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“You sure it was about me and not Ella? She fell this morning.”
Claudette’s face clouds over with concern. “Oh no! Is she okay? Is the baby okay?”
“The baby appears to be fine. But it seems she’s fractured her arm and is in a lot of pain. We’re on the way to the hospital,” I say, pointing to the car as I start walking toward it.
Claudette follows. When she notices what type of car it is, her step falters and she grips my arm, slowing me down.
“I take it he’s found her,” she says, her dream taking on a deeper significance for her.
I just nod, my throat too tight to talk.
“Fuck, Aiden. How is Ella dealing with it?” she asks, but I sense her concern is more directed my way.
By dumping me, I want to say. The bitterness of that thought makes me wince as I replay our fight in my mind.
I’m under no illusion that my thoughts show on my face and in my posture; Claudette has no problem reading them.
“It’s like that, is it?” she asks, not sounding surprised.
She rubs my arm, trying to comfort me. Not sure anything could make this better… other than Ella coming to her senses.
I let Claudette climb into the car first. “Ella,” she exclaims, hugging her over the back of the seat.
Ella throws her good arm around Claudette, pulling her closer. “Somehow I’m not surprised to see you here,” she says, clearly happy to have her with us.
“Well, hello there,” she greets De Marco chirpily.
Why is she so friendly with him? It’s another stab in the back. Obviously my day isn’t shitty enough.
He regards her, expressionless, not replying.
“So you’re a man of few words,” she teases and then corrects herself. “…no words, actually.”
His lips lift ever so slightly at the corners. “They do say, silence is golden.”
She chuckles. “I’ve heard that too. But I’m more interested in the silver lining of a conversation.” She winks at him, and then introduces herself to Rhia.
Claudette’s appearance eases the tension in the car, and Ella visibly relaxes. It really got to me seeing her so worried, especially when I can’t do anything to help.
It’s been torture not being able to comfort her and having to watchhimdo it all. But still, I could never walk away from her. Ella still needs me. She admitted that much when she fought for Rhia and me to come along.
Fucking Rhia. Everything was great until she turned up.
Ella’s best friend and Claudette chatter away, but my focus is on Ella. Despite being in obvious pain, she’s calm now.
Her and De Marco’s hands rest on her abdomen. Jealousy burns deep within me. This baby is giving them a connection that I can only dream of.
What would happen if she lost the baby?
No, don’t even think about that!
But why not? It would be the perfect solution.
I hate myself for contemplating this for even a second. I’m better than that!
Ella would be distraught, and that’s enough for me to stop that line of thinking.
When I feel eyes burning a hole into me, my gaze shifts to De Marco’s face.
