Page 85 of Unsure in Love

“To call?”

He cocked up an eyebrow and nodded.

My face got hotter. “I was a little—okay, a lot—aloof when I left. It’s just…” How did I explain my fears after seeing my father when he was mourning his? I didn’t want to be selfish. “I would have shown up to support you and your aunt.” I rested a hand over my stomach. “You guys are kind of like family now. I mean, I’d like our child to have a close relationship with…” I trailed off because I felt like I babbled too much.

“You are our family,” he said. “That’s why I’m here.”

My eyes snapped to him. Was this when he told me that our sharing a child made me family so he’d always be present—just not romantically? It wasn’t abandonment as I feared. I’d still get support throughout my pregnancy and my child wouldn’t want for anything.

I’d just have to live the rest of my life wanting a romantic relationship with my child’s father, knowing I’m the one who ruined that chance. Maybe I’d have to watch him move on with another woman as we co-parented. The thought made me nauseous.

“After Dad passed, I started thinking,” he continued. “About you, me, our child. Then tonight, I just got on a plane without even thinking about it because I had to speak with you in person.”

I squirmed. “I know what you want to talk about.”

“You do?”

“Yes.” Maybe if I got ahead of this, and said the words myself, it would hurt less. “You don’t want to pursue a relationship with me. Well, other than co-parenting, that is. And it’s okay. I’m fine with that.”

“You are?”

I averted my gaze and nodded. “I get it.”

After a beat of silence, he said, “I don’t think you do, dulzura.”

As always, the endearment sends jolts of pleasure through me. My gaze slid back to him. Damian watched me with a slight frown. Now, I was more confused than I was when he arrived.

“I hate that you’re okay with just co-parenting because I want more. I had to watch my father waste away and die. Life is short, and I’m not going to waste another minute holding back. I want to be with you, Cassandra, and I came here to ask if you want the same thing.”

At that moment, I was too stunned so I just gawked at him.

32

DAMIAN

I took the risk and put my heart on the line. Of course, I knew there was a chance I’d get shut down, but the silence was unnerving. The woman sitting across from me—I noticed how she deliberately kept her distance—is a wonderfully complicated one.

I wouldn’t want her to be any other way because it’s everything she is that made me fall hard for her. But I should stay away from the L-word for now, at least until she stops gawking at me. I braced myself for her to throw out reasons why we won’t work.

“If you say something, anything, it will make this a little less awkward,” I finally said when I couldn’t stand the silence any longer.

Cass shook her head. “I’m sorry…” She laughed, but I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing.

I watched her warily. She was gorgeous with her tousled hair and fresh face. I still couldn’t get over the fact that she carried a part of me inside her. It was incredible. Knowing I had Cass and our unborn child played a major part in helping me keep my shit together after losing my father.

“Damian, hearing you say that is… um… ”

My eyebrows scrunched together as I studied her. She didn’t usually have such a hard time getting her thoughts out. Maybe she was looking for a way to let me down easily.

“I know you have reservations about relationships,” I said. I understood Cass, which was why I left her alone when she distanced herself emotionally. I had given her space to sort through her emotions.

“Look, Cass, reuniting with a parent who abandoned you couldn’t have been easy. That’s why I gave you time when you left New York. You didn’t call, and I tried my best to leave you alone until you were ready to talk.”

Her cheeks flushed bright pink, and she ducked her head. “I know I should have called—”

“It’s okay. I get it.”

Our gazes locked, and she smiled. “You always get it.”

---