AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He dropped his fork. It clattered against the plate, and he scrambled to pick it up. I wasn’t sure how to take that response.
“Because I’ll be honest, I’m a little worse for wear right now, and I don’t think it’s a good idea—”
“Maria,” his voice was gruff. “I’d never assume or pressure you into that.” He almost sounded offended that I would insinuate such a thing.
“Well, I was just asking, because I don’t actually know you very well, do I?”
We were both quiet for a few moments. He finally said, “No ma’am, I guess you don’t.”
His tone was respectful and withdrawn. Almost too polite.Great, now I’ll never get him talking to me.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap.”
“It’s okay. I get it. Besides, I’d hate to…” he worked his mouth, and gave up on his sentence.
“Hate to what?”
Still staring down at his bowl, he stabbed his fork in a little aggressively. “Get you pregnant again.”
“Yeah, not really on my to-do list any time soon.”
“I bet.”
Well there’s that, I guess.
His statement was a relief. I’d certainly enjoyed every second I spent in bed with Andrew, but honestly, with how tired I was, sex wasn’t even on my radar. Drew was just as handsome as he’d always been… but the idea of himexpectingit from me in exchange for help was a turnoff.
Still, part of me was a little hurt. He sounded shocked and a little disgusted at the thought. But maybe I was reading too much into it, and he was just surprised at my question.
It didn’t matter. He was right, getting pregnant again would be a disaster, and it was certainly not something I wanted to risk. I knew the only reason he was helping me was because he felt guilty. And that was fine. I’d accept his help until I could make it on my own, and then I’d be on my way.
We continued to eat in silence. He was still staring down at his bowl, shoulders tight, chewing slowly. The tension in the room was thicker than a brick wall. Had it been this hard to talk to him last September? He’d seemed so open, so easy. But then, this was a completely different situation. This was reality and consequences, not flirting and sex.
I truly don’t know him at all. And now I live with him.
Even though I sat across from him and my sons were in the other room, I suddenly felt so completely and utterly alone. Like I was in the middle of the ocean, and there wasn’t another soul as far as the eye could see. Sure, Drew was going to let me live in his house. But talking to him was like pulling hen’s teeth.
“I’m sorry,” he said softly, surprising me.
I took a steadying breath and tried not to let my voice shake. “For what?”
“You know what.”
“Knocking me up?”
“Stealing that freedom you wanted so badly.”
My eyes welled with tears and I sipped at my water to hide it, taking a deep breath and trying to keep from crying. All I’d ever wanted… freedom, respect, and a future… gone in one night.
But he hadn’t stolen anything from me, not really. We’d both made our choices. And when it came down to the truth… I’d rather be here with him instead of at home.
“You know what, Drew?” I straightened in my chair and looked him straight on, refusing to be ashamed of my bloodshot eyes. “I’m here with you instead of listening to my dad lecture me about how I should have aborted the twins. So no, you didn’t steal my future. Just my sophomore year of college. And I can live with that.”
His eyes widened at my statement, and then darted to the nursery where the boys slept. “That’s what you didn’t want to talk about.”
“That’s what I didn’t want to talk about.”
He stood up and went to the fridge, pulling out a bottle of beer and popping the lid open with his thumb. Settling back down across from me, he took a long swig and said, “Then we won’t talk about it.”
