Page 46 of Forbidden Desires

A soft groan escapes me as I push myself to a sitting position, and the second I do, two bodies come into focus.

Pete and Dexter.

What on earth?

“What—what are you doing here?” My voice comes out hoarse, and I blink up at them in confusion.

Their expressions are filled with worry, and I watch as Pete’s jaw tightens at my question.

“Lorcan and Montgomery are listed as your emergency contacts,” Pete says, his voice quiet, but firm. “When the clinic called them, they called us, because they know we’re here.”

Dexter shifts in his chair, his jaw tight. "How are you feeling?"

Before I can answer, the door opens, and a doctor—one I don't recognize—walks in, holding a clipboard. He gives me a kind smile before glancing at the men.

"Good morning. My name is Dr. Victor. You gave us all quite the scare. How's your head feeling?"

My hand instinctively moves to the spot at the back of my head where the pounding is the worst. "I—I have a bit of a headache," I respond, my gaze jumping to Pete and Dexter.

Nerves bubble up inside me. As much as my head hurts, I'm more worried about my little secret. My other hand moves to my stomach and I swallow down my anxiety before turning my attention back to the doctor.

"How's my baby, Dr. Victor?"

Both Pete and Dexter were standing next to the bed, but at my words they straighten up, their bodies frozen. I have my attention glued to the doctor in front of me, but I can't help but take in their expressions in my peripheral vision. They're un-fucking-readable.

Dr. Victor looks at the men before focusing back on me. "I need to run some scans before I can give you a definitive answer."

That isn't quite the response I was hoping for, and suddenly all my worry is for my baby.

I'm vaguely aware of the doctor turning to the men next to my bed and addressing them. It takes me a moment to realize he's asking them to leave the room to give me some privacy.

"No, wait—" I try to stop them, but Pete gives the doctor a small nod, his face still showing no reaction as he grabs Dexter's arm and pulls him toward the door.

The sound of the door closing feels like the final nail in the coffin of our non-relationship.

They left. Again.

And my heart breaks.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Suzie

Dr. Victor adjusts the scanner over my stomach, his movements careful and precise. I barely register his explanations, too caught up in the whirlwind inside my head. My fingers grip the blanket underneath me, knuckles white as I stare at the ceiling, trying to block out everything—every fear for my baby, and my heartbreak.

I still can’t believe Pete and Dexter just walked out again. After all those promises. All those gifts.

I should have known better.

The sting of their departure clings to me, making it hard to focus on the doctor’s quiet reassurances as he moves through the scans.

“Everything looks good so far,” he says, his tone calm and measured. “But I want to double-check a few things.”

I nod numbly, the doctor’s words slipping past me. All I can think about is Pete and Dexter’s expressions. Or more accurately… their lack thereof.

No anger. No joy. Nothing.

It’s like they didn’t even care.

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