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The way he growled the words gave me pause. I turned to face him, noticing how his eyes darkened a shade.
Silence fell in the space between us. He tapped his fingers on the desk as he looked up at me again. “You didn’t have to sneak out, you know.”
“I’m sorry I did that,” I replied, and each word hurt. My throat constricted, burning as I tried to say what I needed to say. What I came here to say!
“What brings you back?”
“Pete,” I whispered, his name coming out as a plea. He stood so quickly I took a step back out of the reflex.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, rounding his desk. His eyes sharpened on my face. I hadn’t realized I was crying until he reached out and brushed a tear off my cheek with a gentle touch that could have had me on my knees in an instant had he not been there to steady me.
Everything I’d planned to say to him dissolved into blank nothingness.
“I’m pregnant,” I blurted, choking on the words.
“What?”
“I’m pregnant,” I repeated, unable to look him in the eyes as I said it a second time. I’d been so wholly wrapped up in keeping away from my family that I hadn’t really thought what this moment would be like. I’d planned to walk in and tell him straight to his face. I’d planned to tell him I’d be fine without him, but that I needed to be here, under his wing, until I sorted myself out.
Because there were people looking for me, and if they found out about this baby…
“I want to keep it,” I said, watching as his life flashed before his eyes.
“Thank you for—for letting me know—”
“Pete,” I rasped, taking a step forward. “I’m—My family is… Not going to be okay with this in the slightest.”
“Alright…” He looked… uncomfortable. So was I.
I rolled my lower lip between my teeth and sank into the dusty swivel chair in front of his desk, my face resting in my hands.
“My parents have a lot of money,” I began. “They have been dictating every move I made in life to suit their needs and the future they feel is best for me.”
“That’s—That’s admirable—”
“No,” I cut in quickly, looking up at him. How could I possibly make him understand when I could barely form the words myself?
“No? Doesn’t every parent want the best for their kids?”
“They used me to further their influence,” I ground out. “I’m engaged—Wasengaged to a man because they thought our union would be advantageous. It would thrust them into the upper echelons of the circles they run it. Me, married to a senator’s son… who is only interested in me for my trust fund. And now I’m pregnant with your baby, and if I go home, they’ll—I can’t go home!”
Pete stared at me, unblinking. “Are you sure you’reevenpregnant?”
“Yes!” I cried. “I am. I took a test. I know it’s early—”
“And you’re on the run right now?”
“Yes—”
“Are you in danger?”
“They won’t hurt me but I can guarantee I’ll be forced to marry Jonah—that’s his name. Jonah Lawley. I’ll be forced to go through with the wedding. Not this summer liked planned because they’ll keep me under lock and key until this baby is born and I—” Bitter thoughts filled my mind. They had the power to take this baby from me if they saw fit. “If I go back, I need you to take the baby—”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” he started, waving his hands before pulling a chair from the wall and sitting down across from me. “What are you even talking about?”
I took a breath, and then I told himeverything.
Every fine detail of my life came pouring out from my lips. Pete listened intently without so much as taking a breath as I laid everything out on the table.
