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“I know you are.” She’s told me as much on several occasions, but since our conversation on Mother’s Day, where she and Micah almost got into an argument because of me, I’ve made it a point to keep to myself, not wanting to put them in the middle.
“But you have a family. You have the girls and Micah, and soon you’ll have this little one.” I pat her belly gently. “Plus, you have the dance studio. I don’t want you to worry about me. I’m actually planning to go house hunting after my appointment.”
“El.” She sighs. “There was a time when we were each other’s only family. And yeah, along the way, I’ve added a few more people to the picture, but you’re still my family. And you’re welcome to stay here as long as you want or need to.”
My heart swells at her words, thankful to have such an amazing sister. But even though she has good intentions, things have changed, and she needs to put Micah and her kids first.
“If this is about what Micah said...” She adds, but I don’t let her finish her thought.
“It’s not. I appreciate you letting me stay here, but with both of us having babies, we’re going to need our own space.” She opens her mouth to argue, but I quickly change the subject. “Are you going to the dance studio this morning? I haven’t danced in weeks, and I’m dying to get into the studio to get my blood pumping.”
“Yeah, I try to go every day. But with Nora and Paula taking over my classes until after I give birth, and Samantha now running the front, I feel like I’m no longer needed,” she says with a laugh.
“If you want, we can go by the studio for a bit and then head to my appointment together. Maybe you can check out some places with me afterward.”
A smile spreads across Sienna’s face, and I know I’ve said the right thing. “That would be great. And we can do lunch for your birthday. Let me get the girls off to school. Then I’ll meet you at the studio.” She pulls me into a hug. “Happy Birthday, El. I’m so glad you’re finally home.”
After taking a quick shower to rinse the sleep off of me, I throw on a maternity tank and sweats, pack a change of clothes for my doctor’s appointment, and then head out.
I’m pressing the button for the elevator when the sound of footsteps hits my ears, making me tense. Micah, Sienna, and the girls already left for the day, which means...I glance back and see Lincoln walking toward the elevator, his head down, staring at his phone. He looks up and our eyes lock. The look on his face says he wants to go back to his place to hide until I’m gone, but it’s too late now.
“Hey,” I say, as the elevator doors open, and we step inside. It’s a private elevator, so we’re the only two on it.
“Hey,” he parrots.
We stand in awkward silence for several moments before I decide to rip the Band-Aid off. “We should probably talk about the baby.”
His eyes descend to my swollen belly, and he nods. “Yeah, sorry, I’ve been busy.” He sighs. “This is all just so...”
“I know,” I tell him, not needing him to finish his sentence. “I really am sorry.”
He shakes his head. “What’s done is done.” The doors open and we step out. “We just need to focus on the situation at hand. Figure out how to deal with it.”
The way he says ‘deal with it’ rubs me the wrong way, reminding me of what Micah said about him ‘doing the right thing,’ and before I can stop myself, I open my mouth. “Our baby isn’t something to be dealt with. It’s ahe...And he deserves to feel loved and adored. He’s not a business acquisition gone wrong, nor is he asituation. I know this isn’t what you wanted, and I already told you that I won’t force you to be in his life, so you don’t need to worry aboutdoing the right thing. I’d rather you walk away than treat him like he was a mistake you have to deal with. So, let me know if that’s what you want, and I can have an attorney draw up papers to terminate your parental rights once the baby is born.”
Without waiting for him to respond, I take off out of the hotel lobby and onto the street, my heart racing and my blood boiling. I get that I messed up, that I caused all of this, but he’s not discussing a business transaction—he’s talking about my baby—ourbaby.
Since the studio isn’t too far, I decide to hoof it there instead of waiting for an Uber, so I don’t risk seeing him again.
On my way, I pull my phone out and read my weekly ‘what to expect’ post in the app I downloaded. When I turn the corner, I’m not watching where I’m going, and I run smack dab into someone.
“Sorry,” I breathe. “I wasn’t watching where?—”
The gentleman doesn’t even acknowledge me, though. Instead, he continues to stalk in the opposite direction. Rude.
I’m about to turn around when he looks back, his gaze crashing with my own. His glare doesn’t hold for long, but the coldness in his eyes during those few short seconds is enough to send a chill up my spine, despite it being over ninety degreesoutside. The look in his eyes sparks a flashback, and I force myself out of my head, refusing to let my return to this town get to me. Then I resolve to find someone to talk to—ASAP.
Once I arrive, I get lost in dancing. It’s always been my way to escape, and for the next few hours, I do just that—everything else fading away.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
LINCOLN
“My baby isn’tsomething to be dealt with...he deserves to feel loved and adored. He’s not a business acquisition gone wrong...I can have an attorney draw up papers to terminate your parental rights once the baby is born.”
Ellie’s words run on repeat all morning while I try to get some work done.Trybeing the operative word because I’ve been staring at my screen for who the hell knows how long, and I haven’t gotten shit done.
“Hey Lincoln, Micah just arrived, and he doesn’t look happy,” our secretary, Rita, says from the doorway. Her words snap me out of my thoughts, and I slam my laptop closed. Until I figure out how I’m going to handle the situation I’ve found myself in, I have a feeling I won’t be getting much done.
