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Sean and I headed to the deli down the street and took a seat in the corner. Throughout lunch, the mood became gradually more relaxed as we talked more about the surrogacy. His initial shock turned into curiosity.
“That’s really awesome of you to have volunteered, you know.” He stood to collect our trash.
“I felt like I was meant to from the moment Kate and Phil told me about it.”
“Is it weird carrying a baby that’s not your own?”
“It’s weird carrying a baby period.” I laughed. “But yeah, it’s a challenge to keep my natural feelings in check. I constantly remind myself not to get too attached, since I’m going to have to let the baby go.”
He nodded.
All in all, Sean and I ended up having a nice lunch together. I couldn’t imagine having been in his shoes today, though he continued to insist he wasn’t freaked out by the revelation. It almost seemed like he was relieved to have discovered this as the reason I’d been hesitant to go on a second date with him. He didn’t realize, of course, that it was much more complicated than that.
As we got on to take the elevator back upstairs to our office, Sean turned to me. “Just for the record, Abby, in case I haven’t made it clear, I’d still like to go out again. I’m eagerly awaiting your response to my most-recent invitation.”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “Okay. Maybe next weekend.”
“I understand why you might be hesitant,” he said. “But this doesn’t change how much I fancy you.” Then, before I could blink, Sean leaned in and planted a kiss on my lips.
The elevator doors slid open shortly before he pulled back. And when I turned? My heart fell to my stomach.
Sig was standing there.
Adrenaline coursed through my veins as I exited the elevator, Sean following me. I expected Sig to say something—anything, maybe chastise me—but instead he got into the elevator and pushed the button to close the doors without making eye contact.
CHAPTER 26
Abby
Track 26: “The Reason” by Hoobastank
I couldn’t concentrate for the rest of the afternoon.
This had been my most stressful day since I’d arrived in England. Between Sean finding out about the pregnancy and Sig catching me and Sean in that unexpected kiss—today had beena lot.
But I knew the latter was bothering me more than anything. It had consumed me, in fact. That evening, at the end of my day, I’d tried to call Sig, but he didn’t answer. Rather than call my usual car back to the countryside, I’d taken a couple of the girls up on their offer to go to the pub. That had been a much-needed distraction.
After I left the pub, my driver was supposed to take me home, but instead of the ninety-minute ride back to Westfordshire, I requested that he drop me off at a different location: Sig’s London apartment. Sig seemed to be avoiding me, but for my own sanity, I needed to talk to him about what had transpired earlier.
When I arrived at his place, another resident let me in the front entrance. Once upstairs, I paused at Sig’s door to find my bearings before I finally knocked.
A few seconds later, he opened. He was shirtless, the sight of his carved, tanned chest causing me to gulp hard. He blinked, seeming shocked to find me standing there. He ran a hand through his messy hair. “What are you doing here?”
“Is that how you greet me?”
In that moment, I looked beyond his shoulders. My heart sank as I spotted a redhead who looked like she was rushing to put on her blouse.
What the fuck? I just interrupted a booty call?“I’m sorry.” A rush of jealousy tore through me. “I didn’t know you weren’t alone.”
“Don’t worry,” she called from behind him. “I was leaving either way. Hope you have better luck than I did.” She grabbed her purse and rushed past me, leaving a cloud of perfume in her wake.
I watched as she disappeared down the stairwell before turning to face him. “I wouldn’t have come by if I’d known you had someone here.”
“Why are you still in London this late?”
“Am I supposed to be safely tucked in bed at this time?” I placed my hands on my hips. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”
He moved aside.
