Part 13 (2/2)
”Got a lot of nerve coming back here,” she said.
”I came back to talk,” he said. ”Not to pretend like it didn't happen. Give me some credit, will you?”
Her face said she was not going to be giving up an ounce of free credit this evening. ”So talk,” she said, folding her arms across her chest. ”What the h.e.l.l was that? What were you thinking?”
Harrison realized he actually hadn't asked himself yet why he did it, and when he went groping for an answer now, all he felt were ugly emotions he didn't want to investigate with any clarity. They were slippery and complicated. ”I'm sorry, Clarice. I really am. It was a stupid move, I just... I panicked.”
”Panicked? Why? Everything was going just fine,” she said, waving her arms. ”If anything, you just jeopardized everything we've done this week trying to get you out of this mess. You realize that, right?”
He sighed. ”I know.”
”You're going to have a much harder time explaining what happened to a fiancee and your unborn child once this little charade is done and I'm back home. If it was just me, we could break up, but a baby? Your parents are never going to let you just abandon your child!”
”I know,” he said, firmer this time. ”I don't need you to tell me what my parents will do, alright? I know d.a.m.n well what will happen.”
”Then why the h.e.l.l did you do it, Harrison? Why did you leave me out there hanging like that? I mean, f.u.c.k, if you wanted to pretend a baby was a part of this, why didn't you just tell me?” she said.
”What do you mean?”
Clarice paused. She had a look on her face, like she had misstepped and said something she didn't mean to, but he didn't understand what. ”I thought... I thought we trusted each other, you and I,” she said. ”I thought we were in on this plan together as partners. If you needed me to do something different I would have done it. But you just threw me under a bus out there, Harrison, and made me scramble to react. I could have f.u.c.ked up the whole thing, and it's like you don't even care.”
Harrison couldn't meet her eyes when she said that. He stared at his feet and felt the most naked vulnerability he had ever felt in his life. At least since Anastasia. ”Well, maybe I don't care.”
”Come again?” said Clarice, folding her arms. ”Maybe you don't care about what?”
”About f.u.c.king it up.”
”What?” she said, shaking her head. ”Am I drunker than I thought? Because this whole thing was your idea, to save your life, remember? Why would you want to f.u.c.k it up?”
Harrison's emotions came charging up through his body like a tsunami he didn't even hear coming. He stalked closer to her. ”I don't f.u.c.king know, alright? I just... something's happening to me, Clarice, and I don't understand it. We were out on that dance floor and talking about the plan and you leaving back for New York and I just... it was like my mind just went blank, I couldn't think of anything else.”
”Anything else but what?” said Clarice. ”Harrison, I don't understand what you're saying.”
”I don't know either, Clarice. Something just, it came over me. Something big and furious that forced me to listen, and so I just went for it. Like part of me just... just wanted to say it. I wanted to stand there and have that experience, telling them that this beautiful wife of mine was carrying my child. I saw that moment and I took it.”
Clarice froze. There was an emotion on her face that Harrison didn't have a name for, but it pained his heart to look at. Sadness built like a quiet storm in her clear blue eyes. Her chest rose and fell in silent breaths.
”Clarice,” he said, if only to break the silence. ”I'm sorry, alright? I'm sorry I did it. It was stupid of me, and I should have trusted you. I f.u.c.ked up. I am a f.u.c.k up.”
Clarice watched him carefully. Her lips moved like she wanted to say something, but couldn't find the words. She took a deep breath and said softly, ”I think you should go, Harrison.”
Harrison flinched as if he had been slashed with a blade. Her words hurt far worse than he could have antic.i.p.ated. But he knew he didn't have a leg to stand on. She was right to want s.p.a.ce.
He averted his eyes, unable to take the pain and blame on her beautiful face. He only nodded at her, muttered another apology, and then left their honeymoon penthouse.
17.
Clarice
Clarice found the girls at the Emerald Pool, an enormous shallow pool with crystal water and a swim-up bar that was by far one of the most popular spots in the whole resort. The sun was beginning its descent behind the tall curved peaks of the island cliffs, setting the sky on fire in brilliant shades of orange and pink that Clarice knew she would never see on her side of the world. A giant flock of gorgeous white water birds took flight just outside the resort's walls and called out in happy song over the jungle as they went.
Liz was the first to spot Clarice, and she waved her over to a stool they had saved just for her. The week had obviously been full of fun for all of them, because the ladies looked relaxed and even a little worn out from their adventures.
Clarice sighed as the warm water enveloped her body. ”Christ, I didn't know how badly I needed this.”
”Welcome to the party, senorita,” said Trudy as she gave her a sideways hug. ”Where've you been?”
Clarice made a big huffing noise. ”I don't even want to talk about it. What are we drinking?”
”They're called Adios Motherf.u.c.kers,” said Sophie with a hiccup. She held up a gla.s.s full of bright blue drink. ”And they are not f.u.c.king around.”
”I'll take four,” she muttered, before waving the bartender down and putting in a more realistic order of just one of the blue drinks. And a shot of rum.
”I'm sorry, miss, but I'm afraid I can only offer you our virgin selections,” said the bartender.
Clarice started. ”Excuse me? Did you run out of booze or something?”
”No, no,” the bartender flushed red. He was a skinny ginger thing with a British accent even thicker than Harrison's. ”It's my instructions, you see. Mr. Moore's orders.”
”Harrison said I can't drink?” said Clarice. Anger instantly rose in her heart at the thought that Harrison would try to be petty with her over their argument. She hadn't spoken with him since he left the penthouse an hour ago. She only called up her girls and told them it was time to get drunk.
”No, not Harrison, miss-Mr. George Moore,” said the bartender. ”For his future grandchild, he's told us to make sure not to give you any alcohol.”
Clarice's mouth dropped open and her face turned red, giving the bartender a chance to slip away and serve other customers. On the stools next to her, all the girls slowly turned to look at her with questioning, wide eyes.
”His future grandchild?” said Liz, hitting every syllable hard.
”G.o.dd.a.m.n it,” said Clarice. She put her head in her hands.
”What in the what is going on,” said Sophie. ”Did I miss something? Are you knocked up, Clarice?”
”No, of course I'm not,” said Clarice. ”Babies take months to make, remember?”
”What the h.e.l.l is the deal? You owe us details, and you owe them now,” said Trudy. ”Plus, I need to know what's got your mood so rotten. I'm going to take a guess it has to do with this, uh... unplanned pregnancy.”
<script>