Page 35 of Lost Summer
“Is what?” Ted asked softly, and I choked up.
“Call me after.”
I hung up, the sensation of not being able to breathe taking over me.
Fuck this.
I dashed for the emergency exit, biting my lip as tears streamed down my cheeks, praying this was a bad dream.
The stairs below me blurred together as I sobbed, the sound of my footsteps echoing through the empty stairwell. I clung to the handrail, the metal cold beneath my fingers, grounding me in the present moment even as my heart yearned for the past.
It was almost as though the universe was against us.
The day Ted goes to end it all with Elena, and I find out she’s pregnant?
Eventually, I exited the building, alarms sounding as I peeled across the car park, heading for the taxi rank. The streets were relatively quiet, almost mocking me with their serenity. The sun still shone, casting a golden glow over the city, a cruel contrast to the darkness cloaking my heart.
My chest felt like it was going to explode, the damn lump in my throat refusing to budge as nausea taunted my stomach.
You’velost him again.
I tried to calm my thoughts, reminding myself that a baby wasn’t the worst thing in the world in the grand scheme of things. I mean, sure, Ted would always have to have somethingto do with Elena, but a child could never be a bad thing, right? Maybe they’d be civil, agree to co-parent, or share custody.
Who am I kidding?
Ted wouldn’t leave Elena now. It was me who’d lost out again. This time, there was nothing I could do about it.
The weight of my heartbreak was a physical pain, a crushing sensation that made it hard to breathe. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes again, hot and stinging, threatening to spill over. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms, vowing to hold it together, pretending this wasn’t happening.
But it was happening, and I could do nothing to stop it.
18
TED
The air felt heavier as I entered the luxurious penthouse suite, the plush carpet beneath my feet doing little to cushion the blow that awaited me. The scent of fresh flowers filled the air, their vibrant colours clashing with the stark reality that I was about to shatter Elena’s world—and my own.
I stared at the phone, my heart thudding in my chest, my instincts screaming that something was wrong.
Elena stood before me, her flowing hair cascading down her back in soft waves.
“Where were you last night? I called and called—” Elena’s voice quivered, her eyes searching mine for answers.
“I’m sorry for not getting in touch. But we need to talk, Elena,” I said, my voice heavy with the weight of my decision.
Elena’s eyes filled with tears, her hands trembling as she sat on the cream couch. The room, usually so airy and light, seemed to darken with the weight of our conversation.
Nothing is fucking easy, but I know what I want.
“What do we need to talk about, Edward?” Her voice cracked, revealing the depth of her upset.
I took a deep breath, the scent of the fresh flowers almost overwhelming. I studied her, my heart aching with guilt. She deserved better than this.
“Edward?”
Her voice snapped me back to reality. I reached into my pocket, tracing the outline of the phone that held my future—a future with Adele.
“I’m sorry, Elena, but I can’t do this anymore.” The words felt like I was throwing boulders at her, heavy and crushing.
