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Once I can get my emotions under control. I’m still swinging from sadness that I lost a baby to pure relief that I can continue down this college path I had planned for myself. I guess it’s made me realize that I do want kids one day, though.
I just hope the next one is planned and it sticks. My poor mom had ten miscarriages before finally resigning herself to the fact that she’d never have children of her own. But then she got me. And as much as I’ll always think about the fact that I was given away… at least I was given to the most amazing couple on the planet.
Filled with gratitude, I reach for my phone, about to text a check-in with my mom when there’s a knock at my door.
Assuming it’s Casey, I walk over with a smile that drops the second I open the door.
“Ben.” I whisper, my insides clutching until I notice a bouquet of flowers and the apologetic look on his face.
Now my insides are clutching in a different way. Oh crap, he’s not trying to woo me or something, is he? The guy’s relentless.
“Hi.” He lifts the bouquet awkwardly. It’s a pretty rainbow of flowers… I don’t really know which ones are in there, but it’s bright and colorful, and my lips twitch with a grin as I take it.
“Thanks.” I look up at him, not really sure what’s going to happen next.
This is so awkward.
He fidgets with the zipper of his jacket for a second, then points behind me. “Do you mind if I come in?”
“Oh, uh… yeah, I guess so.” I step aside so he can pass me, then turn to face him, leaving the door open.
I’m not sure why.
I’m not afraid of the guy. I don’t think he’d hurt me… and he did just bring me flowers for some reason… but if he gets agitated and starts yelling at me again, I want easy access to backup.
Crossing my arms, I cradle the bouquet in the crook of my elbow while clinging to Casey’s sweater with my other hand. It’s the one I haven’t taken off since he gave it to me a couple nights ago. It’s huge and soft and smells like him, so yeah… my new favorite piece of clothing.
“How are you feeling?”
“Okay.” I nod.
“I heard what happened.” He winces. “I’m really sorry you had to go through that.”
I shake my head, putting on a brave smile and begging my eyes not to water. He looks so sincere right now. Leilani’s right about him being sweet. His eyes are kind—when he’s not super pissed at me.
He had a right to be, though. I handled things pretty badly.
His lips curve into a gentle grin as he stares down at me. It’s obvious that he thinks I’m pretty, that he still likes me, even after what I did.
Oh crap, he’s not going to try and tell me that, is he? Because that would be super awkward.
“I won’t stay long. I just wanted to say?—”
His words are cut off by a sharp bark from the hallway.
“What the fuck are you doing here?”
Casey thunders down the hallway, barging into my room and coming to stand beside me. He notices the flowers in my hand, and his entire face bunches into a sharp frown before he throws a lethal glare at Ben.
“Get out!” Casey points at the door.
“Fuck off, she said I could come in.”
Casey’s head jolts back like that’s the craziest thing he’s ever heard. I open my mouth to explain, but he turns back to Ben with growl.
“We don’t want you here.”
“One, stop speaking for her.” Ben gives him a pointed look. “And two, I don’t give a shit what you want. I came here to talk to Caroline, and unless she asks me to leave, I’m staying until I’ve said what I came here to say.”
