He didn’t want to take it back, and he didn’t think she’d accept it if he told her to keep it, so he didn’t say anything.
“Can I come in?”
“Of course.” He jogged down the rest of the stairs and stopped in front of her. “You’re always welcome.”
She nodded, looked behind him. “So, I, um, think we should talk, yeah?”
“I was just going to make coffee. I don’t have decaf, but I have some of that ginger tea we bought.” Should he have reminded her of that? He had no idea what to say that wouldn’t have her running for the hills. He’d had plenty of time to think while the world had turned to shit around him.
He’d never loved Renee. He’d married her in some noble bid to do the right thing because she was pregnant. Except she hadn’t been and because they hadn’t lived together, hadn’t even been together in the six weeks between that false-positive result and the day she’d told him she wasn’t pregnant, he hadn’t seen the point in getting an annulment or divorce. Their marriage hadn’t, in any way, changed his life.
“Tea would be nice. Thanks.”
“Okay.” Rylan couldn’t take his eyes off her. She was two feet away, and he wanted to grab her and hold her close. Needed to. After today, he needed to hold her for hours. He didn’t see that happening any time soon. What he needed was a distraction. Something to keep his hands occupied. “I take it you made whatever is in that pot.”
“Yes.”
“Will you share some with me? Please.”
“Sure.” She pressed a hand to her stomach when it growled hungrily. “I haven’t eaten since this morning,” she explained.
“Follow me.” He lost the battle with his control and grabbed her hand. “Let’s eat and talk.”
She didn’t pull her hand from his, and he smiled before leading her back to the kitchen. He directed her to a stool at the island counter and went around to put some coffee on and the kettle for her tea.
“What do I serve this with?” He looked through the clear lid to the bubbling meal inside. “It’s a stew, right? So, bowls. I’ve got a loaf of bread, but it’s the pre-sliced kind.”
“Bowls, yes. I’ll pass on the bread.”
Rylan busied himself, putting their food together, and getting their drinks made. Neither of them spoke, and while he had been worried it would be uncomfortable, it wasn’t. Even at odds, he felt relaxed with Mazey. More centered than at any other time in his life. And that included when he soared thousands of feet in the air doing what he loved.
He set everything on the counter and took the seat beside her. “So. You met Renee.”
“Yes.”
“And she told you she was my wife. Which isn’t a lie except she no longer holds that title and hasn’t for over a year. We were married for about three years by the time the divorce papers were stamped. It wasn’t a love match. It was a little stick with a two stripes match.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah. And that turned out to be a false-positive or something, but by then, we were married, and I was in Afghanistan, and neither of us saw any point in dissolving the marriage. I spent over eighty percent of my time overseas, and if I hadn’t been shot down and needed rehab for my injuries, I’d probably still be in the army. It was when I decided to retire that Renee informed me she wanted a divorce and that the baby she was carrying wasn’t mine.”
“Oh, Ry.” Mazey put her hand on his arm. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s funny, I wanted kids, wanted a family, and yet I’m glad the baby wasn’t mine.” His gaze connected with hers. “I didn’t love her. I never loved her. I doubt we would have stayed together if things had been different.”
“I—”
He pressed a finger against her lips. “Don’t say you’re sorry. I’m not. If things had been different, I wouldn’t be here. With you.”
“We’re here because I’m pregnant,” she said against his skin.
“No, we’re not. You might not believe that one hundred percent yet, but you will. I’ll make sure of it.” He motioned to her bowl. “Now eat. You and the baby need nourishment.”
She gave him a small half-smile, and he gave her a full one back.
It might not be one of the smiles he was after from her, but she was here. They were talking, and he’d be damned if he let her doubts, or her fears of the past repeating itself, get in the way of what they could have together. He decided to get the rest of the story out now. To tell her everything he should have a month ago before Maddox woke up or Jake arrived.
“So, the baby turned out to be my best friend’s.” He kept talking over her gasp. “Jake and I had been friends since preschool. Even joined the army together. He got out early, and he actually introduced me to Renee. Anyway, the day she asked for a divorce is the last time I spoke to or saw either of them. I didn’t even know she’d had the baby.”
