Page 54 of The Grumpy Doc's Surprise Delivery

His brow furrows. “What?”

I take a sharp breath, my stomach flipping over. My mouth is dry, my throat closed. I feel like I might be about to have a panic attack.

“We had fun in Saint Lucia, didn’t we?”

He nods slowly, trying to work out where I’m going with this.

“I really enjoyed it,” I say. “And, well…”

“What is it?” he asks, possibly more sharply than he means to. I know him well enough by now to know that that sharpness isn’t always intended.

My hands start to shake.

Under any other circumstance, I would have been so happy to see him. Despite everything, I have missed him. I’ve wanted him. I enjoyed the feeling of his arms around me, of hearing him sleep, the deep breaths that proved he was still there next to me.

That’s what I miss. The comfort. The strength. The warmth. He pretends he’s not, but he is a good companion really. He’s funny, and when he puts his mind to it, he’s thoughtful. And now he’s the father of my baby, and I’m terrified that he’s going to reject us.

It’s what he told me when we started all this. No commitments. Just good, casual fun.

Now I’m dropping the biggest commitment I can think of on him.

“I’m pregnant,” I say softly.

“You’re what?” he repeats.

“Pregnant.”

“And it’s…?” He points towards himself, his own hand shaking.

“It’s only been you,” I whisper. “Ever since Saint Lucia, it’s only been you.”

His mouth drops open as the ramifications of my words sink in. I take a deep breath, clenching my fists at my sides. “Are you okay?” I ask.

“Okay?” His mouth opens and closes again like he’s suddenly forgotten every single word he has ever known and even less knows what the right one to say next is.

I don’t blame him. I don’t think I would know what to say either.

But the silence is killing me.

“It’s yours, Liam. I don’t want to do this alone. Please, say something.”

His mouth opens and closes, fear and shock and what could be delight running behind his eyes.

“Say something,” I say desperately. “Please.”

“I…” he stammers again.

My heart stops, but my mouth is going now and the words flow out of me like a burst dam. “I’m not asking for marriage, or even a relationship. I don’t need you to swear yourself to me forever. I know you don’t want that. But I want you in my life. In our baby’s life. Please tell me you’ll be there.”

He stares at me again with a look that makes me worry I’ve transformed into an ogre, then shakes his head. “I have to get out of here. I’m sorry.”

With that, he stumbles backwards out of the kitchen, leaving me alone, listening as he scrambles for his bag and closes the front door gently behind him as he goes.

In the living room, Tom and Phoebe laugh, and their baby has finally stopped crying. Their perfect family life has just begun, and I am so happy for them. Or at least I will be.

Once I’ve stopped crying over the tatters of my life that are falling all around me.

CHAPTER 28

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