Clara gawked at me just like she did the last time. “Aren’t you the girl that was living here?”

“Yes. I don’t live here anymore. I moved out.”

“Oh,” she nodded, happily. Her facial expression softened. “What happened? He kicked you out knowing I would return?”

Ouch! That was mean. “No. I moved out on my own.” I narrowed my eyes at her. “Can you give the keys to Elijah for me?”

“Sure,” she shrugged. “I’ll let Elijah know you stopped by. He should be right back. He went out to get something for me. I’m pregnant.”

The shock of her words shot through me so fast that I thought I was going to drop dead. I guess I hoped in the back of my mind that if Elijah knew Liam and I had broken up…just maybe there was a possibility for us…a very slim one, but this news just killed it. There was never going to be a chance.

“Congratulations.” I tried to sound excited for her, but I couldn’t help the way I felt. “Anyway, I better go. I guess the keys will be yours now.” I don’t know why I made that comment. I gave a quick fake smile and walked away.

“Hey, did you need me to give that gift to Elijah?”

I stopped and looked at the box in my hand. “It’s not for him,” I replied and left with a crushed heart.

Elijah

I swung by the dining hall to see if Alex was working. I couldn’t find her anywhere. Lexy was at work so I assumed Alex wasn’t at her place. Then all sorts of thoughts flooded my mind. What if she was with Dean or some other guy? I was probably the last one to find out she had broken up with Liam. They’re probably all over her. First things first, I needed Clara out of my life. When I entered my place, I saw Clara all comfortable, laying on my bed with one of my favorite sweatshirts on.

“What are you doing?” My tone was not friendly. “I told you to be ready to leave.”

“I didn’t think you meant it,” she whined, sliding off the bed. “What’s your problem?”

I never thought I would be this cruel, especially to a pregnant woman, but I figured her being pregnant at all was questionable. I didn’t answer her. Instead, I handed her a slip of paper. “I’ve already made contact for you. She’s expecting you when you’re ready.”

“You want me to go see some woman I’ve never met?” She started to take off her clothes. When she came toward me seductively, I walked out of the room.

“Fine. Just kick a pregnant woman out,” she stammered, standing in the living room looking all pissed off, as if this was my fault. “By the way, the girl that used to live here stopped by and asked me to give you her keys.”

My heart and stomach did a somersault. Shit! I just missed her. “When?”

“About thirty minutes ago, I guess. I don’t remember. I’m not your secretary.”

“Where are the keys?”

“On the kitchen counter.”

“She saw you in my sweatshirt?”

“Yes, but so what?”

I knew Clara better than anyone else in this world. I backed her against the wall, towering over her, looking at her with a deadly look in my eyes. “What. Did. You. Tell. Her?” I seethed through my clenched teeth slowly so she could hear the conviction in my tone.

Clara shuddered and wouldn’t look me in the eye. “Nothing. I mentioned that I was pregnant, but I didn’t tell her it was yours.”

“But you didn’t tell her it wasn’t mine either, Clara. When are you ever going to get it? I don’t love you. I will never love you. We’re done. I don’t ever want to see you again. Don’t call me. Don’t stop by. Don’t even text me. If I ever see your face again, you better run the other way because I don’t know what I will do to you.”

Clara nodded with a whimper. I had never spoken to her like that before. She got out of my place so fast, it almost made me feel bad.

Not knowing when Alex would be home, I decided to head to her place after dinner. Hopefully, she would be home by then. I texted her, letting her know I got the keys, but she never texted me back. When I stopped by her place, nobody was home. This only made me more desperate.

I was about to text Lexy and ask her if she knew where Alex was, but I knew how girls tended to stick together. I didn’t know if Lexy would talk to me on the phone so I went to her place instead. Talking in person was a great way to read peoples’ faces.

“Lexy,” I hollered, banging on her door. “I know you’re in there. I heard your television. I’m going to keep knocking until you open up.”

Lexy opened the door, but not all the way. “Elijah. What’s the matter with you?”

“Do you have a guy in there with you?” I asked sheepishly.

“No. What gave you that idea?”

“‘Cause you won’t open the door.”

“Maybe I don’t want to see your ugly face.” Her lips perked up, playfully.

“Who wouldn’t want to see my face,” I joked back.

“I know one person for sure.”

There was my answer. I looked at her for a second with a wicked plan, and without her permission, I picked her up. Lexy screamed. “Put me down.” That’s when Alex ran out of the bedroom, then froze when she saw me.

Our eyes locked for a split second, but I swear I just saw heaven. There was no need for words. I felt my heart thump happily, radiating toward her. I might have given her a dorky grin. I wasn’t sure. Seeing her made me realize how much I cared for her and missed her. Afraid I would drop Lexy since she wouldn’t stop squirming, I gently placed her down.