Page 35 of Where the Little Birds Are (Little Bird Duet 2)

And that’s a problem.

He squeezes my arm. “Didn’t you used to believe that things happen for a reason? This is no different.”

My brows raise in disbelief. “You think my birth control failing is some act of fate? We used to say that about our dreams, not inconvenient pregnancies.”

Stomach twisting over the harsh words, I blow out a heavy breath and try collecting myself. I don’t want to make this harder than it is. Corbin just has to understand that we’re only facing one of many uphill battles. Once the public finds out…

My shoulders tense as I carefully pull away from his hold. His warmth is comforting, luring me back in. Deep down I still believe that things happen for a reason, just like I always have. But as I get older, I realize that reason rarely reveals itself. We make things up to justify our actions. Maybe that’s all this is.

&nbs

p; Forced reason.

“You don’t believe that,” he says softly, stepping in front of me again. “Come on, Little Bird. You said you’d fly with me. You said you’d soar. What happened?”

I look at my stomach. “I broke my wing.”

He cups my cheek, lifting my head up to meet his solemn eyes. “It’s not broken. You’re just scared. You have to jump.”

Shaking my head, I say, “I can’t.”

He steps closer. “You can.”

“You’re supposed to be angry.”

His shoes touch mine. “Why?”

My eyes close. “Because I am. I’m angry, Corbin. I…” Balling up my fists, I smack his chest, but he goes nowhere. “I hate this. I hate what we’ve done. I hate that I put myself in this situation. I hate yo—”

He catches my fists before I can strike him again, frustrated tears coating my cheeks. “I know you’re feeling like that now, but—”

“Stop!” Voice cracking, I yank my grip from him and step back. This time he lets me. “I don’t understand how you’re so calm. We messed up big time, Corbin. You’re married to another woman. I can’t have a baby with you.”

“You’re already having one.” He gestures to my stomach in exasperation. His fingers go to his hair once more. “Christ, Kinley. It’s not like we can change what’s already been done. And I don’t want to. Do you?”

Stuffing my hands into the pocket of my hoodie, I walk around the other side of the table to put distance between us.

His hesitation is heavy in the air. “You can’t change that, can you?”

Swallowing past the emotion in my throat when I hear the faintest devastation in his tone, I shake my head. “I’m fifteen weeks. That’s too far along to do anything about it, if that’s what you’re asking.”

He cusses. “And if you weren’t?”

My jaw trembles as he rounds the table. I step back as he nears me, my back trapping me between his body and the wall behind me. “I don’t know, okay? Obviously I didn’t want to because I’m still pregnant.”

His arms go to either said of my head, face drained of emotion. “I wouldn’t have even known, would I? If I hadn’t shown up?”

“That’s not fair.”

“Answer. Me.”

“I was going to tell you,” I hiss, keeping my arms locked in my pockets.

“When?”

“When I was ready.”

“Not good enough.”

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