Page 102 of Forgot to Tell You Something

“I see the glare is going strong today,” Owen comments, resting his hand on the back of my chair, his thumb tracing across my back. The move is subtle, and to anyone else, it looks innocent. But for me, it’s stoking an already simmering inferno.

I sit up, scooting toward the edge of the chair, ensuring his hand can’t touch any part of my body. Ever again.

“I guess that’s as close to a hello as I’m going to get, isn’t it, Tally? Hi, Stefani.”

My best friend nods in his direction but says nothing. She’s struggling not to get involved, and I know she’s torn with whom to support in this battle.

“Can I get you ladies anything? A coffee refill, a piece of cake.”

Hell, no, we arenotexchanging pleasantries. “You have a doctor’s lounge,” I snap, half turning in my chair to send him a withering glare. “Why are you here?”

“I was checking up on you. I do that about a million times a day.” He stalks off and I swivel back in my seat, meeting Stefani’s surprised look.

“What?”

“Lu—”

“What?” I repeat, my frustration mounting. “What do you have to add to this already crappy situation?”

“Nothing. Just know that I love you and please consider what I told you. I’m heading back.”

I nod, pulling out my e-reader. “I have another fifteen minutes before my next meeting. Going to catch up on some reading.”

She buses my tray for me, so I can focus on the next chapter. I’m devouring pregnancy books. I’m scared to death at what this little nugget is going to do to my body. I may be a nurse, but I don’t know nothing about birthing no babies.

“Can I talk to you?”

Oh shit, Owen is back. Without looking up, I mutter, “I’m on lunch. Can it wait?”

My snappy question is met with silence. I finally pull my gaze from the book and meet his stormy one. I can tell by the look in his eyes the answer to my question. “Not really.” Then Owen glances at my e-reader.

I press the button in a vain attempt to close the screen, but the man is too fast. He grabs the reader, his eyes widening. “What to Expect When You’re Expecting?”

“Give me that,” I bark, reaching for my reader. Damn him and his long arms. I don’t stand a chance.

“Tally, what’s going on?”

Time to play dumb. I despise the concept of the ditzy woman, but I’m about to test my acting chops with that role. “No idea. You wanted to speak to me, remember?”

“Darlin, why won’t you admit that you’re pregnant?” Owen sinks into the chair across from me, but I can’t read his expression. He isn’t angry, just guarded.

I cross my fingers under the table. God needs to understand. This is about survival. The survival of my heart. “It’s for a woman at the shelter. I know very little about obstetrics, so I’m helping her understand some nuances. Not that I owe you an explanation.”

Then I feel it, his hand on my thigh, tightening ever so slightly. “You’re a terrible liar, Tally.”

“I guess I should take some pointers from you, huh?”

I couldn’t have hit harder with a baseball bat. He swallows audibly, but his hand never leaves my leg. “If that’s what it took to have that time with you, I’d lie all over again. Loving you is worth it to me.” He slides back the chair, grabbing a pad of paper and a pen from his pocket. He scribbles something down before sliding it across the table to me. “This book is better. You deserve the best. I’ll get you a list of the best obstetricians in the area…for the woman at the shelter.”

He squeezes the paper into my hand before striding out of the cafeteria.

With trembling fingers, I unfold the note. It’s the name of a different baby book and underneath it, four words.

I’ll keep fighting, Darlin.

It’s in moments like these that staying angry with Owen is exceedingly difficult. Couple that with Stefani’s heartfelt plea to tell Owen the truth about the baby, and my heart and mind are as confused as a rat in a maze. My stubbornness may be legendary, but even it knows some boundaries.

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