Page 46 of A Deceitful Pact

“Ya good?” I step inside when she clears a space for me, not entirely sure what to do with myself. I wanna pick up where we left off earlier, grab her close, kiss her lips, and worship every inch of her perfect, pregnant body. Instead, I keep my hands to myself and wait for her to make the first move.

“I wasn’t expecting you to get here so early.” She looks nervous, too, and I can understand why. She’s spent so long trying to deny us this, and she’s a proud woman; admitting defeat won’t be easy for her.

“I closed the bar,” I explain, closing the gap that's between us, and resting my hand on the dip between her shoulder and her neck

“You really didn’t need to do that.” She moves away from me, rubbing the spot where I just touched her, and refusing to look me in the eye.

“I told you I'd be here if you needed me.” I frown as I watch her move toward the kitchen table and start to sense something's wrong.

“I’m sorry about what happened earlier.” She touches her fingers over a brown envelope, looking like she’s gonna cry again.

“Don’t apologise. It wa?—”

“I was supposed to get this drawn up weeks ago, but all the baby making distracted me.” She interrupts the speech I was gonna give her about how I’m happy to take everything at her pace.

“Baby, what are you talkin’ ‘bout?” I watch her pull the documents from the envelope and place them back on the table, turning them to face me.

“I’m talking about the contract we agreed I’d get written up.” She pushes it closer to me, and my heart sinks right into my stomach.

“I’ve had it for a few weeks now, and I haven’t had the chance to ask you to sign–”

“So you thought today would be a good day.” I cut her off, shaking my head in disbelief. “Riley, you kissed me earlier,” I remind her, trying to keep the pain outta my voice.

“I know, and I’m sorry. I was so relieved that everything was okay, and my emotions took over. I shouldn’t have let you take me, and I promise I won’t let anything like that happen again.” Her voice comes out all sad, and I hate that she refuses to look up at me.

“Riley, look at me,” I demand, and when she eventually does, I can see that her wall of defense is firmly in place.

“I want you to do it again. I want you to stop all this ‘do it yourself’ bullshit and let me be a dad toourkid.”

“I can’t.” Tears build in her eyes as she shakes her head.

“Can’t or won’t?” I move closer to the table.

“Both,” she admits, doing her best to stay strong.

“Then tell me why,” I beg, needing to know what the problem is so I can fix it.

“It’s none of your business why. Sawyer, can you please just–”

“Itismy fuckin’ business, Riley. It’s my business, because you’re pregnant with my baby. Ya hear that…MY BABY!” I press my fingers into my chest. “You can write whatever you want in your contract, but nothing’s gonna change that,” I yell when hurt and frustration take over.

“Maybe not, but we made a pact, and you promised me that you would do this on my terms,” she reminds me, picking up a pen and holding it out for me.

“Screw those promises, I’m making you new ones.” I round the table and stand by her side.“I’m gonna be the father to your baby, and everything you need.” I slide my hand above the waist of her sweatpants and press my nose against her temple. “Whatever it is you're scared of, you don’t need to be. I won’t let ya do this alone.” I raise my hand to touch her cheek, but she throws it away.

“You don’t get to change the rules. I’m having this baby and raising it my way. I don’t want to compromise. This is what we agreed, Sawyer, and you can’t go back on it.” She turns her head so her eyes can pierce into mine and show me how determined she is.

“Watch me,” I warn her, backing away from her because I’m far too mad to stay.

“Don’t youdareleave here without signing that contract.” She speaks through her teeth as I continue backing toward the door.

“Screw your contract!” I turn and leave, slamming the door so hard behind me that the whole house rattles.

RILEY

THREE WEEKS LATER

“Riley, can I speak with you?” Eleanor catches me coming out of the grocery store. She’s asked me every day this week if I’ve heard from her son, Hayden. Anyone would think he was a child on a camping trip, not a twenty-five-year-old officer of the law.

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