Page 37 of A Deceitful Pact

“When were you going to tell me?” I barely give her a chance to hang up the phone before I place both my palms on her desk and lean over it.

“Sawyer, you can’t just barge your way in here.” She blinks nervously as she leans back in her chair.

“Don’t avoid the question. When were you going to tell me?” I ask her again, hearing the anger in my voice and noticing how wiped out she looks.

“Tell you what?” She puts on that brave face she’s always trying to hide behind as she sits up a little straighter.

“Don’t play games, Riley. I know you were at the doctor's office yesterday, and I know why.” I’ve never let a woman get under my skin the way she does. How is it possible to be so fuckin’ mad at a person, yet wanna scoop them up and make sure they're alright at the same time?

“How could you possibly know why I was there when there's a very well-respected law called patient and doctor confidentiality?” she hits back at me.

“Then tell me why you were there.” I stare her directly in the eyes, and feel my pulse in my temple.

“I’m tired, Sawyer. I haven’t been sleeping. I went to Dr. West to see if there was something he could give me to help.” She makes it sound convincing, but I’m still not buying it.

“Riley, I know I fucked up. I said some cruel things bu–”

“Everything you said was right, don’t beat yourself up about it.” She acts as if it’s no big deal, but I see the pain in her eyes. Riley Hale may fool a lot of people, but she don’t fool me.

“I should have told you where I was, I just…I guess I wasn’t ready for those two worlds to come together,” I admit.

“There were never two worlds, Sawyer. I’ve always known who you are. Now, if you’d see yourself out, I have work to do.” She looks up at me so coldly, it hurts like hell.

“I’ll leave, but first you gotta look me in the eye and swear to me that you ain’t carrying my baby.” I stare at her harder, looking for any sign of weakness.

“Sawyer.” Her eyes fix on mine. “I’m not preg–”

“I know you said you didn’t want anything, but these bagels looked too good.” Hayden bursts through the door.

“Sawyer.” He freezes in his tracks, holding a coffee in one hand and a wrapped-up bagel in the other. “Did Jamie get hold of you?” His eyes dart between me and Riley, nervously. He was with me last night, he saw the damage that I did to Carpenter, and I know exactly what he’s thinking.

“Yeah, I spoke to him. Could you…we’re kinda in the middle of something?” I glance toward the door so he gets the fuckin’ hint to use it.

“Sure…I was just…I’ll leave this right here for you, boss.” He places the bag and the coffee on the desk and scurries back out the door, and as soon as it slams shut Riley reaches under her desk, lifts up her wastepaper basket, and throws up into it.

“Shit, you okay?” I rush around the desk to help her, gathering up the hair that's fallen around her face and holding it out the way.

“Get that coffee off my desk.” She lifts up her head and manages to speak before she starts hurling again. I quickly pick up the mug and head for the window, lifting it up and pouring the coffee out into the alley. Then, placing the empty mug on top of the filing cabinet, I wait for her to pull herself back together and raise her head again.

“You were sayin’?’” I smile at her cleverly when I realize that any chances of her lying to me just flew out the window with her coffee.

“Don’t be smart.” She wipes her mouth and pulls a bottle of water from her top drawer.

“I’m not bein’ fuckin’ smart. Riley, we did it. You’re…” I have to remind myself to keep my voice down. “You're pregnant.” My heart feels like it’s gonna break out of my chest. I wanna take hold of her, wrap her up in my arms, and not let go of her. “I told ya.” I waggle my finger at her and chuckle to myself. “Didn’t I say that I’d knock ya up first time?” I scrub my hands over my face, forgetting that I came here so mad, and feeling nothing but elation until I suddenly realize how ill she’s looking.

“Shit, Riley, I’m sorry.” I move so I can be close to her again. “Have you been okay? D’ya get sick like that often?” I crouch beside her and rest my hand on her thigh.

“Only for the past two weeks, the doctor said it’ll pass.” She looks at my hand for a few seconds before she forces it away and takes another sip of water.

“But you're eating, though, right?” I check.

“I’m doing my best, it’s just not easy, especially at this time of day.” Her eyes linger on the bagel that's on her desk, and when I see her skin turn pale again, I push it further away.

“Baby, I know it ain’t easy, but ya gotta eat, you're lookin’ real tired. Should you even be here?”

“Yes, Sawyer, I should be here; being tired is normal. Now, if you can leave and let me get back to wor–”

“Leave? Riley, I ain’t goin’ nowhere. We need to talk about this. Did the doc say how far along ya are?”

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