Page 23 of Come Alive
“What’s another day?” Mateo cocked his head.
Pushing Mateo’s arm away, I walked to James. “I will be in Florida. When you land, I will have Mateo pick you up. I won’t disappear.”
“Fine,” James agreed, but I could tell he didn’t believe me.
I didn’t blame him and my heart went out to him for how this was going down, but I trusted Mateo was doing what was needed to keep us safe.
“Let’s go.” Mateo grabbed hold of my hand, tugging me towards the office door.
James didn’t move, didn’t reach for me, didn’t turn.
Was this it? I knew my relationship with his daughter would make ours difficult.
And what about Izzy? Is she okay? Can I trust Mateo’sboss?
I didn’t look back as we made our way to the elevator.
“What if he doesn’t want to be with me after this?” I whispered as the doors shut.
“Then he is an idiot and not deserving of you.” Mateo wrapped a reassuring arm around my shoulders, tugging me to him. “The plane is ready, we will return and Izzy will be fine.”
His words did nothing to calm the distress and anxiety that buried and furrowed its way deep into my gut.
When the elevator doors opened to the parking garage, I sprinted out of it and promptly puked the mediocre contents of my stomach onto the concrete.
A moment later, Mateo’s hand found its way to my back, offering soothing strokes.
“The book I read advised the morning sickness should lessen after 12 to 14 weeks,” Mateo reassured. “We can get you cleaned up on the plane. A hot shower and some soup will help.”
But his words had the opposite effect. I knew nothing of pregnancy, of babies, of parenthood. My adoptive parents were kind, but there had always been a thick wall between us and now they lived abroad choosing to travel in their retirement.
I hadn’t spoken to them on the phone in over a year.
And here I was pregnant. I was meant to raise myownchild.
How?!
I was completely clueless. And here was Mateo, one day in and already researching.
Self-deprecation and crippling anxiety trundled through me as I continued to dry heave.
I can’t do this. I’m going to be a horrible mother.
Chapter 11
Kazi
The last Kazi heard from Yara was when he sent her the text, letting her know Izzy was safe.
She had sent the letterKback. That was it.
Yara was clearly andobviouslylivid, how would she feel when he told her the rest of it?
Izzy just married my boss…partially against her will, and I couldn’t stop it.
Mateo is going to be pissed too.
And what am I even supposed to tell Yara? How will she ever trust me again? She’s going to hate me.
