I ignored the wounded look in his eyes.
"Wait here. I'll send someone to bandage that."
His face darkened instantly.
"I don't want someone else. I want you to do it."
"You never used to be like this. When I got hurt, you'd ask me if it stung. You're so cold now. You're not my Elaine."
Whenever we used to fight, he'd act like a little kid throwing a tantrum to win me back.
Every time, I'd think he was adorable and let him have his way.
Now I just felt inexplicably irritated. I pried his fingers off my sleeve and walked straight inside.
Otis, stubborn as ever, slept on the living room couch out of spite.
When I woke the next morning, he was sitting on the sofa with a dark expression.
"Elaine, you really want to split up that badly? You didn't even care that I slept out here."
I frowned, about to say something, when a familiar voice cut in.
"Are you two fighting this early in the morning? Looks like we picked a bad time."
I turned. It was Melvin, with Vivian in tow.
Melvin slung an arm around Otis's shoulder, wearing a look of exaggerated disappointment.
"Come on, man, what'd you do to upset her this time? Keep it up and she'll leave you for good!"
"And sis, don't take it personally. My boy here's hopeless with women. Let me set him straight for you!"
Otis shoved him off, his tone sharp. "What are you two doing here?"
His gaze lingered on Vivian for a split second. He was clearly annoyed that Melvin had brought her into the house.
Melvin only faltered for a moment before breaking into a grin.
"I came to share some big news. My wife's pregnant. Three weeks along. Just found out today. You two are the first people I wanted to tell."
I looked at Vivian's flat stomach, and something inside me went cold.
A life was already growing in there. Their child.
And all I could think about was the one I'd lost.
Three months ago, Otis had taken me on a trip. On the way, a drunk driver slammed into us and I ended up in the hospital.
My baby, nine months along, didn't survive. The damage to my uterus was so severe they had to remove it entirely.
I would never be a mother. Not in this lifetime.
When Otis heard that Vivian was pregnant, every trace of anger vanished from his face. He smiled and congratulated Melvin.
But I knew who he was really congratulating.
Melvin pulled Otis upstairs to talk business, leaving me alone in the living room with Vivian.