Page 47 of Don't Regret Me
He loved her before she was born. Even after finding out he wasn’t her father. Yet, he’d made no effort to be in her life because he’d known it would have just made it harder on them both. But now… “I’m not her dad.”
“That doesn’t matter right now. Until Sherrie comes back, you’re all she has.” She looked away as she said Sherrie’s name, and Nick didn’t blame her. Whatever problems she’d caused, this was beyond anything he’d expected out of her.
“I’m texting Bentley.” She pulled out her phone. “We’re going to need formula, bottles, and diapers when she wakes, and she shouldn’t have to wait for them.”
He wanted to stop her, to keep this between them, but he didn’t. Other than his brother, Nick never let himself rely on anyone else. It isolated him in Hollywood because he’d never made an effort to create a circle of friends, to make those kinds of connections. It was such a different world than the one Liz occupied.
“He says he’s calling his mother to come stay with the kids, then he’ll be over.”
“I don’t like asking him to leave them,” Nick admitted.
Liz’s fingertips grazed his arm. “Then, it’s a good thing this isn’t about you.” She stood. “Keep an eye on Stephanie. I’m going to make some tea.” He saw that for what it was. An excuse to get a moment of space, and he didn’t blame her.
He also couldn’t hold back the one question simmering in his mind. “Liz?”
She paused, not turning to face him. “Hmm?”
“Why did you come to the hotel tonight?”
22
ELIZABETH
Liz had never felt so out of place in her own life. None of this could be real. First, she fell for a movie star while she was in a coma. Then, she fell for him in real life. He ended things and showed up hours later with a baby.
Her chest rose as she took a deep breath. It had been so clear before. Her reason for going after him. She’d met Sherrie, she’d learned the truth of Nick’s accident. There was no doubt in her mind now.
Before, she’d wanted to tell him everything. About their time at the lake house. About Sherrie. Now, she wasn’t sure how he’d believe her.
Why did you come to the hotel?
Well, Nick, I wanted to make you think I’d lost my mind with stories of things that couldn’t possibly be real.
Oh, okay. Well, thanks for the help with the baby.
As she played out the fictional conversation in her head, he waited.
Stephanie’s soft cry made her turn, cutting off the inquiry. She got to her first, lifting the girl into her arms. Stephanie continued to make quiet crying sounds as she curled into Liz’s chest.
“Shhh.” Liz rocked her back and forth. “You’re safe, baby girl. It’s all okay.” As Stephanie quieted, Liz couldn’t stop staring at her from the soft fuzz on the crown of her head to the tips of her toes. “She’s so small.” One corner of her lips lifted into a half-smile. “I remember when the twins were this age. You never know how they’re going to turn out, but it doesn’t stop you from dreaming that you can give them the best this world has to offer.”
“Evelyn and Owen are pretty great. I’d say you’ve given them everything.”
Her smile fell. “When they’re so young, you picture a mother as someone who makes life easier. My kids are amazing, but they’ve been through so much hardship I never imagined I’d put them through.” She pressed a soft kiss to Stephanie’s head. “I hope you don’t get so acquainted with hospitals,” she whispered.
Hospitals. There it was. Cancer, the coma. So much of her life happened there, but she wasn’t the only one. While Nick lay in his hospital bed, he experienced a whole other kind of life, and he deserved to know about it, whether he believed her or not.
“There’s something I have to tell you.” Everything. She needed to say everything.
He lifted his gaze from where he’d been watching Stephanie. “I’m listening.”
Pushing a breath out between her teeth, she sat, the desire for tea wholly forgotten. She didn’t relinquish Stephanie, stealing strength from her. “You and I… we met. Before.” She didn’t have to say before what. He knew.
He shook his head. “I wouldn’t forget you. I couldn’t.”
But he could, and he did.
She squeezed her eyes shut as a tear raced down her cheek. In her mind, she saw him lounging on the dock, the afternoon sun bronzing his skin. She saw them dancing in the kitchen and eating cereal for dinner.
