Page 246 of The Baby Bargain
And the solution—
It's obvious, the same way it always is.
I nod in agreement. Then I leave.
Chapter Fifty-Two
Ariel
Idon't give Forest a chance to reply.
I go straight home. Lock myself in my room. Blast The Eurythmics.
Send Chase frantic texts.
Ariel: Where are you?
Ariel: Are you okay?
Ariel: Are you leaving? What did that mean? Can we talk about what Forest said? I don't know if it's true or not. But I should be the one to say it. He doesn't get to say it for me.
But that isn't true.
I do know.
It's there in my heart. I love him. I love him so fucking much. And I want this so fucking bad.
But I can't take another person abandoning me.
I can't open myself up to that heartbreak again.
If he wants to leave—
What good is it, stopping him? It will only delay the inevitable.
Ariel: Call me, please. We need to talk.
The albums repeats twice.
Finally, Chase texts back.
Chase: Give me a few days. Your brother needs to cool off.
Ariel: I need to see you.
Chase: You need to make things right with Forest.
Ariel: I can do both.
Chase: He's your family. You need him.
I need Chase.
But I can't say that. I can't even verbalize it.
It's one thing if he leaves.
If I beg him to stay and he still leaves—
