skylar; get her out of his system completely. Reaching over and grabbing her hand, he asked her, “Do you want to get out of here?”

Looking up, she smiled. “Sure. Just let me grab my bag.” She jumped up and walked over to the bar, talking to the bartender first, then walked down the hall.

“What are you doing here, Nate?” He looked up and saw Joey standing at his table.

“I’m not, I’m leaving now.”

“Where’s Skylar?”

Before he could answer, Angela came back. “Ready?” she asked, looking at him.

Nate wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer to him. “What are you doing?” Joey snapped at him.

“Nothing that concerns you.” Nate turned his back, and walked down the hall to the back lot.