Page 63 of Make You Stay

But I must stay the course. She knew my rules.

“I’ve had my family. If you pursue this, then…” I trail off, not wanting to breathe into life the possibility that Chloe and I are over. I just found her.

She pulls open the front door. “Goodbye, Aidan.”

Then she’s gone, eaten up by the night.

I sink into the couch, dropping my head in my hands. What the fuck just happened? Chloe and I were happy. Ridiculously happy. Then, out of nowhere, she drops this baby bomb in my lap. What did she expect me to say?

Did she think I would smile and tell her how excited I was at the prospect? That it didn’t bother me that she planned to have another man’s baby? Is she out of her mind?

I only hope that after sleeping on it, Chloe will return to her senses and realize what a ridiculous notion this baby idea is.

Then, we can go back to the way we were, never to discuss her being inseminated again.

I barely sleep that night, tossing and turning as visions of Chloe pregnant run rampant through my dreams. Her with a child, a child that isn’t mine.

At six o’clock, I give up on the idea of sleep and drag myself to the coffeepot, no less angry at the woman for upending our stasis.

Who takes a perfect relationship and throws it away?

Chloe Strickland, obviously.

Glancing out the living room window, I notice the taxi parked in her driveway, ready to take her to the airport. A knot forms in my stomach when I catch sight of her, walking down the path, suitcase in hand.

“Chloe,” I call, opening the front door.

When she turns in my direction, I’m struck by the pain rampant in her face. Not sure why she’s so damn upset. She screwed upmylife last night.

“Have a good trip.” Hey, at least it’s cordial.

“Thank you.” Her voice is barely audible as she pauses, her hand on the back door of the cab. “Tell Mia happy birthday. I left her gift in the hall closet.”

The woman adores my girls, and it’s such genuine love. She never forgets a date or event. Hell, she’s even bailed me out a couple of times. Suddenly, a bit of anger slides away as I realize there’s no point in hating one another.

Besides, I don’t think I could ever hate Chloe.

“I’m sorry.”

She nods, her gaze focused on some distant point. “You told me your rules and have proven to be a man of your word. This is all my fault. We never should have gotten involved. We don’t want the same things from life. I just thought”—she breaks off, the tears running down her face—“I thought love could fix everything. I’ve always been a very naïve woman. That much is apparent. Goodbye.”

She slips into the cab, and it pulls away, leaving me to wonder how things got so off course.

* * *

I’m no bettera few days later, and judging by the look on my ex-wife’s face when she drops off the girls, I’m about to get it with both barrels.

Figures. Women always side together.

“What happened?” she asks, her nails drumming the counter.

“Should I play dumb and pretend I don’t know what you’re talking about?”

“I wouldn’t advise it, Aidan. I want to know why you fucked up the greatest relationship you’ve ever had.”

My jaw slackens at her accusation. “Me? It was all Chloe. All I did was tell her I don’t want any more children—a factshealready knew. She’s the one who threw the idea of having a baby at me. Talk about coming out of left field.”

“You knew Chloe wanted a child. Besides, did she askyouto take on any of the responsibility?”

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