Page 92 of Simply Irresistible

Without further analyzing the situation, I run while holding the keys in my clenched fist.

"Emma, please. Wait."

My heartbeat throbs in my ears as I continue to make my way to the backdoor. His footsteps echo behind me as I open and hurry inside, but the moment I push to close it, a shoe prevents me from shutting it.

"Go away." I kick his foot and push with all my body weight against the door. I'm not ready for this.

"Emma, come on. Let me in. We need to talk." He pushes back from the outside.

"No!"

His next push has such power that itlaunches me backward. The door flies open, and I know there's nothing I can do to stop him from entering. Huffing, I turn around and walk towards my cabinet. With shaking hands, I grab a mug and open a box of calming herbal tea, only to see it's empty.

"Shit," I mutter, throwing the package to the side.

"I'm not leaving until we talk."

I grip the edge of the counter to steady myself. When I believe my life is excellent—this happens. My breathing becomes irregular as my head spins with all these thoughts and emotions.

I tense up at the sound of his footsteps getting closer.

"You look good, Emma."

"Why are you here?"

He exhales. "I'm here for you."

"Why? Why now?" I jump when his hands touch my shoulders.

"I made a mistake, and I'm here to correct it."

"You're six years late, Thomas."

I shake his hands off of me and take a step to the side before facing him. Crossing my arms in front of my chest, I take in the man I once loved with my naïve heart.

He's wearing a casual gray blazer jacket and dark blue chinos combined with a simple white v-neck shirt and brown green loafers. His triangular-shaped face and clean-shaved jawline match well with his golden blond hair that's cut into a low-cut pompadour hairstyle. I used to tease him by running my hands through those locks and messing up his perfect hair. His whole physical appearance still resembles that of a jaguar. His slim, but finely built body is casually leaning against the kitchen counter, and his expressive, bright blue eyes observe my every movement.

"Emma, I understand I hurt you, but—"

"There is no but, Thomas. You left me while I was pregnant with your child. You disappeared without a trace. Even changed your phone number." With every sentence, my voice shifts into a higher gear. I take a step towards him and point my index finger at him. "You do not understand what I've been through after you left."

He lets out an exhausted sigh. "I'm sorry, Em," he says, clenching his jaw and rubbing the palm of his hands over his pants. "Emma, I got scared. I wasn't ready for it then. You understand that, don't you?" He lifts his eyebrows, and his eyes search mine for sympathy.

Taking a step towards me, he touches my arm again.

"Emma... I'm older and wiser now. I have my life in order... I’m so sorry for what I did. I regret ever leaving you."

"What?" I push his hand away, but he tries to close the gap between us. Every time he moves forward, I take a step back.

"Come on. You act like I'm the devil. But I'm here because I want to meet my daughter."

"Why?" I ask, fixing my eyes with his. "You showed no interest in her for six years, and now you come in unannounced and expect me to buy this shit?"

He gazes at the floor while rubbing the back of his neck. "It's the truth," he mumbles.

Both of us stay quiet, the ticking of the clock being the only sound we hear. When he lifts his head and looks at me, I realize how much his piercing blue irises resemble Charlotte's. She has that same inquisitive gaze.

"You haven't even asked what her name is. Don't you think that is important if you want to meet her?"

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