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Holly froze. "How can you ask me that? How?"
"Because someone who loves me wouldn't keep hiding shit from me! I've told you everything! You were the first person that I told about my mother. You know about my family and my sisters. You came with me to talk to my father. I've told you everything. I've poured my guts out to you because I trusted you more than I trust anyone. But you still don't trust me. If you did, you would have told me about that guy who assaulted you. You would have told me about how you were feeling before you knew you had MG. You would have told me about this pregnancy. I thought we were finally getting somewhere. That we were going to have a future together. But you can't have a future with someone you don't trust."
"I trust you! Eli, I trust you. That's not why I kept those things from you."
He gripped the edge of the counter, his knuckles turning white. "Yeah, but the thing is, I don't trustyou, Holly. Not anymore." He gestured toward her, waving a hand. "Not after this happened."
She paled and took a step back. "I didn't get pregnant on purpose. I was a few hours late taking a pill, Eli. I didn't know that put me at risk for getting pregnant. And it's not like you insisted on wearing a condom."
He sucked in a breath. "I'm not saying that you got pregnant on purpose, Holly. Jesus Christ. I know it was an accident. I'd never blame you for that. Ever. But you lied to me. You kept this from me."
"What does it even matter?"
"What do you mean?"
"Because I'm keeping the baby, and you don't want kids. So it doesn't matter how I feel, or how you feel. We have no future together, right?"
He stared at her. "Wait, what?"
"You told me, over and over, that you don't want kids. I know what that means. I know where I stand. That means that you're gone, and we're done."
Eli squeezed the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes as he contemplated her words.
"Holly, you were asking me about some hypothetical baby. It didn't exist. It wasn't real. We're not dealing in hypotheticals anymore."
She crossed her arms. "Does it make a difference?"
He stared at her, then dragged his hands through his hair. "Holly—"
"I'm strongly pro-choice," she said after a moment. "I've... I've had to make that choice in the past," she said, lifting her chin. "I slept with a guy I didn't even know, right after you and I had fallen out. I was nineteen, and I had no one who could help me. I made the right decision. But this time, it's not an option for me. You need to understand, that this baby—"
"I'm sorry that you went through that," he told her, cutting her off. "Honestly, Holly, I am. It had to be incredibly difficult for you. But I'm so goddamn angry with you that I just can't understand anything you have to say right now. And frankly, I don't really want to."
It was harsh, and he knew it, but it was also the truth.
Eli put his hands on his hips and stared down at the floor. He'd never expected to feel so betrayed, yet that's exactly what he felt.
Completely, utterly betrayed.
"I need some time to process all of this," he said, meeting her eyes. "I'm going to go out for a while."
"We have to talk," she urged, stepping forward. "We can't just pretend this isn't happening."
"Now isn't the time."
She put a hand on his arm. "Eli, please. Don't go. Talk to me. I'm so sorry about how you found out. You don't know what was going on in my head when I realized you saw the text. I was just sick over it. And now, I just—"
He jerked away from her. "No.No, okay? I can't even fucking look at you right now. I'm going out."
She shrank away, pain and hurt evident on her face. Then it was gone as quickly as it had come, replaced by one of resolution.
"I won't be here when you get back. I'm moving out. Penn's other apartment is ready. I can move in at any time."
He paused, then inclined his head. He wasn't going to beg her to stay. "Do whatever you want. I'm leaving."
Stalking over to the bowl near the door, he grabbed his keys and left the penthouse, slamming the door behind him.
He needed to forget about all of this for a little while. Maybe a visit with his sisters would help. And then, maybe he would visit his friends.
