Page 150 of Strange Seduction
“Right. Becausethat’swhat we need. A baby. When we can barely make it through a week without fighting.” I pulled thecovers up to my chest, shaking my head. “Besides, you’re here, and I’m in New York. And I’m not about to raise a child on my own.”
“I’d never let you do that,” he said, his tone suddenly hard. “Let you raise my kid alone? That’s not the kind of man I am.”
“Then whatisyour solution, Theo?”
He leaned up on one elbow. “Simple. You move here.”
I gave him a look. “Simple, huh?”
“Yes.”
“What about my career?” I asked. “What about everything I’ve built back in New York?”
“You’ll be okay,” he said. “I’ll take care of you.”
That set something off in me. I sat up, heat rising to my face. “That’s not the point. I didn’t come this far in my life just to give it all up.”
His brow furrowed, mouth set in a line. “I’ve sacrificed things too, Carmen.”
“I know. And I respect that. But this?” I shook my head. “Moving here, having a baby. It’s too much to ask right now. And it’s unfair of you to ask me to give up so much when I’m still trying to trust you again.”
His face softened. He opened his mouth, then closed it again. I could see it—the guilt.
“I just don’t want to lose you,” he finally said.
“A baby isn’t how to make me stay,” I sighed and massaged my temples. “Neither is offering to take care of me. That’s not what I need from you. I’m not looking for someone totake careof me, Theo. I’ve been doing just fine on my own. Being in a relationship doesn’t mean I should give up my freedom or my body, especially when I’m not ready to. Moving here and having a baby? That’s alot. Too much for me right now. And if you love me—really love me—you should understand why.”
He stayed quiet, but I could see the wheels turning.
“I’ve worked too hard for what I have to just throw it away. And you shouldn’t want that for me either,” I added. “If we’re going to make this work, I need you to respect my decision on this.”
Theo let out a long breath, then nodded.
“Okay,” he said. “I’ll start wearing condoms again.”
“Thank you.”
“Anything else you need?”
I looked at him for a long moment.
“Yeah,” I said finally. “I appreciate everything you’ve done, I do—but it’s starting to feel like you think I can’t function without your help. And that bothers me.”
He just watched me, arms crossed.
“Okay,” he said finally. “So… you want to pay for the room?”
I snorted. “God, no. That price is outrageous.”
He cracked a smile. “Right. Your rent, then?”
“In New York? Absolutely not.”
“Your phone bill?”
I froze. “Wait—are you paying for that too?”
He nodded. “Yeah. We talk every day, Carmen. International calls ain’t cheap.”
