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I pass Joshua back to his mama so I can grab some tissue and dab at my eyes.
“You know what feels like a knife wedging into my heart, is that he accuses me of being with someone else. How can he think that, Mia? How? I love him. Why doesn’t he love me the same as I do him?” I sob.
“Oh, crap, Dahlia. Please don’t cry.”
“I’m sorry,” I hiccup, “I can’t help it.” I forget Liam’s behind me and continue, “I want Ryder to be here with me. I want him to be with me while I’m pregnant.” I can’t stop the tears now as they flow down my face. “And most of all, I want him with me when I give birth to our baby. I love him and can’t do it without him.”
“Fuck.”
I freeze hearing Ryder curse behind me. Turning, I realize it wasn’t Liam coming back into the room.
He heard my heartbreak.
All the color has left him while he stares at me . . . he’s frozen still.
“I’m the father?” he whispers.
I nod.
His eyes fill.
He lifts a hand and presses his thumb and finger into his closed eyes, and when he opens them again, they’re red rimmed.
Finding my feet, I squeeze the hand that Mia holds out to me, and then head toward my guy.
During dinner with Jace, he’d made me promise to make it difficult for Ryder once he knew the truth. Jace didn’t think Ryder deserved to have it easy, but seeing him now, I don’t have the heart to do that.
I don’t touch him, but I ask, “Can we go somewhere and talk? Are you ready to listen?”
“I thought—” he shakes his head. “Let’s go.”
I turn back to Mia. “I’ll be back soon.” I give her a watery smile. “Thank you.”
As Ryder opens the door, he stops. “I forgot. One minute.”
He heads back into the room, and after looking around on the floor, he picks something up from behind the chair.
“Sorry. I lost this when I was in here, or rather, I’d hoped it was here that I’d lost it. Take care, Mia.”
“You too, Ryder.”
Out in the corridor, Ryder places his hand on my back and leads me toward the elevator. I don’t see Reece or Callie, who came up with me. They said I could go first while they went and sorted something out.
I really hope Reece hasn’t dragged her in the janitor’s closet or something because I wouldn’t put it past him.
The doors close, trapping me inside with Ryder. He doesn’t give me a chance to even look at him before he has me in his arms, and my face pressed against his chest while he just holds me.
“Will you come to the apartment with me? I promise, I’ll listen to you, but you have to listen to me as well.”
I wrap my arms around his waist, and hold on. “Yes.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Ryder
I don’t want to think about what would have happened if I hadn’t overheard Dahlia talking to Mia in the hospital. I know myself, so I would have listened to her eventually, but it could have been too late.
Not once did I think the baby she’s carrying was mine. I just saw her with the other guy and let my head get stuck with that scenario. I just thank fuck I’d lost the paper with some scrawled orders on for Kix, otherwise, I’d have been none the wiser.
