"That not your fucking call"
Ron lifted both hands. “Okay. Everyone breathe.”
I turned to Hadley. She hadn’t moved. Hadn’t spoken. She just looked… hollow.
“Come with me,” I said.
She hesitated. Then stood.
She didn’t fight me. Let me pull her into the small bathroom attached to the conference room. Door shut. Locked.
She leaned against the sink. Arms crossed. Eyes red but dry.
I paced the tiny space. Two steps. Turn. Two steps.
“You heard them,” I said.
“I heard.”
“What do you want face. I need your opinion.”
She blinked slowly. “On what?”
“On… the abortion.”
She looked at me. Really looked. “It’s my body.”
“I know. That’s why I’m asking.”
She swallowed. “Do you want the baby?”
I rubbed my face. “I don’t know.”
She nodded like she’d expected it. “I don’t want an abortion. I can’t… I can’t do that. But I also can’t have a baby if the father isn’t present. I’m not stable right now. Financially. Emotionally. I can barely keep Eli fed and safe. Adding a newborn? I’d drown.”
Her voice cracked on the last word. First time I’d heard her sound small. Vulnerable.
I stepped closer. Saw the way her shoulders shook. Saw the dark circles under her eyes. Saw how thin her wrists looked.
Something twisted in my chest. Not love. Not even close. But… something.
I lifted my hand. Touched her cheek. Thumb brushed her skin. She didn’t pull away.
I leaned in. Kissed her.
Soft. Slow. Her lips parted. Tasted like salt and coffee and exhaustion. For a second the noise outside disappeared. Just her. Just this.
I pulled back. Pressed my forehead to hers.
Put my hand on her stomach. Flat still. But not empty.
“I want to be present,” I said. Voice rough. “I want the baby.”
She searched my face. “You sure?”
“No. But I’m not walking away.”
She nodded once. Slow.
