Page 47 of Irreplaceable
When he maintained his hold, refusing to back down, I kneed him in the balls. He cursed and released me, and I took the opportunity to escape. I was done. With this conversation. With him. I turned and walked away as quickly as I could.
I was getting too upset. It wasn’t good for the baby.
“Harper, wait.” His voice was garbled, his footsteps echoing against the slate tile.
I shook my head, doing my best to hold it together and not cry. Crew and Harrison appeared at the door. They took one look at me and frowned.
“What’s wrong?” Crew asked, his voice filled with concern. His eyes searched me, and when I didn’t answer, his attention darted to Enzo. “Did he do something, say something, to upset you?”
“Please,” I pleaded. “I just need out.” I pushed past them, intent on escape. I didn’t want to talk. I didn’t want to explain. I just needed— I glanced around and then ducked into the bathroom.
Before the pregnancy, I’d rarely cried. Now, I cried all the damn time. Sappy commercial on TV—crying. Lauren surprising me with my favorite meal for lunch at work—crying. Producer acting like a demanding asshole—crying. It didn’t matter whether I was happy, sad, or even mad, I cried. And right now, I was freaking the fuck out.
I shut myself in one of the stalls, placing my hands on my thighs as I struggled to catch my breath. Did that just happen?
Enzo. Lorenzo. He was here.
“Harper?” Juliana’s voice echoed off the tiled walls of the bathroom.
“Yeah?” I croaked.
“Are you okay? Harrison said you seemed upset.”
I sniffled, wiping my tears with the ball of toilet paper in my hand. “Just a sec.” I took a deep breath before opening the door to the stall. She watched me in the mirror as I washed my hands, taking my time to dry them as I attempted to collect myself. I’d totally lost it on him. Not that it was undeserved, but still…to knee him in the balls?
“What happened?”
“I ran into Enzo.” Enzo? Lorenzo? I wasn’t sure what to even call him apart from the asshole.
And the asshole was just as handsome as I remembered, perhaps even more so. My body had come to life, lighting up when he looked at me, was near me. He’d even apologized and seemed sincere. But then I remembered how he’d treated me. I remembered that he’d lied.
“What?” Juliana gasped. “He’s here?”
I nodded, staring at the ceiling so I wouldn’t cry again. I just needed to get through this and tell her. Then I wouldn’t have to talk about it again.
“He’s a soccer player. Lorenzo Mancini. Apparently, Harrison’s a big fan.” I lifted my hand to my mouth, as if trying to stop the tears I knew were inevitable despite my sarcasm.
Her eyes widened. “Holy…shit.”
His anger over the photos in Bali made more sense now. But I couldn’t believe he thought so little of me. Despite how everything had ended, we’d shared something special. His apology made me think he agreed. At least until he’d ruined it by being a controlling asshole.
“And I yelled at him.”
“You did?” Juliana released me, offered me a tissue before turning her back to the mirror and leaning against the sink. “Wow.”
“Oh, it gets worse.” I used the tissue to dab beneath my eyes.
“You told him about the baby?”
I shook my head. “No. I kneed him in the balls.”
Her eyes went wide. “You didn’t?” I could tell she was torn between shock and laughter.
Juliana’s phone buzzed, and she pulled it from her purse before glancing at the screen. “How do you want to play this? Harrison says Lorenzo is begging to talk to you.”
I sucked my lip into my mouth but shook my head. I needed time to get my head on straight before facing Enzo again. “I don’t…” My chest tightened at the mere thought of having to confront him, and I placed a hand over my heart.
“Why don’t I have Harrison get his number?”