Page 41 of Never Yours

She blows out a long breath. “It’s about why I came home in the first place.” She recounts a story about how her boss came onto her and how she felt she had no choice but to sleep with him. But all I hear is a man who abused his power and took advantage of the woman I love. As she continues telling me what happened, I do my best to contain the rage building inside me.

I don’t blame Ingrid for what happened to her. I’m sure she wasn’t the first woman he slept with who quit shortly after, either out of embarrassment or after being forced out of her job. The only thing that matters now is that he’ll never touch her again for as long as I live. If this child is his, I’ll do everything in my power to make sure he doesn’t come within a hundred miles of Ingrid and the baby.

“We used a condom, but there’s a small chance… I’m so sorry, Cay.”

For all our lives, I’ve almost never seen Ingrid cry. As kids, she broke her leg, no tears. As teens, she didn’t even shed a tear at the saddest of movies or books. Now, as adults, she’s before me as one of the strongest women I know, on her knees and eyes swollen with hurt she’s trying to hold back.

“I don’t care if it’s his.”

“Will you take the test?” she asks softly. “To be sure?”

I swipe her tears from her cheeks with my thumbs and brush a gentle kiss to her lips. “I’ll do it, for you. I know we’ll have a lot to talk about when I’m back, but you’re mine, Ingrid, and that means this baby is mine, too.”

Covering my hands with hers, she shakes her head. “I don’t want you to do this because you feel you have to. I’ll be okay.”

“In case you have forgotten”—I glance at the mirror and back to Ingrid, then smile—“you’re my wife. My bucket list, my life, begins and ends with you.”

Ingrid is about to reply when there’s a knock at the door. “Rogers. You and your wife can have lunch with the rest of your family, and visit the medical clinic. Then, we need to begin briefings.”

My shoulders sag in defeat that our time is almost up. This will be the longest six months of my life, but one thing’s for certain, the moment it’s over, I’m spending the rest of my days with Ingrid as my wife.

ingrid

. . .

“Back to your swoony declarations for my best friend, I see,” Cass jests, elbowing Caleb in the side. “I saw the huge book delivery, not sure where she’s going to put all of those books. I should store them at my place. You know, be a good sister and all.”

“It was really too much,” I confess.

Caleb’s hand slides into mine under the table. “I had Daniels download the books onto my device, and I felt like a book pirate. He suggested I get the paperbacks to ease my conscience.”

“Uh, there was alien smut in there,” Cass deadpans, making Pop choke on his own air. “Easy, Pop, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. You should’ve seen some of the Daddy Dom titles.”

“Cass!” I shriek. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Rogers. I assure you there were no Daddies in my book delivery.”

“Mr. Rogers was my father. But if you don’t mind, can we change the subject?”

Cay laughs. “I left my device on the ship, before it”—the officer babysitting us glares at me in warning at my slip up—“died.” I clear my throat and double down, “Before the device died. I’m going to need a new one, and order a new one for Ingrid, too.”

“I’ll make sure your wifey has a new one,” Cass insists, sipping her iced tea.

“Anyway,” I draw out. “Caleb and I should get going. We need to get the lab tests done here before he has to leave.”

“We don’t have to, I told you I don’t care,” he huffs.

“I know, but I do.” I pull my hand back and stand. “I’ll see you guys after?”

It’s going to be rough with Caleb gone. His dad was right, he loves big, and when he sets his mind on something, he’s determined. But, I refuse to let him feel obligated to be with me, let alone get married, because of a child.

Caleb gets up and follows me out of the glorified cafeteria. I look around, finding happy families with their escorts. I’m not sure I like the idea of having our child having these sorts of chaperoned visits.

The walk to the medical building is quiet. Caleb insists on holding my hand, maybe to keep up appearances since he has claimed I’m his wife. While I understand that he lied to ensure he was able to see me, it doesn’t make it easy on me. We didn’t end things well, so much left unsaid. It’s so easy to be swept up in him, so easy to live in the fantasy where we’re essentially playing house. My heart aches for him, but my head refuses to let me fall until we have a chance to take our time.

I’m pregnant. So much for taking our time.

“Name?” the woman barks at the entrance of the medical center.

“Ingrid Lawrence and Caleb Rogers.”

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