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"I won't let her go through this alone. I love her, Ella, and I want to be there for her."
"I know you will. Just be patient and understanding. She needs that more than anything right now,” she answers, grinning like mad. I stand up, grab my suit, and head out.
"You know how you’re gonna do this?”
"Not in the slightest. But I’m getting her back."
Ella jumps up and screeches before throwing her arms around my neck. "I’m so happy for you, Dad! I’m getting a stepmom!"
"Wish me luck."
"Come on, Dad, you don’t need it. She is crazy about you." She kisses me on the cheek before releasing me, something she’s never done before. It’s not lost on me.
“You know something, Ella? I’m the luckiest man in the world, even if Chloe won’t have me. I may have taken a stupid amount of time to get there, but I’m your dad. And that means more to me than anything. I love you, kiddo.”
Ella’s eyes mist over with tears. She beams at me, the shock of my confession rattling her. “I love you too, Dad. Now go get Chloe!”
I standoutside Chloe's building, my heart pounding in my chest. To be honest, I’m surprised it’s still beating in the first place. Itake a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever reaction awaits me.
The door swings open, and Chloe's expression transforms from confusion to surprise, her eyes widening as she utters my name with disbelief.
"Jeremy?" Chloe looks radiant in a long, floral gown, even if she seems a little tired. She’s gorgeous, of course, but pregnancy suits her. I manage a small smile, my focus locked on her.
"Hey, Chloe." I suddenly forgot everything I’d practiced on the way over here. She stares at me, so many emotions running across her face, so much that I can’t pinpoint which one stands out for her.
"What are you doing here?" she asks softly. I scramble for the words, but seeing her in person erased all logic, leaving me empty.
"Can I come in?” I finally manage to ask.
There's a pause, a heavy moment where the weight of unspoken words hangs in the air. Chloe hesitates, studying my face for something. Perhaps it’s sincerity? Trust? Love?
After a beat, she opens the door wide. She steps aside, allowing me to enter. We walk up to her apartment in silence, but for the first time in ages, I feel almost comforted. Just being near her has done more to soothe me than I ever could have imagined.
Despite the faint traces of fatigue on her face, Chloe manages to smile as she lets me in her apartment. In the silence, I find myself searching for the right words, but I still draw a blank. There are no words, not when her beauty and scent intoxicate me, and all I want to do is kiss her.
Our eyes lock with neither of us saying anything. I see a mirror of my desire in her eyes. She blushes and shifts on her leg uncomfortably.
"Chloe, I need to talk to you. There's something we need to discuss."
She meets my eyes, a mixture of resignation and apprehension in hers. "You don’t want the baby anymore, do you?"
She says it with such finality, more of a declaration than a question. It’s as if she knew this moment was coming and has been preparing for it, steeling herself against my rejection. She’s already anticipated me abandoning her, and worse, she’s already accepted it.
"Chloe, no. That’s not it at all! When I told you I love you, I meant it. I want our baby more than anything… anything except you."
Instead of reassuring her, my words only give her pause. Her expression remains guarded as if she's still waiting for the other shoe to drop, for the inevitable moment when someone she cares about will walk away. I can sense the layers of hurt and fear she's carrying.
"And it’s never going to change,” I add, taking one step closer. “I’m never going to abandon you, ever."
She sucks in a breath and steps away from me.
"I know about your past, Chloe, about your mom. But I want you to understand I'm not her. I won't leave you. I'm here because I love you."
Her eyes well up with tears, mixed emotions on her face. She looks away, as if wrestling with the vulnerability of believing me.
"Jeremy, I... I've heard promises before. People say they won't leave, and then they do. My dad promised never to leave me, but he did."
I step closer, closing the distance between us, my hand reaching out to gently cup her cheek. She flinches slightly, and it’s like a knife in my heart. Still, she doesn’t move away this time, letting me caress her.
