Page 148 of The Baby Bargain

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I knew it was good.

Conversation is half body language and a third tone. The actual words are the least important part.

Chase sets two plates on the counter. He turns to me, his clear blue eyes filled with concern. "We can order take out."

I shake my head. I'm okay. Mostly. I need to get past this. I'm not giving up the food I know best, that I love most, that feels like home. Like a home that's not there anymore.

Shit.

I blink and a tear catches on my lashes.

What the hell? I don't cry. I don't get upset. I don't get emotional.

All of a sudden, everything is stirring inside me.

Was it Phillip leaving? Or is it something else?

I still don't get it. Why he left. Why I wasn't enough. Why he stopped wanting the storybook ending.

"Ariel." Chase wraps his arms around my waist. He pulls my body into his.

My forehead goes to his chest. Then my cheek. My hands.

God, he feels so safe. There's no other word for it. It's almost scary how safe he feels.

No, it is scary. And overwhelming. Because Phillip felt like that too. And Phillip left.

He's gone.

I'm alone.

I'm doing this on my own.

I—

Fuck.

I press my eyelids together, but tears still well. "Sorry."

"What for?"

"We're not…"

"We're friends."

"Yeah, but…" I motion to the food. "It's getting cold."

"It's supposed to be cold."

"Only the noodles." The meat is supposed to be warm. So you get both sensations.

Not that it matters.

It's only dinner.

What's it matter if everything is lukewarm?

I can do this. I just have to breathe.

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