Read Online Defensive by J.D. Rivera - Free Book Online

fixed,” I told him.
    “Whatever you want, babe.”
    My phone started ringing and I picked it up from the coffee table. “Hello?”
    “This is Tony from the tow company. I’m here to get the car.”
    “Okay. I’ll be right down.” I ended the call and stood up. I turned my head toward Jackson. “Be right back. Can you take me to the repair shop so I have a lift home?”
    He got up slowly. “Let me go throw some clothes on.”
    “Thanks,” I said, giving him a small kiss on the cheek. I exited the door as he shook his head. I knew he was irritated but I didn’t want to rely on him for a car. I was an adult and needed to have a car of my own. Not a gifted, crazy expensive car.
    Jackson was silent during the entire drive to the repair shop except for singing along with the rap music he had turned on. He bobbed his head with the music but barely looked at me. I hated making him mad but I couldn’t depend on him, either. What would I do when the relationship ended and I was left carless? I had to plan ahead.
    “Why are you so mad at me over getting my car fixed?” I finally asked.
    At first I didn’t think he was going to answer me but after a bit he turned the music down. “I’m not mad.”
    “Really? Because you’re not talking to me at all. You won’t even look at me.”
    He glanced over at me. “I’m driving. I can’t look at you and I’m listening to music. Do you want me to turn it off?”
    I looked out the window. “No. Please listen to it. I have nothing to say to you anyway.” I wanted to cry. I wasn’t really sure why, except for him being rude. He wasn’t normally rude and it really hurt my feelings.
    He exhaled and grabbed my hand. “I’m sorry. I’m being an ass. Will you just promise me something?”
    “What?” I asked without looking at him.
    “Will you please keep driving the Infiniti? I understand if you need to have your car fixed but like I said, I gave you the car already. Might as well keep driving it.”
    “Fine,” I agreed as a tear spilled out of my eye and I quickly wiped it away. It was silly that I was crying over all of this.
    “Don’t cry, babe. I’m sorry for being a jerk.”
    He was just trying to be nice while I was consumed with being ready for the end of our relationship. “You’re not being a jerk. It’s actually really sweet that you care so much.”

    I let the vibrations of the massage chair take away all of my stress from arguing with Jackson that morning. I was ready to have a relaxing day with Amanda, getting a pedicure and then shopping.
    “Gosh, this feels so good,” I told her as I took a drink of water.
    She looked over at me with a raised eyebrow. “Only you would fight with your millionaire boyfriend over him gifting you a car. I can’t believe you’re having that old Focus fixed.”
    “Jackson and I haven’t been dating that long. He shouldn’t be buying me cars. We aren’t married.”
    “You’re having his baby,” she almost yelled.
    “Shush! He doesn’t know that yet.”
    She shook her head at me. “I can’t believe you aren’t going to tell him until after the doctor appointment. He’ll be happy. Have you even thought about the possibility that he might want to go to the appointment?”
    “The first appointment is nothing. If the baby is big enough, they’ll listen to the heartbeat but they might not be able to detect it. It would be boring for him.”
    “You’re making excuses,” she said.
    “I am not. I am being cautious.”
    “Okay, whatever.”
    “What the hell does that mean?” I asked, a little too bitchy.
    “Nothing. No need to get defensive. I swear you’re the most defensive person I know. You’re either pushing someone away because of what people in the past have done to you or you’re ready to defend your actions at any moment. Just calm down.”
    “Says the girl who won’t forgive my brother because she’s scared she’ll get hurt again,” I said with a grin.
    “We aren’t talking about me.