Page 24 of Hidden By His Side

“It’s not his fault,” she repeated. “We never talked about it before, I just assumed. A man can not want kids.” Her hands tugged free from his as she sat up straighter. “I mean, you don’t want kids, do you?”

Ramiro’s mind became a snarl at even the idea. “I’d be a shit father.” He’d grown up with one of the worst examples, and the thought of a baby, one dependent on him, filled with his tainted genes, made him sweat. Diego had been trying to convince him otherwise, but Ramiro was still terrified of even being around a child.

“See? You can’t be mad at Derek for being like you,” she said.

His lip curled. “That man is nothing like me.”

Summer stared into his eyes. “That’s true,” she whispered. Her hand came back to his face, stroking over his beard.

Her fingers made tingles spread through his body.

“I wish it was with you.” Her words dug a hole into his chest.

“Summer…” He didn’t know what to say to her. The thought of impregnating her, this woman he craved more than anything in the world, didn’t compute in his head.

Ramiro wasn’t made for kids.

He cleared his throat. “I didn’t know you two were at the point of having that kind of talk.” He frowned, trying to remember how long she’d been dating the prick. Had it really been close to six months?

Summer let her hand drop, pressing it against his chest. “We aren’t. That’s why I took the test at his house. I thought it’d be better. He’d have to believe me if he saw the results for himself.”

She’d taken a pregnancy test. The idea of it made Ramiro’s thoughts stall.

“He—” She swallowed, staring down at her hand touching him. “It’s okay that he doesn’t want kids, but the things he said…”

Ramiro would deal with the prick later. He grabbed her face, forcing her to meet his eyes. “Summer? Are you pregnant?”

Her lips trembled. “Yes.”

Her answer ripped out the last of his hope that maybe, since he loved her so fucking much, she could be his. She wasn’t his, and she never would be.

Chapter 8

Summer watched Ramiro’s expression change and wanted to cry all over again. His hands were still gentle on her face, but a part of him had disappeared.

At least she expected it with Ramiro. He’d never been comfortable around children.

She hadn’t been sure whether Derek wanted kids but was relieved that he wanted no part in her pregnancy. There was no reason to make herself work things out with him if he wasn’t interested.

She hadn’t been prepared for the accusations he’d thrown her way. The suggestion that she’d gotten knocked up by someone else and tried to pin it on him was ridiculous. The only person she would have cheated on him with was Ramiro, but he wouldn’t have her. He’d made that clear after the one and only time.

The heat of him soaked through her hand, still resting on his chest. She wished the baby was his. Just as, every time a man touched her, she wished they were him.

His eyes refocused on her face, giving her the attention she craved. “This isn’t like last time? You want to keep it?” His tone was locked down like he got sometimes. There was nothing accusing about it, but she still felt slapped.

“Is that wrong?” The guilt she’d carried around all these years sucked her under, and the question that had been beating in her chest slipped out. “Do I not deserve to?”

He jerked her forward, and her face pressed against his chest, the dampness there making her realize her tears were already flowing again. Darkness twisted inside her chest.

“I don’t want to hear you say that. You deserve everything in this world.”

His words didn’t soothe her. Ramiro had a blind spot when it came to her. He saw the mess she was inside but ignored it every time. Well, not ignored. He tried to convince her it didn’t exist.

She wasn’t wrong about herself. She was the biggest leech in the world, especially after latching on to Ramiro.

“That abortion kept you alive, Summer,” he said, his tone so convincing. “It wasn’t the wrong choice.”

“I was weak.” The truth burned in her heart. “I’m still weak.”

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