Page 85 of Always Been You
There’s more silence, then, just for the hell of it, I say, “Oh, and he’s my husband.”
Dad’s eyes widen so much I swear his eyeballs are about to fall out of their sockets.
Elisa, still reeling, nods vigorously. “You said he betrayed you, right?”
I chuckle. “Yeah. He got married to me without me knowing.”
The entire table erupts.
“WHAT?!”
I keep chewing, completely unbothered.
“Can you rewind for us?” Aria asks, skeptical.
“So…” I start, but Dad cuts me off.
“You’re pregnant. As in pregnancy... having a baby...”
I chuckle. “Yes, Dad. You’re going to be a grandfather again. Congratulations.”
My sisters giggle, and Mom walks over to me, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder.
“This is not the time for you to be worried or stressed. It’s not good for the baby.”
“Here we go again,” Aria mutters, shaking her head.
I close my eyes for a second. Great. It looks like I’m about to experience all the motherly overprotectiveness Aria warned me about.
“Mom, we’ll all make sure she and the baby are fine,” Lauren reassures her, then turns to me. “But right now, the father... ’s going on with that one?”
“Can you forgive him?” Dash, who has been quietly observing, finally asks.
“Yeah… I mean, he did propose to you, so he had plans of marrying you…” Dzifa adds. “Although you were both already married, Elisa interjects, but Dzifa ignores her and continues, "...and even though he didn’t go about it the right way, he loves you. You know he wouldn’t cheat on you or even look at another person.” like my ex-husband. I know she wants to add that.
My sisters nod in agreement.
Wait. Do they want me to forgive him?
“What’s your deal breaker?” Aria asks. I look at her confused. “What’s the one thing you’re not willing to let go of in a relationship?” she adds
“Relationships are all about compromise, love, and understanding,” Dad chimes in. “He’s a good boy, that one.”
Good boy? If only Dad knew.
Mom’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. “Do you see yourself living without him in the future? Imagine him being with someone else who isn’t you.”
My blood boils at the mere thought of it.
Mom gives me a knowing look. “There’s your answer. Take your time with forgiving him, but know what you want—and what you don’t.”
Security steps in, and my heart skips. It’s never good when they do.
“Isn’t the phone working?” Elisa asks.
“Do you have to walk in here?” Lauren adds, raising a brow.
The guard nods at them before turning to Mom. “Ma’am, the gentleman you asked us to turn away is back again.”
