Page 91 of Hard To Stay

He grabbed my chin forcing me to look at him. “I understand why you did what you did. Don’t ask me to agree with your choices because I never will. You put yourself in danger. You broke my fucking heart. You walked out on me. Just promise me right here and right now that you won’t ever leave me again.”

“I promise.” I started to draw in short breaths when I felt his hands move up against my neck. “I hate what I did to you. Please tell me you forgive me.”

“I already have. I mean it, Lexi. I love you. I’m never letting you go again.” He gripped the back of my neck, pulling me to his mouth. I ran my hands over his shoulders. I clung to him needing to be as close as physically possible. His strong fingers pressed tightly against my scalp. “You’re everything to me, do you know that?” He said against my mouth.

I had no words, so I kissed him with everything I had. Our tongues pushed together—all the pain, and all the sadness, I wanted it gone.

When he broke the kiss, I rested my hands on his shoulders and blinked up at him. “I wouldn’t have been able to stay away from you forever. I was trying to find a way to make it back to you. Tell me you believe me.”

“I believe you.” His eyes dragged over my face as if he was committing it to memory. “You have to promise me that you will never do anything stupid like that again.”

I bit down on my trembling lip. “I did it because I love you.”

His eyes softened. “I know.” He leaned in and kissed the tip of my nose. “But, he could have hurt you or…” His voice trailed off contemplating the worst. He had every right to be worried. Colton made me wear his ring again and was expecting me to move back in with him. It wouldn’t have been long before he would have wanted me back in his bed.

I rubbed my sweaty palms down my side, drying the moisture from my hands. It was time to stop letting my fears and insecurities guide me any further. He needed to know about the baby.

“There is something I need to tell you.” He stared at me. My legs felt weak, but I was determined to get the words out. “I’m pregnant.”

His eyes slowly moved to my stomach. “We’re having a baby?” He asked for confirmation.

I nodded my head. “I know it’s a lot to take in. I’ve barely had time to process it myself. I haven’t told anyone else, but I had every intention of telling you. I just wasn’t sure how or when.” He just continued to stare at me and it was freaking me out. “You do believe me, don’t you?”

“Can I touch it?” He asked nervously.

I laughed. “Of course you can. It’s yours, too.” He placed his hands on my stomach and looked up at me in awe. “I can’t believe we are having a baby.” He said before going down on his knees and pressing a kiss to the spot that held our child. I feathered my hands through his hair wishing I could pause this moment in time.

“Do you have any idea how much I love you right now?”

Swiping the tears that continued to fall I looked down at the man who owned my heart. “I love you, too.”

Brad stood up and placed both of his palms on my face, the love that shone through his eyes was everything. “I’m going to take care of both of you.”

“Good, because I don’t want to live in a world without you in it. I want to go back to New York with you.”

His hands stilled. Something was wrong. God, please don’t let it be too late.

“I want nothing more in the world to be with you and the baby. But New York isn’t an option anymore.”

My body tensed. “What are you talking about?”

Worry lines stretched his face. “Remember how I said I had made a few changes? Well…” he buried his hands in his hair. “My father owned a security company.” I remembered that little detail from earlier. I still wasn’t sure why it was such a big deal.

“When he died, he left his share of the business to me.”

“Okay?” I said confused. This was the first I’d heard of this, but that didn’t explain why he was acting so weird about it.

“In the back of my mind the plan had always been that when I had enough years to retire that I would take over my father’s share of the business.” He swallowed. “The office is in Washington D.C. I’ve already canceled my lease and started boxing up my stuff. I’m sorry. I know this is a lot, but the plan is already in motion. I have to do this.”

“Oh.” Was all I said.

Wow. He really had moved on. Guilt sliced through me. I had really done a number on him. I knew I had no right to be angry that he made such a huge decision without me. We were broken up. But it still hurt. What did I expect? That he would just put his life on hold? That the world would stop moving while I was gone? It had me wondering what other changes had taken place over the past few weeks. Why was I so upset about this?

“Is that all?” My heart felt heavy. If he had been with anyone else, it would wreck me. I would be devastated, but I would have to accept it.

He drew up his eyebrows. “What do you mean, is that all?”

“Have there been any other changes in your life that I need to know about?”

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