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Ella's demeanor softened further as she accepted his handshake. "Thank you, Mr. Detwiler. And if you'd like assistance when collecting your baby, I'd be more than happy to accompany you to Colorado. Navigating air travel with an infant is a daunting task, even for seasoned pros."
"Thanks, I might just take you up on that offer!" Mitch admitted, rubbing his neck.
With Ella gone, I released my pent-up frustration. "Mitch, how could you dismiss the fact that I stayed the night? We agreed we were just friends, yet you nonchalantly went along with Ella's insinuation that we were friends with benefits?"
My outburst caught Mitch off guard. He claimed he merely aimed to diffuse Ella's probing with his compliance. I folded my arms, narrowing my eyes at him. "Well, you should've come up with a better strategy. I refuse to be labeled as your friend with benefits!"
"Amy, I'm sorry," Mitch's voice softened, pleading. "I never meant to hurt you or make you feel uneasy. Please, don't be upset. You're everything I need right now."
I shook my head, emotion welling up behind my eyes. "No, Mitch. This is all too much, too soon. After last night, I need some room to breathe and make sense of it all."
Not waiting for his reply, I snatched my purse and stormed toward the entrance, my heels tapping rhythmically against the parquet flooring. Mitch trailed after me, seizing my arm just as I reached for the doorknob. "Please, Amy, don't leave. I need you here, now more than ever. I can't handle all of this on my own."
I hesitated, my determination faltering momentarily, but I knew I had to create some distance. "I'm sorry, Mitch," I whispered, my voice breaking. "I just need some time."
I wriggled free from his hold and stepped out, summoning an Uber as I paced the sidewalk, struggling to sort through the emotional tornado threatening to sweep me off my feet. One side of me yearned to go back and support Mitch, but the other side insisted on putting space between us to untangle my feelings.
The Uber arrived, and I slid into the backseat, stealing one last look at Mitch's bungalow as we pulled away. He lingered in the doorway, his expression a blend of heartache and disbelief. Guilt stabbed at me, but I shoved it aside, reminding myself that I had to prioritize my own needs.
As we approached my apartment, my phone vibrated with a new text message. Mom. She and Papa had returned to San Diego and wanted to know my whereabouts. Hesitating, I weighed my options before telling them I was headed home and would update them on recent events when I got there.
Well, maybe noteverything. My day would only spiral further downhill if I revealed the full extent of Mitch's and my escapades. Despite Papa's sympathetic stance on Mitch needing a lawyer, they'd both be in a state of panic if they knew a stalker had trailed us the previous night and likely knew the location of the apartment.
When I finally reached my apartment, I felt certain I'd made the right decision. I needed to reflect on what had transpired, untangle my emotions toward Mitch, and prioritize my well-being. It was crucial to guard my heart and look after myself before considering a future with him—and my future at Rosedale.
So why were tears streaming down my face!?
ChapterEight
Mitch
I nervously checkedthe time again in the quiet comfort of my home office. I counted the minutes until my two o'clock meeting with the contractor while dreading the upcoming Zoom call with my lawyer. The usually soothing blue walls felt overwhelming as if they were closing in on me with each passing minute. My nerves, tense as a piano wire, caused an involuntary eye twitch. The prospect of fatherhood, a role I had never seriously contemplated, now filled my thoughts, stirring a whirlwind of mixed emotions inside me.
On family leave from my position at Rosedale, the silence in the room was unsettling, like a foreign invader. The sounds of my typical workday was conspicuously absent, leaving me exposed and vulnerable. The enormity of my situation hadn't entirely settled into the marrow of my bones, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was out of my depth.
As the seconds stretched into eternity, my heart thundered against my ribcage, and my breaths became shallow and rapid. My thoughts ricocheted between the intimidating prospect of parenthood and the uncertain future with Amy.
The familiar jingle of the virtual call sliced through the silence, jolting me from my spiraling thoughts. I swallowed hard, attempting to collect myself as my attorney's pixelated face materialized on the screen. The weight of the world seemed to rest on the outcome of this conversation, and I summoned the courage to confront it head-on.
"Hey, Mitch, good to see you," Angelo, my attorney, greeted me with a warm smile, but his affable demeanor failed to quell the tempest within me.
"Hi, Angelo. Nice to meet you," I responded, my voice strained and tense. I fiddled with the corner of my notepad, avoiding his digital gaze.
Angelo cleared his throat. "So, let's get down to brass tacks. I think it'd be best if you came out to Vail and met me face-to-face. There's more to this than just inking some documents and taking custody of little Ava."
My stomach roiled at the thought of the murky unknowns ahead. "What do you mean?"
"Well, for starters, you'll need to submit a DNA sample to confirm paternity. And the judge wants to meet with both you and Ava's mother, Nicole. He wants to make sure she hasn't had a change of heart about relinquishing custody."
I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment, attempting to absorb the information. My hands quivered as I pondered the implications. Was I truly equipped for this?
Angelo's voice reeled me back to the present. "I know it's a lot to process, Mitch. But we also need to present a plan for how you'll care for Ava. The judge will want to hear about it."
"I... I didn't realize there would be so much involved," I confessed, my voice cracking.
Angelo's eyes softened with understanding. "Mitch, it's a hell of a burden. We'll tackle this together, but preparation is key."
I managed a jerky nod, my throat tightening as I considered the enormity of raising Ava and maintaining a connection with Amy. It felt as if the weight of the world was pressing down on me, and I couldn't shake the icy tendrils of dread coiling in my gut.
