“I love you.”
She freezes for only a moment before she relaxes again. She wiggles in my arms and kisses my hand.
That’s it. That’s all she does.
I never let up on my hold, and she doesn’t try to move away.
We stay like this till she falls asleep.
What happens now?
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Sydney
I didn’t sleep last night.
My mind raced over what I should do. I know this is a choice I should discuss with Mark, but I know him well enough to know that if he’s given the choice, he will pick me and this baby. I can’t let him do that. He’s spent so much of his life looking forward to what he was going to do once he was working with his dad. I can’t take that from him. I can’t be selfish like that.
He’ll be a great father in either city. But he has to go back.
“Morning,” he says as soon as I walk into the kitchen. “I made oatmeal, eggs, and bacon with cloud bread and jelly.” His brows dance in pride because he knows that’s my favorite food right now.
I reach for my purse and backpack from near the kitchen table.
“I’m not really that hungry. I think I’m just going to go to the library for a bit. Get in some last-minute studying before finals sneak up on us.”
“Today? Really? It’s Sunday. You usually take today off.”
I shrug. “Finals change the plans.”
I turn for the door, but he stops me with his arms stretched out. His action is so sudden that he’s still holding on to the egg spatula.
“Hey, is everything okay?”
I can’t bear to look at him.
I nod.
“No, it’s not,” he replies. “Talk to me, Syd.”
“I . . .”
“Jesus, Syd, you’re shaking.” He tosses the spatula to the counter and turns the stove off, holding my hand until we get to the couch.
Of course I’m shaking. I’m about to say something I’m sure I’ll regret one day, but I know it is the best option right now.
“I don’t think you should stay here in Wyoming.”
“What? Why?”
“You belong in Manhattan. Your life is there.”
“So, you want to move to the East Coast with me?”
I shake my head. “I’m staying here.”
“Hold on. What?” he asks again, this time learning back.
