Page 151 of Dust to Dust

“Double safe with my IUD and condoms.”

“Uh, good. I’m glad to hear it.”

Kellan smiled at Brooke. “As amazing as Henry is, I wouldn’t ever put Brooke in a situation where she has to be a single mom again.”

I wanted to argue that nothing was one hundred percent effective except abstinence, but I decided to let them continue in their happy little fantasy world. The same world I’d once traipsed blindly around in with Quinn.

At the thought of my former happiness I’d experienced with him, my chest constricted. It pulled even tighter when Kellan took Brooke’s hand in his. “We better get back to sleep, or we won’t have the energy to take Henry to the zoo tomorrow.”

“Oh, you’re going together?” I asked.

Brooke nodded. “I think Henry’s old enough now to really enjoy it.”

“He is.” After we stood there for a moment, I said, “Right, well, I better get back to bed myself. Now that I know you can get Henry if he wakes, I think I’ll take a sleeping pill. I haven’t been sleeping well lately.”

Kellan’s brows furrowed. “Isla–”

I waved my hand dismissively. “But that’s nothing you need to concern yourself with. You just need to be young and carefree and…” I swallowed hard. “Happy.”

Even though I felt the heat of Kellan and Brooke’s gazes, I refused to look at them. “Well, anyway, I’m really happy for the both of you.” Before I could choke down the sob, it erupted from my lips. The next thing I knew I was sinking to my knees on the hardwood floor as my chest shuddered in harsh sobs.

Both Kellan and Brooke rushed to my side. “Oh Isla, I’m so sorry,” Brooke murmured as she wrapped her arms around me.

I tried to push her away. “Just leave me. I don’t want to bring you down.”

“You could never do that, silly.”

My cries must’ve subconsciously woken Henry because his wails could be heard above me. Brooke pulled away from me to rise to her feet. “I’ll go get him.”

Kellan shook his head. “Let me, and you can stay with Isla.”

“No, no. It’s fine. He’s not used to a male voice in the middle of the night.”

After Brooke rushed out of the kitchen and started pounding up the stairs, I gave Kellan a sad smile. “I’m sorry,” I said.

Kellan’s hand came to cup my cheek. “Don’t apologize, especially to me. You’ve seen me at my worst. Let me be here for you.”

Although I knew I shouldn’t, there was one question I had to ask. “How is he?” I whispered.

“Not good.”

With a mirthless laugh, I replied, “I know the feeling.”

“He left for Belfast two weeks ago.”

My mouth dropped open in surprise. “Did he have business to attend to there?”

Kellan shook his head. “He said he couldn’t bear to be in the city anymore.”

“I know the feeling,” I murmured.

“He loves you,” Kellan said earnestly.

“And I love him.”

“He loves you so much he wants out of the life.”

I gasped. “But he can’t leave you guys.”

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