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“Hey,” he greets, his eyes searching mine while I try to compose myself.
“Hey,” is all I manage to say.
Eric, Charlie, and Lex watch in silence, their eyes darting back and forth, making it all the more uncomfortable. The only thing missing is a tub of popcorn in their hands.
Adriana strolls into the room, making an even larger commotion. With her own daughter in her arms, Lex takes her from Adriana so she can hold Addison.
There’s a constant chatter in the room, along with laughter and anecdotes while Addison continues to be passed around. A doctor and his intern walk in, prompting Eric to sharpen his attire and ask questions based on his knowledge of Grey’s Anatomy. It’s comical, to say the least.
With a quick check of my cell, I note the time, having to leave for my flight to Paris. The change in itinerary meant I’d still be able to make an important meeting but don’t have the luxury to spend more time here in LA.
Still keeping my distance from Noah, I say goodbye to everyone, swallowing my emotions as Charlie and Eric both break out into tears. Charlie has a valid reason—her hormones are all over the place. Eric, on the other hand, is the queen of emotional outbursts.
Eric embraces me tightly, his arms around me not willing to let go. “What will I do without you?”
“The same thing you’ve done for years, call me several times a day. We’re only an ocean apart.”
“Please, Kate, my geography isn’t the best. Remember when I thought Ecuador was part of Africa?”
“We all remember that.” Lex snickers.
“I’m jealous,” Eric pouts. “You know that, right?”
“Always.” I smile before I kiss his lips, hugging him one last time.
Not wanting to hurt Charlie, I lean in and hug her as best as I can, warning her to take it easy. Wiping a tear that falls down her cheek, I promise to text her the second I land. As for Lex, we hug goodbye, but unlike the rest of them, I will see him in a few short months for a summit in London.
“Can we talk?” Noah asks, rubbing the back of his neck after Adriana lets go of me.
We walk into the corridor, moving aside to allow people to use the walkway.
“So, you’re going to France?”
I nod, keeping my distance to maintain my rational frame of mind. “Yes, tonight.”
“How long?”
“Indefinitely,” I state with finality.
With a downturned mouth, his eyebrows gather in with a pained expression.
“Kate, I… I’m sorry. I know things are weird between us, and I miss you.”
Three simple words that shoot to my core, disrupting the peaceful surroundings I’d created over the last few months. I swallow the lump forming in my throat, keeping my responses factual.
“You have your life, and I have mine.”
His stare widens as he nods while pressing his lips together. Perhaps I’d hurt him by not returning the sentiment, but what would be the point?
“There’s something I have to tell you.” He begins fidgeting with his cuff, lowering his eyes, unable to meet mine as they did moments ago. “Morgan and I are… we’re expecting a baby. It wasn’t planned. I mean, an accident but still…”
The smile on my face remains the exact same. My stomach has its own agenda, a wave of nausea crashing around like a vicious storm. If silence is to fall around us, maybe, just maybe, you might hear the slight crack of something inside me breaking.
But I’d learned, over the years, to be the person everyone else has wanted me to be.
Right now, Noah needs me to be his friend, who understands his life is moving on. He’s about to start a family. That’s as committed as you can get.
Yet inside, I know whatever chance there would have been between us has come to a crashing halt.
