Page 6 of Always Right

I met his eyes, hoping he saw the truth in mine. “Derek, I am pregnant. I can show you the test. I’ll take one in front of you.”

He looked at me, like I was a puzzle. Like I was something he couldn’t figure out, but it was simple. Couldn’t he see my walls were down? Couldn’t he see me?

It was only our quiet breathing for those few seconds in which he looked at me, he looked through me, searching for something--truth or lies. I wasn’t sure what he wanted to find. I didn’t tear my eyes from his though. I held his gaze, even as his thumb went up to my cheekbone, caressing me briefly before he spoke.

“Even if you are, why should I believe it's mine?”

It was then I knew.

What was aflame was my heart. He tossed it to the side, doused it in gasoline and set it on fire. I sucked in a breath, watching as he walked away from me, from us, and disappeared into the kitchen, the sound of glass breaking forcing my feet to move, this time away from him.

I managed to take a step, then another, until my feet were running to the elevator and then through the rain to the car. Only then, far from his words, far from him, did I allow myself to grieve.

To grieve for the family I would never have.

For the father my baby deserved.

I mourned the love that was once mine.

It was over.

This time, it was really over.

The Paradis was crowded. The restaurant smelled of home and elegance, all mixed into one. There were people everywhere, the lively chatter of clients filling the Friday night air as I entered the restaurant, a waitress laughing until her eyes fell on me. I smiled at her.

“Cat,” I greeted, watching as the color drained from her face. Funny, how people could become strangers so damn quickly. There were murmurs from the other staff who’d seen me enter. Me—the person who betrayed Derek Hensley not once, but twice. The person who caused him to spiral. I rolled my eyes, putting on my façade, one I had become an expert at wearing from a young age. My mother was the best teacher after all, and though inside I was falling apart they would never see it.

My pride would be my undoing, but it was better than heartbreak.

Anything was.

This wasn’t what everyone meant when they said I needed to talk to him. Sure as hell wasn’t what Dr. Carmichael meant when she said I needed to close this chapter of my life and turn the page for a new one to begin, but I couldn’t let myself be weak. The thought terrified me.

“I’m...uh...do you have a table reserved?”

I smiled. “No. But you know that already. I need to talk to Derek.” Cat opened her mouth to speak, but I waved her off. “No need to guide me. I remember the way.”

I walked past her and like I expected, no one stopped me. No one said a damn word.

It didn’t take me long to find him. He stood to the side, talking to Lisa, her eyes widening when she saw me. Regret instantly covered her features, like she cared. Like she felt bad for what had happened.

But Derek...he didn’t look surprised. He looked different...older.

Wiser.

Nothing like the man who broke my heart.

It ached.

It hurt.

I watched as he nodded toward his office, wordlessly telling me to meet him there.

I walked past Lisa, not bothering with a greeting and walked into the familiar space, ignoring the memories that replayed in my head. The kisses he’d given me, the times we would sneak into his office and he’d make love to me over the desk, against the wall...anywhere he could. And when he looked at me, his eyes dark and intense, I knew he was thinking the same thing.

And for a second, I couldn’t speak.

I couldn’t find the words I wanted to say, I couldn’t even fucking breathe.

---