Page 54 of The Man I Love

He sat there for a moment, his hands on the steering wheel and his concentration on the road. “Please stop thanking me,” he urged softly.

She pulled one leg into her seat and turned to face him. “It’s not that big of a deal.”

“That’s my baby growing in your belly.” He tossed his glasses on the dash and turned to face her again. “My responsibility.” His eyes burned a hole straight into her soul. “You are the mother of my child.”

Her heart squeezed a little, but heat flushed her cheeks.

“You’re not alone, Samantha,” he said softly. “I’m here—I want to be here. I want to be a part of this. I want to help you without you feeling like you owe me in return.”

She hadn’t been expecting that. Emotion bubbled up in her chest. She’d felt alone for so long. He’d left her alone, and now he was telling her she wasn’t.

“I’m not really sure where I fit in.”

Her heart pinched at his words, and she looked away. She wasn’t sure either. She wasn't sure how to do any of this, but the vulnerability she heard in his voice was almost her undoing.

“I’m the father, and it’s my job to take care of you. To support you. That’s all I’m trying to do.”

Sam swallowed hard, not knowing at all what to say. In part he was right. She was rejecting anything he offered her. Partly out of pride. Partly out of hurt.

“I realize you don’t want me anymore,” his gaze turned to the road again, “but that doesn’t change the fact that we have a child together.”

She chewed on her fingernails.

On one hand she should be happy—because despite everything that had happened between them, Tristan was vowing to be there for her and the baby. On the other, she wanted to vomit, hearing him say that she didn’t want himanymore. She wanted to correct him. To tell him that the truth was quite the opposite––but maybe it was better this way. Maybe the truth would only make things more complicated.

Eventually, he merged back on the highway, and the rest of the drive was filled with any music she could find on the radio. Some sort of country station that played endless songs about fishing, drinking, and falling in love.

When they finally got to the hotel outside of Pittsburgh, Sam was exhausted and could hardly keep her eyes open. They parked in the very back of the lot, which happened to be the only space large enough for the truck. She peeled her legs from the vinyl seat, opened the door, and then hopped out to the pavement, where she felt instant relief after sitting in the same position for too long.

“What do you want to eat?” Tristan asked.

She waddled toward the front desk with one hand supporting her back. “Nothing,” she muttered, because the heat, along with the movement of the truck had madefoodseem like the least appealing thing on earth.

They checked in at reception and received two keycards.

“Just tell me what you want?” he asked again. “Pizza? Burgers? A salad?”

She pulled in a breath and pressed the up arrow to the elevator. “Honestly, I’m exhausted. I just want to take a shower, climb into bed, and sleep.” It was the honest to God’s truth, but before she even finished her sentence, he was shaking his head. “What?” she asked, huffing in a breath.

“You need to eat something, Samantha. Anything you want. I’ll go get it.”

“I’m fine,” she repeated. “I have a protein bar in my purse.”

“That’s not enough?—”

“Yes, it is!” she snapped.

The doors to the elevator opened and she stepped inside with a group who looked like they came from the pool. Tristan came in beside her, standing so close that his arm brushed her elbow.

“You’re eating for two,” he whispered in her ear.

She took a deep breath, trying not to let his closeness affect her. She ignored how rich and scratchy his voice sounded.

“That’s not really true,” she said, finding his reflection in the mirrored doors of the elevator.

“I may be the mother of your child,” she whispered, “but this is my body, my uterus, and I’ll do what I want with it.”

He narrowed his eyes at her reflection, but the corner of his lip lifted as though he found her amusing. That was when her scope of vision broadened, and she realized everyone in the elevator was listening to their conversation.

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