I stared at him. “So we're really moving out?”
Stefan nodded and grabbed more tissue. Then he walked over to my bed and began wiping at the mess he’d made on my bedspread. It being dark, I knew he would miss a few spots. But it was okay. I would get them later. “Yes. We’re not staying here.”
“Why don't we just stay and help Terry?”
Stefan stopped wiping and turned to look at me. “Look at it this way—even if Evelyn does decide to stay with Dad, what do you think is going to happen when you start to show? I just don't see them happily cheering you on, Bella. And that's assuming they don't know that the baby is mine.” He shook his head. “No way. If you think it’s bad here now, I would hate to see what it would be like then.”
As much as I hated to admit it, Stefan was right. We couldn't stay here. I had about another month before I would really start to show. Of course, I could just wear big clothing, but even that would only last so long.
“We have to think about the baby first right now. Besides, they'll have plenty of time to sort it out without us around. We'll just get in the way.” His voice had a note of stone in it.
“My mom is a very proud woman,” I said flatly. “Even though it was only some online thing, from what your dad said, I don't see her forgiving him easily. I can't just tell her to forgive him without giving her a good reason. She'll just think I’m being sympathetic to him and taking his side.”
“Just let them deal with it. Maybe we can try to smooth things over later if things aren't looking good. But look at the bright side—we'll have all the time in the world alone.”
While being alone with him sounded amazing, I also wanted to do everything I could to keep our parents together. I didn't want their split to be any fault of mine, but I was just going to go along with Stefan. “All right. I just won’t say anything then.”
“Good.” He finished wiping away at the wet spots and then got up and threw the tissues in the waste basket. “Do you want me to . . .?” He nodded at me, and I instantly understood what he meant. “You’ll have to be very quiet, though. No screaming when I get into it.” He grinned mischievously.
I should have been jumping at the offer, but Stefan hadn’t exactly asked for me to get him off, so why should I expect anything in return? On top of that, I hadn’t really been in the mood before I did it, and I definitely wasn’t in the mood now after discussing our parents.
Besides, it seemed more like he just felt obligated, and not because he really wanted to. And I didn’t want him to do it if he felt that way.
I shook my head and surprise showed in his eyes.
“You sure?”
He scratched at the back of his neck when I didn’t reply and said, “We’ll go look at some apartments tomorrow.”
I shifted in the bed, careful to keep my semen-covered hand away from my sheets. “How are we going to afford moving out, Stefan? You said Terry wasn’t going to let you work for him if you leave.”
“I have money saved up, just enough for us to get a place and to give me time to look for a job.”
“Stefan . . . I’m scared.”
He gave me a Stefan grin, but while it helped, it didn’t take away all my worry. “Have a little confidence in me, okay? I told you. I’m going take care of you no matter what, okay?”
“Okay,” I said finally.
He walked over to the bed and planted a soft kiss on my lips and then nodded at my arm. “Now go clean up and get some sleep. We have a long week ahead of us.” He playfully ruffled my hair and then walked out of the room, quietly closing the door behind him.
Chapter 30
Bella
“Mom?” I asked delicately.
My mother half-turned from where she was sitting at the vanity as I closed her bedroom door behind me. I sucked in a breath as I surveyed her appearance. Dressed in one of her favorite gowns that looked mightily rumpled, with no makeup on, she looked awful, and had obviously been sulking before I’d walked into the room. Her eyes were red and puffy looking.
I’d decided to pay her a visit after avoiding her most of the week. Between the constant arguments with Terry, and me and Stefan scouting around for an apartment to move into, I hadn’t found the time to speak with her for more than a few minutes.
But since Stefan abruptly left today to go looking at apartments without me, I decided I would break down and have a little talk with Mother, though I wasn’t sure what I was going to say.
On one hand, I wanted to tell her that divorcing Terry would be a big mistake, and on the other, I wanted to tell her the truth and just end all this madness.