Page 76 of One Pucking Surprise
“What are you doing here?”
“I volunteered,” she says, her voice cold. “Someone had to be the on-call doctor. Imagine my surprise when I heard you’d be here. With her.”
“This isn’t about you, Clarissa,” I say, keeping my voice calm. “And whatever you think is going on, it’s time to let it go.”
“Let it go?” she snaps, stepping closer. “You’re faking this relationship to push me away. I know you, Zach. You’re scared of commitment. You’re hiding behind this fake pregnancy lie because of that stupid Darling curse.”
The words hit me like a slap. “You don’t know anything.”
She laughs bitterly. “I know everything about you, Zach. Because I love you. And I know you love me.”
“I never loved you,” I say, my voice low but firm. “And you don’t love me, Clarissa. You love the idea of me. The version of me my dad wanted you to see.”
Her eyes glisten with tears, and before I can stop her, she lunges forward, wrapping her arms around me. “You don’t mean that,” she whispers. “You can’t. I know you, Zach. You’re just scared.”
“Clarissa, let go,” I say firmly, stepping back and peeling her hands off me. But she tightens her grip, leaning in closer.
Before I can react, she tilts her head and tries to kiss me. I freeze for a split second, the move catching me off guard.
“Stop,” I say, my voice sharp as I push her away. “It’s over, Clarissa. Whatever you think we had, it’s done.”
I’m still holding her at arm’s length when I hear it—a faint clatter, like something small and metallic hitting the floor. My head snaps around, and I see Lainey standing near thecorner of the hallway, her face pale, her eyes wide with hurt.
“Lainey,” I call out, my stomach sinking as she turns on her heel, her movements stiff. “Wait!”
But she’s already walking away.
I whip back to Clarissa, who’s still standing there, her face contorted with a mix of anger and satisfaction. “What the hell are you doing?” I snap, stepping closer, my frustration boiling over. “Do you think this is some kind of game?”
She crosses her arms, tilting her chin defiantly. “I’m fighting for us, Zach. For what we had.”
“You need to stop. There is no ‘us.’ I’m with Lainey. She’s pregnant with my child. And for the record? I like Lainey. So stop trying to ruin this for me.”
Clarissa’s eyes widen, and for a moment, I see the reality hit her. But I don’t wait for her response. I turn and take off after Lainey.
By the time I catch up to her, she’s already back in her room, throwing things into her bag.
“Lainey,” I say, stepping inside, my voice steady. “It’s not what you think. I didn’t kiss her.”
She moves as if to put more distance between us, but I grab her hand gently, holding it in mine.
She tries to pull her hand free, her voice trembling. “I don’t need an explanation. I told you—I don’t expect anything from you. That’s why I gave you an out. Take it, Zach.”
Her words cut deeper than I expect, slicing through my chest. “I don’t want an out,” I say, stepping closer again. “You think I’d still be here, still fighting for this, if I wanted one?”
Her lips part, but no words come out. She just looks at me, her expression caught between disbelief and something softer. Before she can speak again, I close the space between us, cupping her face with both hands and kissing her. Her breath hitches, but then her lips soften, and she leans into me, her arms wrapping around my neck.
The kiss deepens quickly, heat surging between us. When she pulls away, her breathing is uneven. “Zach,” she whispers, her voice shaking, “we can’t keep doing this.”
I meet her eyes, my forehead pressed to hers. “I know I can’t give you everything you want,” I admit, my voice rough. “But I can’t stop wanting to be close to you. I care about you, Lainey.”
She looks at me, her eyes searching mine. “What do you even like about me?”
I don’t even have to think. “I like the way you laugh, even when you’re stressed. I like how you always manage to stay calm and organized, even when everything feels like it’s falling apart. I like the way you light up when you’re helping people—like at camp today with the kids.”
A faint smile tugs at her lips, and she shakes her head. “You’re such a charmer.”
I grin, pulling her against me, hugging her tightly. When I pull back, I catch the flicker of something new in her eyes—something she’s not saying. I kiss her again, this time slower, savoring the feel of her lips against mine. She kisses me back, her fingers threading through my hair as I guide her back until her legs hit the edge of the bed.
