“Yup.” I climbed into the car and slammed the door, unable to even look at him without breaking down.
Some days I was fine—I didn’t think about him at all. But then days like today… it fucking broke me.
I missed his touch. His whispered words. The way he’d hold me in bed.
Why?
Because he was the man I’d fallen in love with, and he’d ruined everything. You couldn’t turn feelings off, and trust me, I’d tried.
I just had to hope they went away because he’d hurt me too much for a second chance.
But it still stung saying it. Because if I could rewind and go back tomyVictor, before he’d cheated on me, I would. I’d take the risk again.
But I needed to remind myself what was at stake here. I stared at the grainy black and white image.
Our child.
He or she wouldn’t be brought up in a broken home. They’d have parents that loved them. They’d have two separate houses eventually, and maybe even stepparents.
The thought of Victor with a new woman was enough to cripple me, but it was bound to happen.
And me?
I didn’t care if I ever saw another man again.
I drove home, my hand drifting to my stomach as I thought of the growing life there.
I had to be the best I could be. Which reminded me, I’d been looking into interior design courses last night. It was something I’d always been interested in. My heart skipped a beat at the thought, and I made a mental note to check them out later.
But first, I needed a nap.
I woke up several hours later. It had grown dark outside, and my stomach rumbled.
Jeez, I’d slept for alongtime.
I sat up groggily, my stomach demanding food. I thought of the bare refrigerator and groaned. I’d have to go and grab something, and maybe even do a grocery shop. It was the last thing I wanted to do with heavy eyelids, but needs must,
I opened my door and was hit with the delicious smell of steak cooking.
Oh god, Victor must be making himself dinner.I checked my watch—five pm.Huh, he must’ve finished work early.
All I needed was my shoes and keys, then I’d be out of his way and filling my empty tummy.
Except…
Victor stopped me when I walked downstairs.
“Lila, you’re awake. You really needed that nap, huh?” He gave a small chuckle, his dark hair curling at the ends like he’d not long ago showered. His white t-shirt set off his olive skin, the sleeves pushed up to reveal the forearms that always made me weak. The forearms of a hardworking man, my mom always said.
Well, he was that.
I tore my eyes away. “I’m just going out.”
“I made dinner. For us,” Victor said, gazing at me. “I thought you’d be hungry.”
My eyes fell to the steaming pan of onions and garlic, to the pot of peppercorn sauce simmering beside it. A tray of home-cooked fries sat across from me, along with a big bowl of freshly chopped salad.
My absolute favourite, and I couldn’t turn it down. I was still exhausted, I felt weak with hunger, and it was easy to give in and eat.
