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“This is Lia we are talking about. The woman leads with her heart and would never hold that night against you. If she needs time, give her time, but don’t give up on her. I have never seen your eyes so alive since Mom died. It’s like you’re a whole new man. She brings life out of you.”
That was true. She did bring life out of me. She brought out the very best in me. I had never felt more at peace than when I was with her.
“I love her.” Saying those words out loud to someone other than myself was like breaking through the water and taking my first breath of air. “I love her, man.”
“I know.” He pulled me in for a hug. “I know.”
This was the first time I didn’t know how long we hugged like brothers. When we pulled apart, I knew this was the start of something new for the both of us. All that baggage and weight we had carried with us was falling off and we were on a new path—a better path.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, and my heart jumped when I pulled it out.
“She’s awake,” I whispered.
“That’s great.” He smiled, but as soon as he saw the look of terror on my face, he immediately shifted his stance. “It’s going to be okay. Just breathe and listen to her.”
I nodded.
“Let’s go see your girl.”
I hoped that she was still mine after we had our talk. But no matter what, I was not giving up on her or us.
34
AMELIA
When I woke up I was confused, but it all came flooding back. I first clutched my stomach and looked at my best friend, who reassured me that the baby was fine and was in no danger.
When the anxiety subsided, I began to wonder about the father of my child. I had expected him to be here but only saw Selena in the room.
“Where is he?”
“He went out for some air,” she frowned a little, holding tightly onto my hand. “I told Xander to go and get him when you woke up.”
There was something in her tone that didn’t sound right.
“What’s wrong?”
“What do you mean?” I could tell by the way she wasn’t holding eye contact that she was hiding something from me, but I didn’t know what.
“You have this face.”
“I don’t have a face.”
“Yes, you do,” I said, gesturing to her. “Whatever it is, you can tell me.”
“I don’t want you to get mad at me.”
“Why would I get mad?”
She moved her gaze to meet mine, and I saw the guilt swimming in them. “I may have said something to Nate.”
“What?”
And then she told me.
I was not surprised at all that she reacted that way. Selena had always been protective over me. Since we became friends in elementary school, she always tried to keep me safe from any danger—even at times from myself.
“I know you care about him, but I just…” she licked her lips, placing her hand on mine. “I can’t watch you wither the way you did with his brother. These Cane men have taken so much from you. They have tampered with your heart, and you…you don’t deserve that.”
