Page 45 of Love Me Again

Two weeks later.

"What are you doing?"I jump out of my skin, look back and see Josh standing behind me as I watch Shayla grinning at a basket of some sort and flowers she's just received. "Are you spying on Shayla?"

I rub the back of my neck andshake myhead. "What? No." I utter, glancing over at her again,and Joshchuckles.

"Right, so you're hiding behind the wall looking into her office...why?" I sigh, relenting.

"Fine, maybe I was spying...a little," I sigh, looking at him before I turn my gaze over to her, opening a book and skimming through it. "Who sent her those, and what the hell is that basket?"

"Uh, it appears that it's a nappy basket. It's filled with blankets and booties and clothes for the baby." Josh explains, looking over at her with a smile. "She said it's a gift from Blake Bryant."

I grind my teeth. Every hair on my body goes up when I hear that man's name, and my gut twists. "Why? Why is he sending my wife gifts?"

Josh's brows furrow and he looks at me, surprised. "Your wife? Weren't you out on a dinner date with Sophie the other night?" I turn to look at him.

"It wasn't a date." I grate irritated. "And I wouldn't have gone if she wasn't out with that knobhead." Josh sighs, shaking his head.

"Cole, you made your choice, bro. You chose Sophie. Now you need to stick by your decision and let Shayla get on with her life. You have absolutely no right to be angry with her when you're the one that walked out on her and your baby." Josh explains, and he has a point, but I couldn't help the annoyance gnawing away deep inside me. "She's trying to move on, and Blakeseems to begood for her. Look at her. She's finally smiling again like she used to."

I scowl. "Good for her? What kind of man pursues a woman who is still married and pregnant?" I ask, observing Shayla as she speaks to someone on the phone.

"What kind of man leaves his wife and baby to be with his ex?" Josh throws back at me, and I glower at him hard.

"The kind that lost his memory. I didn't leave because I woke up one morning and felt like a change. I don't remember her. It wasn't by choice." I argue,and Joshshakes his head with an exasperated sigh.

"Yes, it was. I get that you're going through some shit, man, I do, but you could have made the right choice--the honourable choice and stuck it out with Shayla and yourbaby—but you didn't. And now, you get to stand by and watch another man make her happy and live the life you once had with her." Josh tells me and looksoverat Shaylaagain.

"Even if it's over for you and Shay, and you truly want to be with Sophie, how are you going to let some other man hold your baby girl in his arms?" Iclose myeyesand imagine Blake holding my baby, and I couldn't ignore the pull at my heart. "The first man she sees should be you, bro."

"You think I don't know that or think about it every single day? I'm scared, Josh," I admit sullenly. "I'm scared I'll look at her and not love her or see her as my own, and more than anything, I'm terrified of Shay's reaction to that. I don't want to hurt her more than I already have."

"Cole, that's not possible. That's your flesh and blood." Josh assures me while squeezing my shoulder. "You told me after you found out she was pregnant that you hoped it was a little girl so you would have another mini-Shayla." I sigh, and for a fleeting moment, I picture a little girl with long shiny brown hair, dark green eyes, and a beautiful smile running toward me.

I glanceoverat Shayla and nod. Josh was right. I have to push past my fears and anxiety and be there for my baby despite everything happening between Shayla and me. Yes, I was scared shitless, but I need to do what's right. "You're right. I'm that baby's father, and I need to man up and take responsibility for her." I slap Josh on the back. "I'm going to go and talk to her," I say,and Joshwatches me bewildered as I walk toward Shayla's office.

"Shayla?" I call out, pushing the door open and walking into her office, her head snaps up from her tablet, and she looks at me with a little frown.

"Yes?"

"Can we go someplace and talk?" I quickly ask before I lose my nerve. Shayla leans back into her chair, regarding me curiously.

"Why can't we talk here?" She asks, dropping her pen while staring up at me. I exhale and walk over to her desk.

"Because I don't want the whole office overhearing our conversation. You know, it's personal." Shayla leans forwardandrubsherforeheadwitha groan.

"Cole, we don't have anything personal to discuss, and I'm honestly not in the mood." She expresses tiredly, picking up her pen and looking down at her tablet.

"Is there anything more personal than our baby?" Shayla's eyes snap up tomine, and sheglares at me hard.

"Ourbaby?" Shaylascoffs,shaking herhead. "You lost the right to call her yours when you said you didn't want her." She hisses hotly, and I place my hands on her desk and lean closer, so I could look into her eyes.

"Shayla, can you please be a little understanding and try to acknowledge and empathise with what I've been going through the last four weeks?" I argue,andsheshakesherheadand places her own hands on her desk. She stands up and leans in, glowering at me.

"Are you fucking kidding me, Cole? I stood by you through everything, and I was willing to keep supporting you, but YOU walked out on US, not the other way around." She declares angrily, and I hold her gazeas she continuesto scowl at me

"This isn't about you and me, Shayla. It's about what's right for our baby." I retort,and she blinksat me andshakes herheadbefore she sinks into her chair,rubbing herhead.

"Now? Our baby's best interest has only just now occurred to you?" She questions, looking up at me. "Why now, Cole? What? Did you suddenly wake up this morning ready to be a father? I don't understand what you're trying to do here?" She uttersandstarts tocough.

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