AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Thank you.”
I step to take them from him, and he sinks his nose into my hair and inhales deeply. “I missed you. So much. It was like losing a part of me, a part that I need to survive.”
I know the feeling, I felt the same, but I say nothing in return.
I let him linger a second longer than I should just because I need it too.
I eventually pull away. “Let’s go inside. We should talk.”
We walk in and I look around. Clearly someone has been here cleaning and bringing in my mail. I walk into my kitchen to see it full of groceries. All my favorite foods.
I remove my jacket and he sucks in an audible breath. “You’re showing already. You look beautiful.”
I stare down at my small belly. “I popped much earlier this time around. You couldn’t even tell I was pregnant with Jade for six months.”
“Do you know if we’re having a boy or girl yet?”
“I guess now you believe it’s yours?”
He lowers his head. “I deserved that. I’m sorry for what I said to you. I’ve regretted it every minute since. I didn’t mean it.”
“Then why did you say it?”
“I have no explanation. Whether I have a right to be or not, I’m damaged. Weak and damaged. I’ve been working on it though. I’m trying to be a better man for you. The kind you deserve.”
“I’m happy for you, Beckett. And no, I don’t know what we’re having. My first ultrasound is tomorrow.”
“Can I come?”
“Of course.”
“Can I hold you for a minute? Please.”
Tears well in my eyes because I need it too, but I know I can’t give in. “Beckett, I’m happy that you’re working on yourself. I want you to be the best version of you. But I’m not falling back into your arms or your bed. Not this time. You hurt me. You broke us. I don’t trust you with my heart right now.”
He nods. “I know. Trust is earned. Everything you said and did in our time together warranted my trusting you, but I threw it in your face and messed it up. Now you don’t trust me. Rightfully so. But I’m going to earn it back. I’ll do whatever it takes, for however long it takes. The simple fact is, I love you, I want to be with you, I want to raise our child together, and none of that willeverchange.”
I’m in town for two minutes and he comes over and says everything I needed to hear. And then it hits me. I’vebeen back in town for two minutes. How did he know? Jade wouldn’t have told him.
“How did you know I was back?”
“I’m a resourceful man.”
I lift an eyebrow in question.
“I knew your lease was up in the Outer Banks today.”
“You knew where I was?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night without knowing you and our child were safe. You had a full security detail down there.”
“Why didn’t you come to me?”
“Because I knew you needed the time away from me. Away from the spotlight you’ve been under. I needed it too. I needed to spend time working on me so that I can be everything for you and our child.”
“Thank you for staying away. Thank you for the space. Ididneed it.”
He gives a small nod.
