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I was so used to everyone around me being aware of their surroundings and the dangers around us that it took me aback. Everything in me wanted to lecture her as soon as I pushed her curtain aside, but that fell away the moment I saw her curled up on her bed, her face peaceful and her hand resting on her swollen stomach.
Not thinking twice, I climbed through her window and stood there, watching her, remembering how she’d looked exactly the same the night we spent together. She had no idea that I’d watched her as she fell asleep and wondered what life would have been like to spend every night like that. But it was a fantasy, one that people like me never got to see through.
It was a way of the life—a way ofmylife.
She murmured something, her features screwing up as she gripped her stomach tighter, then slowly batted her eyes open. She stared right at me, not registering that I was standing there for several seconds, and then she screamed, so loud that it nearly burst my eardrum.
“Fuck, Navy.” I winced, placing my hands over the sides of my head. “It’s me, Dante.”
She jerked upright and shuffled back on her bed, her scream lowering the longer she stared at me until she stopped completely.
“What…what are you doing here?” Her hands shook as she moved some hair out of her face that was awash with fear mixed with relief.
“For you,” I said simply, as if she should have already known the answer. I wanted to be gentle, I did, but I couldn’t help it, I couldn’t stop myself as I barked out, “Did you come there that night to spy on me?”
Her head was shaking before I’d even finished my sentence. “No, no. I swear, I didn’t. I…Zara…I didn’t.” She stopped, inhaling a big breath as her shoulders moved up and down. “Zara made me come to the party so she could meet her boyfriend. I don’t usually go to parties. I like to stay home and”—she waved her arm in the air—“sorry, I’m rambling.” She bit down on her bottom lip, the same way she did that night, luring me toward her. “I didn’t know who you were until after…after I took…” She trailed off, but her gaze gave her away, looking down at her stomach.
“Is it mine?” I asked, my voice rough.
“Yes.” She didn’t miss a beat, didn’t hesitate. “Of course it’s yours. You’re the only person I’ve slept with in over a year.” She paused to take a breath. “And before you say anything.” She stood, holding her hands up in front of her, her expression turning stone cold. “I’m not getting rid of my baby. I won’t do it. You can tell me that all you like, but it’s my choice.” Her voice broke, her eyes welling up with tears that she refused to let drop. “No one can make me give up my baby.”
“Navy.”
“Not you, not my dad.”
I took two steps toward her. “Navy.”
“No one. This baby is the only thing that matters—”
“Navy,” I growled, louder this time. “I’m not…” A lump in my throat halted my words as I took another step closer to her, so near that I could touch her. And I did. I didn’t hold back. I didn’t stop myself from placing my hands on either side of her face and bending at my knees so that we were eye level. “I’d never do that.”
I tilted her head up as I stood at my full height, feeling her swollen stomach between us.
Her gaze batted back and forth between my eyes, so much fire reflected in them, but it wasn’t that that had me frowning, it was the sadness, the despair. So easily she’d run off into that spiel, not giving me the chance to say or ask anything.
“You wouldn’t?” she asked, her voice so small I knew I wouldn’t have heard it if I wasn’t right in front of her.
I shook my head, lifting my lips into a soft smile—a smile I realized I only ever gave to her. “I wouldn’t.”
We stood there, neither of us moving, just staring into each other’s eyes, so many things unsaid between us. I wanted to tell her to keep her window closed. I wanted to demand that she come home with me. I wanted to put my hands on her stomach. I wanted to hold her. But more than that, I wanted to kiss her. I wanted to feel those soft lips against mine again.
I was selfish, and stupid. I couldn’t be thinking about that, not now that I knew who she was.
But…
She was carrying my baby.Mybaby.
If I wouldn’t have left for all of those months…
My heart hammered in my chest at the thought of what would have happened if I would have stayed. Would she have come to me and told me?
I’d left without a word, but she’d disappeared too. And now we were here, standing in front of each other, my life having changed in the blink of an eye. Or had it? Was I thinking too much? Was I getting ahead of myself?
If she hadn’t have run into me two days ago, then would I even know?
“Dante,” she whispered, her lips parting. “I tried to tell—” The sound of an engine rumbling had her eyes widening. “No.” The engine stopped, followed by a car door opening and closing. “Dad’s home.”
“I don’t care.” I held her face tighter, pushing my body right up against hers. “I’m not leaving.” I pressed my forehead to hers, breathing her in, afraid that if I left this room right then, I’d never see her again.
