Page 13 of Dion

"I don't carehow it sounds, that’s how I feel." She took a deep breath.“There, I said it.”

“You did.”The amusement was evident in his deep voice. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Sticking upfor me.”

“You’rewelcome and if you ever ghost me again-"

"I won't. Iapologize."

"Are you okay?"

"I am now. I’mtaking steps to stop her."

"Please do. I’mnot supposed to be stressed at a time like this."

"Thanks formaking me feel guilty."

She grinned. "You’remost welcome. Where are you now?"

"Back at theoffice. I have my head on straight and after listening to the tenthmessage from you, I decided it was time to call you back. Who’sthe desperate one now?"

"Oh, bite me.Dion?"

"Hmm?"

"It's going tobe fine."

"I know. I haveto go. Talk later?"

"We will."

She jumped at thesound coming from the stove and went to turn off the flame and satthere staring at the kettle. She didn’t want to think about whyit mattered he was hurting and why she was so protective of him. Shewasn’t going to give it another thought.

*****

"We should giveup." The weariness in his voice was tearing at her heart. Ithadn’t happened the first time and the disappointment had beenunderstandable, but the hope was still there. After two moreattempts, Dion was ready to throw in the towel. "I can’tkeep putting you through this. You tried."

"Just shut thehell up." She snapped at him. "Are you holding a gun to myhead?"

"No. You’rea good friend and-"

"And nothing.We’re doing this and I’m not going to have you throwingin the towel."

"What do youwant me to do?" They were in his car after receiving the newsshe wasn’t pregnant. The spring was giving way to summer and,by the temperature, it was going to be long and hot. "Maybe it’sthe universe telling me I’d have made a lousy father after all.This is something I don't need to be doing."

Leaning back, heclosed his eyes wearily. He felt frustrated and guilty he was puttingher through all of this. She had to stop and take time out of herbusy schedule to attend the clinic to do the procedure and, so far,it had been a waste of time.

"Dion, look atme."

Turning his head, heopened his eyes. "You know me better than anyone else."

"I think I do."He allowed a slight smile, his heart lifting as he stared at her. Shewas wearing what was obviously one of her designs, a floral shiftwith a dipping neckline and it looked great on her.

"You do. Andknowing me, you know that I love a challenge." Reaching out, shetook his hand in hers. "We’ve done this three times and ithasn’t worked. It will work the fourth time."

"How can you beso sure?"

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