Page 66 of Only ever you-Ana & Byron
"Yesssssssss!" Tomos bolted off, legs pumping like a wind-up toy, leaving Ana laughing.
"Kid's got lungs like a moose," she said, falling into step beside Byron.
"Kid's perfect, that one," he muttered, watching Tomos with soft eyes. "He's a right little big man."
Ana tilted her head. "You saying you're proud of your godson?"
Byron smirked.
"I'm sayin' I'm terrified of him. He's gonna outrun me by Year Two."
Tomos was back before either of them could breathe, tugging on Byron's hand.
"Chase me, Unco' Bywon! You gotta chase me!"
Byron let out a dramatic groan.
"Alright, alright. You asked for it."
He took off at half-speed, pretending to huff and stumble while Tomos screeched with glee. Then, in one smooth move, Byron caughthim under the arms and swung him up onto his shoulders, high above the path.
"I AM THE WUGBY KIIING!" Tomos bellowed, his little fists raised to the sky.
Byron steadied him with one hand.
"You weigh a ton, lad. A safety hazard is what you are," he complained, shooting Ana a look.
Ana couldn't ignore the way he looked at her, Tomos still laughing on his shoulders. If things were different, they would be running after their firstborn right now.
She knew he was thinking about having a kid of their own.
Her stomach had twisted-half warmth, half terror. She'd bent to retie a perfectly fine shoelace just to avoid his eyes.
Now she sat alone on her bedroom floor, trying to decide what to do. She switched on her phone.
Cadi:Ana. Please. Byron has been calling every few minutes.
Gray:Byron's losing it.
She covered her face with both hands and finally whispered.
"I am as well" ,she whispered to the empty room.
***
Chapter twenty-eight
Chapter 27
Ana didn't remember making the decision. That moment, as she looked around her flat, the stale air, the blinking messages, the unopened emails, she knew she needed out.
She was running, and it wasn't fair to Byron. She was a coward, but she needed a few days to decide what she wanted to say. She dialled the number, pacing with the phone pressed to her ear.
He picked up on the second ring.
"Tesoro?"
Her throat felt like it was closing up "Hi, Papa."
