Page 106 of Our Forbidden Romance 1

I hesitate to answer. “I promise,” I finally say defeated, because if I don’t I will lose her.

“Thank you. You are going to be okay, my love. You are going to be an incredible daddy, and hopefully, one day, I can meet your little one.” She smiles, leaning over and kissing me softly.

I am grateful she is willing to try, a lot of other women would have run, and I’d understand if she did. Our entire situation has changed, and it is a lot to take in. Alana moves closer to me, lying down she places her head on my chest.

“I love you, Alana. I know there will need to be a lot of adjusting, but if I have you by my side, I know it will be okay. I am still trying to come to terms with it. Bella and I still need to sit down and talk, but I promise, you and I, we are going to be fine,” I say, kissing the top of her head.

She nods, snuggling in tighter to me. Silence comes between us. We have a lot to think about. The silence is broken by the sound of my cell ringing. I take it from my pocket, seeing Bella calling and my heart falls, I’m not ready to deal with her at the moment.

“Hello.”

“I am back at your place. We can talk now. Don’t take forever to come back,” she says and hangs up.

Alana pulls away from me and climbs off the bed. “You should go and talk with her, my love.”

“Yes. Walk me out?”

Alana nods. I get off the bed, and she walks me to the front door. I bring her to me, holding her to my chest.

“I am sorry, sweetheart. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. I’ll call later when I get a minute,” I promise.

I press my lips to hers, wrapping my arms around her. The kiss lingers, neither of us wanting to say goodbye, but we need to. We finally part.

“I love you, don’t forget that, okay?” I smile, tucking her hair behind her ear.

“I love you too. I hope you and Bella will work everything out.”

I am amazed at how calm she seems because I am freaking out. I have a feeling it’s for my benefit because I knew she is upset about this. I steal one last kiss before leaving.

I have no idea how to make everything right, but I must do what is best for everyone. I dread telling my parents. My mom will be thrilled with the news, but I have no idea how she will react when she finds out I don’t want to be with Bella.

Life is going to change in a way I didn’t imagine.

It has been a week.One long week since I found out about Bella’s pregnancy. I haven’t heard from Ezra since he left my apartment that day. I texted and tried to call him, but there was no response, so I stopped. He hasn’t even been to work; instead, he left my orders with someone else to pass on to me. I have buried myself in work and classes to try to keep my mind off him. What I really wanted to do was climb into bed, switch the lights off and lock the door, but it wouldn’t have helped any.

I probably shouldn’t be surprised, though. He has more important things on his mind. If Bella told him to stay away from me or he wouldn’t see his kid, then I don’t blame him for cutting me off. It doesn’t make it hurt any less. I miss him like crazy, but it has made me realize something. It is time for me to disappear from his life because it is the right thing to do. He needs to give his family a chance.

I wanted to stay, to wait to hear from Ezra and help in any way I could, but with each day that passes, it becomes harder. I can’t wait around. It is too much. The last thing I want is to break Ezra’s heart, but I don’t know what else to do. I can’t compete with what Bella is giving him. Maybe it is another sign from the universe telling us we shouldn’t be together—karma for what I did.

I have my bag packed. I am going to stay with Lucy for a little while, and she has gotten me a job alongside her. I don’t have a plan, but for now, all I can do is work to earn some cash and go from there. I don’t want to return to my old apartment, even if that was an option because Ezra could find me there, besides, I haven’t got the money for the total in rent and bills right now. Lucy didn’t ask any questions, which I appreciated because I didn’t want to get into it.

I hate myself for not saying a proper goodbye to Ezra, but I have written him a letter. The paper is tear stained. However, he might not get it if he doesn’t come by the apartment.

The worst thing about the situation is there are so many unanswered questions. Did Ezra decide to forget about me? Has Bella forced him to stay away from me? Have they received the DNA results? The list is non-stop, and probably won’t be answered. I plan on changing my cell number. I don’t know if I am going overboard with my decisions, but I refuse to be the woman who breaks up a family before they have a chance.

I place my bag by the door and head to the balcony for one last look. I have loved staying here and the memories Ezra and I have made, even in such a short time. I will miss this place and probably won’t ever stay somewhere like it again. I rest my arms on the railing and take in the view. The tears start again. I didn’t think I had any tears left to cry because it has been constant recently. I wipe them away, closing my eyes I take a breath.

I truly believed I was finally getting my happy ending with Ezra. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I should have known someone like me would never have one. I came to terms with it a long time ago, until Ezra. I thought maybe I would, but I was an idiot to think so. I have felt a lot of pain in my life, but the pain I am feeling right now is on a different level. I am broken once again.

I hesitantly stroll inside. I stand, taking one last glance around where I called home, and my heart breaks all over again. I remove the letter from the drawer, setting it on the counter in the kitchen, next to the key. I won’t need it anymore.

Maybe I should call Ezra one more time and see if he answers. If he doesn’t, then I know my leaving is the right thing to do for sure. I dig my cell out from my purse, go to my contact list and find his name, calling it. It rings and continues to do so until it goes to voicemail. I am tempted to leave a message, but I don’t because he will hear in my voice I am upset.

I’ve lost him. I wish it weren’t true, but something in my gut tells me I have.

“FUCK!” I scream, tossing my cell at the wall, and it shatters into pieces on the ground.

I fall to the floor and break down—a common thing for me this week. I have no idea how I am going to deal with the aftermath. I only hope I don’t end up down the same path I did when I was a teenager hitting the drink. A version of me I would rather forget. I am older now and wiser, so I know how to deal with things better.

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