He pushed away from the desk and dug his hands in his trousers. “What else was I supposed to do?” Beg her to stay without the guarantee of having children? No, he didn’t beg.
“You could’ve made it difficult—made the divorce complicated—and maybe I wouldn’t have found Jeremy and gotten pregnant when I did. I’m sorry I hurt you so much, I truly am. But thanks to you, I get to be a mother.”
She came here to thank me for her fantastic new fucking life? Unbelievable.
He couldn’t keep listening to this. “Apology accepted. I’m happy you’ve gotten everything you wanted. Good luck with the baby.” He kissed her on the cheek, putting an end to the conversation.
She smiled. “I wish you all the happiness, too.” He watched her walk out, and then sank down onto the chair.
Thanks to you, I get to be a mother.
Her words struck him like a bullet to the chest. Layla had practically glowed with happiness. How could he take that joy away from Chloe? All she talked about was becoming a mother. He wouldn’t do that to her. She deserved the same happiness as Layla. She deserved to feel that life growing inside her. He couldn’t be selfish.
Instead of going to her and hoping she’d accept him the way he was, it was time to let her go so she could have the life she deserved. He had to put an end to this. He had to… for Chloe’s sake.
He placed his elbows on the desk and dropped his head in his hands. Layla hadthankedhim for letting her go. But it had been easy to do. By the time he’d sought a divorce, they’d barely been speaking to each other—the love had long since faded. This was different, the love was new, potent. Chloe consumed his heart and mind like nothing he’d ever experienced before. So, this time letting go of someone he loved would not be easy. It was going to be the hardest thing he’d ever do.
Chapter Thirty-One
Withaheavyheart,Theo stared at the button for Chloe’s apartment for a few minutes before pressing it.
A few seconds later, her sweet voice crackled through the intercom. “Hello?”
“It’s me.”
“Come up.” The front door clicked when it unlocked. He pushed it open and made his way to the elevator and stepped inside. All too quickly, he was on her floor, knocking at her door.
After a few seconds, she swung the door open. “Hi,” she said with a timid smile.
“Hi.” His voice was gruff, and he cleared his throat.
Stepping aside, she let him into her apartment. She was dressed in gray leggings and a baggy pink sweatshirt. His heart somersaulted in his chest. He wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her. It took all his strength to hold back.
“I’ve ordered pizza, it should be here soon.”
The thought of food made his stomach churn. “Sounds good,” he lied.
She fiddled with the hem of her sweatshirt. “Can I get you something? Coffee? Water?”
“No, I’m good. Thanks.” He took a deep, steadying breath. “Chloe, about last weekend—”
She held up her hand. “It’s okay. You don’t need to say anything. We want different things. You’ve always been up front about the way you want to live your life. It’s my fault I crossed over the friendship line.” She dropped onto the sofa and stared at her feet.
God, he wanted to kick his own ass for causing her so much pain. If he could take it away, he would. Sitting next to her, he clasped her hand. Grateful she didn’t snatch it away. “It’s not your fault. I crossed that line too. All those things you want in your life… I want to give them to you.”
Her head spun toward him. “You do?”
He nodded.
Hope sparked in her eyes. Before he could continue with what he had to say, she threw her arms around his neck. “Oh, Theo. I love you! I always have.”
Her words knocked the breath out of his lungs. Before his visit from Layla, they would have been the most amazing words he’d ever heard. Now they cut to the bone because he couldn’t say them back. Christ, this was not how this was supposed to go. His chest tightened with dread for having to let her down. “Chloe, I have to—”
Her lips slammed against his before he could say the words. Caught up in the moment, knowing this would be the last time they’d ever be together like this, he lost himself in the kiss. He needed to touch her—taste her—one last time. Bank this time in his memory. It was selfish, and she’d hate him for it. But his hands had a mind of their own, and he cupped her face. His thumb brushed over her jaw. It was a goodbye kiss before he told her the truth and she rightfully kicked his pathetic ass out of her apartment. One kiss turned into two, then three. And as her mouth opened up to him, he poured all the passion and love he felt for her into that kiss. This was wrong. He needed to pull away.
But he couldn’t.
Any second now he’d put a stop to things before they went further. But it wasn’t so easy when her palms slid along his shoulders, down his torso, and began unbuttoning his shirt.
