Page 418 of Not Over You

She rose to her feet, her lips mashed into a thin, disappointed line. “I’ve made my decision, and I’m not talking about this anymore tonight. We can speak tomorrow when we’ve both had time to absorb this.” She yanked open the drawer in the little unit beside her bed. Tugging the hospital gown over her head, she began to dress. “Take me home, please. I’m tired.”

The atmosphere in the cab during the ride to Lori’s apartment could’ve cut through steel. He seethed. She seethed. And the driver, sensing the mood, put his foot down, cutting the journey time by a third. He stopped outside the front entrance of her building. Zane peeled off a few bills, but as he went to pay the driver, Lori stopped him.

“Go home, Zane. I’m tired and I just want to sleep. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Her flat statement punched him in the chest. “That’s what you want?” He sounded as if someone was standing on his throat. “You’d rather be alone than with me?”

“Yes.” She sighed. “I don’t have the energy to argue. Not tonight.”

She climbed out of the cab and entered the lobby without sparing him a glance. Zane slumped against the backseat. Somehow, they had to find a middle ground, to bridge the gap that had sprung up out of nowhere, blindsiding them both.

He’d spent thirteen years living without her, yet tonight, there was more distance between them than ever.

CHAPTER 23

Awoken by someone banging the hell out of his door, Zane staggered through the living room to answer it. He peered through the spyhole, then wrenched the door open.

“Fucking hell, it’s like waking the dead.” Calum shoved past him and strode over to the kitchen, dumping a paper bag on the counter, which he then proceeded to empty. “I got juice, pastrami sandwiches from that deli you like over on Thirty-Fourth, and donuts.”

Zane rubbed his eyes, yawned, and kicked the door closed. “What time is it?”

“Eleven-fifteen.”

Zane slumped on the couch, a tension headache pounding at the base of his skull. He’d lain awake for hours, his mind racing at the thunderbolt that the doctor had fired right into his brain. He still couldn’t wrap his head around it. Sure, he’d told Lori that he wanted kids with her, but he’d assumed, rightly or wrongly, that they’d adopt rather than put her body through the trauma of carrying a baby to term. Or at least discuss the pros and cons together and come to an agreement they were both happy with.

“Lori’s pregnant.”

Calum tossed him a bottle of OJ. “I know. That’s why I’m here.”

Zane’s mouth popped open. “How the fuck can you know? I only found out at four this morning.”

“Laurella called Lori to see how she was feeling and whether she was still in the hospital. She was up most of the night worrying. Must be the Mediterranean blood in her or something, ’cause I had no such issues. Head hit the pillow, and that was it.” He grinned. “No offense.”

“None taken.” Zane twisted the cap off the juice and took a swig.

“Anyway, Lori told her. Laurella’s gone over there now.”

Zane frowned. “Why?”

“All I know is Lori asked if she’d go, and Laurella said yes. I bet they’re planning to bitch about you.”

“Great.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “We had an argument.”

“I know that, too.” He brought over the sandwiches and handed one to Zane. “Women talk. You know this.”

“Yeah.” He stared at the sandwich, and his stomach rolled. He put it on the coffee table and grimaced. “I think I fucked up. My reaction was less than stellar.”

“Strike three.” Calum nudged him and chuckled.

“Jesus, is there anything about my relationship you don’t already know?”

“Yeah, as it happens.” He bit off a hunk of sandwich and brushed the resultant crumbs onto Zane’s carpet. “I don’t know why you’re not smiling from ear to ear, having figured out you have super sperm, considering they broke through the birth control barrier and all.”

Zane huffed through his nose. “This is serious, Calum. Having this baby could hasten Lori’s chances of needing another transplant.”

“Or it might not.”

He pressed both forefingers to the bridge of his nose and pinched, hard. “She told me last night that she was keeping the baby even if it killed her.” He met Calum’s green gaze. “Imagine if Laurella said that to you. How would you feel?”

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