Page 28 of Unstoppable

"Andie, you know what I mean. You can deny it all you want, but the second you got pregnant, you and Mike became an instant family. I know it's only a matter of weeks, or maybe even days before you move out and live with him. I'm okay with that, I am, I'll just miss you. It's just not been the same since you moved out. I have missed you so much and now you're here, but it's crazy for me to wish for this forever."

"Ave, why didn't you tell me?"

"What that I regretted you moving out? I thought it would be better if we lead lives apart from each other, but it was so hard. I always hoped you would want to move back, but I'm not a fool. You are crazy about Mike. He's your Prince Charming."

Andie's heart was breaking for her sister. She would give anything for Avery to find someone like she did. The two of them always imagined they would marry brothers, have their babies at the same time, and live on the same street. Nothing was looking remotely like what they had imagined all those years ago.

"Avery, I love you. You will never be alone. In fact, if you want to move into Mike's with me... not saying that I will live with him, but if something crazy happens and I decide I want to live there, then there is more than enough room. He will just have to know I'm a package deal."

Avery started laughing, "Oh, that would go well. I can just imagine you telling him you're moving in with a baby and your sister."

"He would understand. I promise he would, beside it's his baby," she said giving her sister a wink.

"You really found a good one didn't you?"

"I guess I did." Andie smiled, she couldn't help it. "Unfortunately, I think he only has sisters, so there isn't a brother for you to marry. But there is an entire security firm full of those hulking hunks, and I'm sure I can find you one from the group."

"Ha, ha. It's fine Andie, I'll be fine, I promise. Life is just changing again and you know I don't handle change that well."

They both turned their heads towards the doorway to find one of those hulking hunks blocking the entire entrance.

"Sorry, ladies. I didn't mean to interrupt, but we are about finished and getting ready to head out." Red's booming voice came through the room, and Avery fidgeted. Andie turned to her and in that moment got a wonderful idea of how she could help her sister.

Chapter Nineteen

Andiedidn'thaveworkthe following weekend, so instead she packed for a two-day trip in which she would watch her new boyfriend give a speech on personal security when returning from war. The last time they spoke, he was on edge. It still annoyed him she refused to move in with him, and he would not let her ride the subway anywhere. This recent development meant he was sending a driver or showing up himself every time she so much as had to go to the grocery store. Avery and Mike seemed to be in cahoots because if she so much as mentioned she needed to go somewhere he would show up. She was thankful he and her sister were getting along so well, but not very thankful that they were working against her.

It was driving her nuts, but after a conversation with Avery, she realized that Mike lived a complicated life. She wasn't very clear on what his missions comprised of, but given the aftereffects, she had a feeling they didn't all have happy endings. Concluding that he might be paranoid about her and the baby, she cut him some slack. Last night, he picked her up and took her out on a proper date. They went out for dinner, but when he went to stand after the meal he braced himself on the table as he stood with his first steps she could see his grimace. She noticed his knee was getting worse throughout the week, and was doing her best to let him deal with it on his own. This time she couldn't help herself and she rushed to his side, only to find him standing up straight and taking her hand from behind his back and clasping it in his as if nothing hurt.

"You know, you want to know all these things about me and keep me safe and taken care of, but you won't let me in," she said once they hit the highway and were on the way back to his apartment.

"What are you talking about? I have very little left to even share with you. You know about my family, my friends, my company, what else could you possibly want to know?"

"Your pain. I want to know why you are in pain and you won't let me help you."

He gripped the steering wheel tighter and stared forward to the road. So much time had gone by she thought he wouldn't respond.

"I got shot," he finally said.

"I know, you told me when you got back from your last trip."

"No Andie, I've been shot a few times, but the blow to my knee was by far the worst." Her mind started racing to everything she remembered about his body. He had some scars, but she never would have thought he had been shot multiple times. Then again, she wondered what a scar from a bullet hole even looked like. His last wound had healed, and it looked closer to a deep cut in his side than an actual bullet hole.

"I didn't realize," she whispered.

"I don't like talking about it. The situation was terrible, and it was the end of my military career. Now my knee aches as a constant reminder of that day."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry."

"It's fine, I don't mean to keep you out. I want you to know everything, Andie, I'm just worried it will scare you away." He reached his hand over and pulled hers into his lap. Holding her tight, he drove the rest of the way to his place while she sat there quietly.

When they got back to the apartment, she headed straight for the bedroom, undressed and got under the covers. She was tired and emotionally drained after the limited conversation in the car. Andie was worried Mike was upset with her and just wanted to sleep it off. She felt the mattress shift as he got in behind her, pulling her towards him. Once he had her flush to his chest, he reached his arm around and covered her small belly with his large hand.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked quietly.

"I don't know what to say."

"Are you mad at me?"

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