His shoulders lifted in a small shrug. “But you didn’t.”
The words landed like ice water.
“I was terrified,” I whispered. “I was on the kitchen floor shaking while Eli asked me if the baby was dying. I called you because you’re supposed to be my partner. The father of this child.”
He rubbed his jaw, eyes flicking toward the staircase like he was checking if Eli might hear. “You’re blowing it out of proportion.”
“Out of proportion?” My voice cracked. “There was blood.”
“And the doctor said everything’s fine, right?”
“That’s not the point.”
“Then what is?” he snapped, finally sounding irritated. “You want me to panic every time something minor happens?”
“Minor?” I laughed hollowly. “You weren’t there. You didn’t hear the silence in that ultrasound room before the heartbeat. You didn’t feel what that was like.”
He crossed his arms. “Life doesn’t stop because you get scared, Hadley. We have deadlines. Tour rehearsals. Real responsibilities.”
“Our baby is a real responsibility.”
“And I’m providing for it, aren’t I?”
“I don’t need money right now,” I said, stepping closer. “I needed you.”
He held my gaze, expression flattening.
“I showed up,” he said.
“No,” I replied softly. “You didn’t. Kei did.”
A bitter laugh slipped out of him. “Of course he did. Kei’s always lurking around waiting to play savior.”
“He didn’t hesitate. He didn’t ask questions. He just came.”
“Good for him,” Cal muttered.
“I’m suffocating here,” I admitted, voice shaking. “The girls. Syd constantly watching me like I’m something she stepped in. The noise. The tension. I can’t breathe in this house. I can’t sleep. I’m scared the baby feels all of it. I’m scared Eli does too.”
Cal stared at me for a long moment. Then gestured toward the front door.
“Then leave. Door’s there.”
The words hung between us like something sharp and final.
“I have nowhere to go,” I whispered.
He turned away, running a hand through his hair. “Not my problem.”
The finality in his tone hollowed something out inside my chest.
He walked down the hallway without another word.
Didn’t look back.
....
Kei came over later that night after Eli was asleep.
