My Ex Wants Me Back.

AN OPEN SECRET.

Chapter 04.

AN OPEN SECRET.

June's POV.

“June,” Steve's voice came from behind.

I looked back, and found him approaching me with his phone in his hand. He'd gone to that corner to receive a call. I didn't think he would take that long, and he certainly didn't think so too because before leaving to answer the call, he asked for a minute. But seeing how long the call lasted, I knew that something had come up that needed his attention.

“Look, I, uh—”

“You have to leave, right?” I figured.

“Yes, I'm sorry.” he sighed. “However, I could drop you off at your house if you don't mind.”

“No, I'm not going home.” I said, shaking my head. “I still want to be here some more.”

“Look, I understand how you feel, okay?” he said, putting his hands on my shoulders as he looked into my eyes. “But staying here isn't going to change anything. I'm sorry, but Greg's gone.”

“Yes, I know.” I said, forcing a smile through my lips. “And I'm not waiting here because I'm hoping for some miracle to happen. I just don't feel like going home yet.”

“I know, but you need to get some rest.” he said, shrugging a shoulder. “I would advice that you don't return to your office for today anymore. Just go home, and get some rest.”

“Yea. I wish it was that easy to do.” I said, my voice subdued with tears. “But it's not Steve. It just feels like there's nothing more to live for.”

“No, no don't say that, okay?” he said, shaking his head. “This doesn't change anything, okay? Greg's death doesn't change anything.”

“Of course, it does!” I yelled as tears began to form in my eyes. “It changes everything, Steve. How am I supposed to live my life knowing that the man I love is dead?”

“I understand how you feel,” he said, in a consoling voice. “But you'll get over this. You'll get over the pain.”

“You can't be so sure, Steve.” I said, blinking back tears. “I didn't lose my car keys, neither did I lose a tooth. I lost the man I'm supposed to spend the rest of my life with. And you think that I'm going to get over this some time soon, really?”

“I am not saying that it's going to be easy, okay?” he said, looking into my eyes. “But with time you'll feel better.”

“Yes, I guess you're right.” I sniffled, wiping off the tears on my face with the back of my palms. “But right now, I just want to be here.”

“Alone?” he arched a brow.

“No, Drea is coming over.” I mentioned, nodding my head as I said the words. “She will be here with me until I'm ready to leave.”

“Alright then, but how long will it take for her to get here?” he asked, his forehead puckered with worry. “I don't want to leave you all by yourself.”

“She said she's on her way down here already.” I shrugged a shoulder. “She should be here by 5pm.”

“That is about half an hour from now.” he said, glancing at his wristwatch. “June—”

“Come on, Steve.” I said, with a brief smile. “I am not a kid, and you know that. I can take care of myself.”

“Yes, I know that. But right now, it's not safe for you to be alone.” he said. “You said it yourself, you just lost the man you're supposed to spend the rest of your life with. Someone has to be here with you.”

“And someone will be.” I replied, trying to steady my voice. “When Drea comes, she'll stay with me, so you have nothing to worry about. Just go do what you've to do.”

“You are sure about this?”

“Yes, I am.” I nodded with a smile. “Just go already; I'm sure they're waiting for you.”

“Alright then. I'll come see you once I'm done.” he said, and began to walk towards the exit.

I watched him for a few seconds, then I sat on the bench and pushed my fingers through my hair. To think that I wasn't there with Greg in his last moments hurt the most. He must have wanted to say a few things to me knowing that he wouldn't make it out from the operating room alive He might have wanted to see my face one more time, and I would have loved to see his too.

“Hey,” the voice broke in on my thoughts.

I lifted my face, and found Stone standing at a distance with a cup of coffee in both hands each.

“Where is Steve?” he asked, sweeping his eyes all over the place as he walked towards me. “Did he leave already?”

“Are you kidding me right now?” I scoffed, blinking my eyes in confusion. “What are you still doing here? Don't you get it? I don't want to see you. I don't want you to come anywhere around me. Is that so difficult for you to understand?”

“Take it easy, June.” he said, in a soft voice. “I am not here to fight. I'm here as a friend. You're going through grief right now, and you need someone by your side.”

“No, you're wrong.” I said with ice in my voice. “You are not a friend, because if you were then you wouldn't have killed him just to get back at me. And I don't need anyone. Even if I did, certainly not someone like you.”

“Look, I get that you're mad at me.” he sighed. “I shouldn't have treated you the way I did. And I'm sorry.”

“No, you're not.” I replied, shaking my head. “Do you even have any idea how I survived those years? You sent me away to die, and now you want me to act like nothing happened between us?”

“No, that's not what I'm asking—”

“Just go! Okay?” I yelled, pointing towards the exit. “I don't want to see you, and I don't want your coffee. All I want is for you to leave right now.”

“All I'm asking is that you give me a chance to show you that I'm sorry.” he said, shrugging a shoulder. “Is that too much to ask for?”

“Yes, it's too much to ask for.” I replied, speaking through my teeth while tears burned in my eyes. “Now if you don't leave this place, I'm going to call the cops.”

To prove to him that I was serious, I took out my phone from my pocket.

“Okay, fine.” he said, raising his hands a little. “I will leave.”

“Uh, what's going on here, June?” Drea asked, standing at a distance, while holding Olive's hand. “What is he doing here?”

“He was just about to leave. But why did you bring Olive with you?” I asked. “You should have left her at home.”

“I am sorry, but she didn't want to stay at home all by herself.” she said, walking towards me whilr holding Olive's hand. “I didn't know what else to do.”

“Come here, Olive,” I bent down, and framed her face with my hands. “You can't be here right now, okay? I need you to go back home.”

“But mom—”

“You have to listen to me.” I said, stroking her hair gently. “Just listen to me, and go home. I'll return home shortly.”

“Wait a minute,” Stone said, taking a step forward. “Those eyes, they're mine.”

“No, she doesn't.” I stood upright, and hid Olive behind me. “You must have been mistaken. You should go.”

“No, I know what I saw.” he said. “Were you pregnant when we went our separate ways.”

As his words fell upon my ears, my heart sank. That was the very thing I was trying to avoid. Perhaps, if Drea had called to let me know that she was coming with Olive, then I would have asked her not to bother coming at all. Meanwhile, I fell silent.

“June, is she my daughter?”