I blinked. “I wasn’t?”
He gave a short laugh. “Well, you were, but only because that’s whatyouwanted.”
Oh. My cheeks flamed. So, he’d not been around because I was pregnant.
Honestly, fuck my life.
“I’m sorry. The universe likes to play games with me,” I said, avoiding his eyes.
“Maybe we could keep in touch?” He looked at me, hope swirling in his eyes. Why wasn’t I jumping at the chance of this? A gorgeous British man who could wine and dine me and treat me better than Victor ever did.
Maybe because deep down, I still loved my husband.
Urgh. The thoughtsickenedme.
“I’ll try,” I replied, as he leaned down to kiss my forehead. His cologne flooded my senses, and I tipped my head back, capturing his lips with mine briefly. His hand cupped my jaw, and he kissed me hard on the mouth.
“Dear god, let us meet again,” he murmured against me, and I laughed, moving back.
Okay, so there weresomebutterflies there, but I was pregnant. I didn’t have time for this.
“It was a pleasure meeting you,” I stated sweetly as he laughed, shaking his head.
“It really was. All mine, I can assure you. Now, have a safe flight, and you can text or email me anytime.”
I smiled. “Thank you.”
He stood and looked at me before walking away, but he turned back one last time, and our eyes locked.
No, he wasn’t my husband. But the attention was kind of nice.
The flight home was long and exhausting. Mom met me from the airport, gushing about how I was glowing and how beautiful I looked.
I definitely didn’tfeelbeautiful.
“I threw up on the plane. Twice.”
Mom wrinkled her nose. “Oh, honey. Maybe the doctor can give you something for that?”
She took my suitcase, and I followed her out of the airport, my stomach rumbling.
Mom smiled. “I made you your favourite: macaroni and cheese. I thought you’d be hungry.”
I groaned with happiness. Mom’s macaroni and cheese was legendary, and after vomiting twice on an already-empty stomach, I was ready to stuff my face.
The journey to her house didn’t take long, and my heart skipped when I saw my childhood home. It still looked the same after all these years—but how could it when everything else had changed so much?
The pretty flowers bordered the front yard, and mom gave me a running commentary on her gardening skills as we headed into the house.
“Patricia has the most beautiful flowers. Honestly, I’m struggling to keep these alive.” She waved a hand at the indoor plants in the kitchen window, and I couldn’t help but laugh. Patricia was her best friend and neighbour.
Mom had never kept a plant alive. It was amusing because somehow, she’d kept me alive, and it was our running joke. The smell of macaroni and cheese hit me, and I made a beeline for the oven, finding the glass dish on the top waiting for me to help myself.
“Mom, you’re an angel,” I muttered, filling a bowl with an extra-large portion. I barely spoke while I inhaled it, eating until my stomach hurt. Then my eyes became heavy, and I had to go to bed.
“Welcome to pregnancy,” Mom said with a laugh. “I’m running a few errands tomorrow. So, you’ll have the house toyourself for a while. I offered to pick up your mail, but Vanessa said Victor already did that.”
I looked at her. “He did?”
