Ellie shakes her head and walks to another guest. Then the three of them turn back to me. Connor speaking first. “We may look like fools, but you’re acting like one. Go to her tomorrow and fix it.”
And then he walks back to his wife, kisses her temple and a pang of jealousy so strong nearly drops me to my knees.
I want that. Right there. I want it all.
This bed smells like her. The entire place does.
I roll over, press my face in the pillow, and inhale. The lavender and vanilla cling to the fabric, and I sit up. I can’t take this.
Today is the day I’ll go to her and tell her I want a future with her. I’m going to battle the demons that plague me about being a father, and I’m going to figure it out.
I roll over and grab my phone for the tenth time, checking to see if she’s called or texted.
Nothing.
It’s useless to lie around when I need to deal with my mess of a life. I fire up my laptop and find an email from Milo.
Declan,
She accepted the deal last week and was fine with the original closing date, but I got an email from her late last night saying she wants to expedite the sale and close by the end of the week or she would take the other offer. The paperwork is being sent by courier to your office to be signed by tomorrow.
What in the bloody fucking hell did you do to her?
Milo
Fuck.
She’s running. I screwed up last night by not telling her how I really felt, and now she thinks I didn’t choose her. Well, I have news for her. I’m not going to let her run off with my kid. I’m not going to allow her to make these choices without me, not when I love her like this.
When the dust settles, we will figure it all out—together.
Last night wasn’t some fluke. It was long overdue and high time I got my head out of my ass.
I get a cup of coffee and throw some clothes into a bag, I need to get into the city, sign the papers so she doesn’t sell the farm to some other random company and get back here.
I dial Milo, and he answers on the first ring.
“Seriously, what the fuck did you do?”
“I told her I loved her.”
He laughs. “It’s about bloody time.”
“And then she told me she’s pregnant.”
Silence falls. “You know I don’t want to ask the follow-up question.”
Now, it’s my turn to laugh. I bet he doesn’t. “It’s mine. We slept together a few months back, and well, I guess we all know what she was running from. But, I was a fool when I showed up and hurt her. I felt guilty that she was leaving because I came back into her life.”
Milo lets out a long breath through the line. “So, naturally you decided to buy her farm?”
“She doesn’t want to sell, and I love her. I want her to raise our kid wherever she wants, and if it means I jump through hoops to make this closing happen, then so be it. When will the papers be there?”
“Tomorrow. I need to call her as soon as we disconnect and let her know you agreed to move up the closing.”
“Good.”
“Are you sure about this, Declan? I know you have good intentions, but I don’t know if she’ll see it that way and it’s a lot of cash.”
I can see why he thinks that, but I see it as doing exactly what she asked me to do ... chase her.
Only this time, I’m going to catch her and I won’t be letting go.
“I’m sure. I’ll be in the office in a few hours. I need to sign them and then get back out to Sugarloaf.”
“Do you have the cash already?”
“Yes, I had the money borrowed against my company.”
Milo clears his throat. “If you only knew how fucking stupid you are for ever letting her go in the first place.”
I laugh once and toss my bag in my car. “Oh, I know, but I’m not stupid anymore.”
I hang up the phone and hear the ping of a text.
Sydney: Here is the information for the appointment tomorrow at two o’clock. I’ve given them your name as the father and let them know you may be attending, so there should be no issues with you going in. I want you to know that only Sierra knows about the baby. I don’t know if you told anyone, but I didn’t. I haven’t lied to anyone, but I thought you should know before anyone else. As for the other night, I had hoped, so much so, that you’d see how much I love you. I don’t know what else I can do, but if you choose not to come, then I’ll have my answer.
Oh, she’ll have her answer, and then she’ll have to make her own choice as well.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Sydney
My leg is bouncing as I sit in the office waiting room, waiting. Not just for my appointment, but for Declan.
I haven’t heard from him in two days, and my heart is in my stomach at the idea that he’s not coming.
I check my phone again for any missed calls, of which there are none, and then send a text to Ellie.
Me: Hey, have you seen Declan?
Ellie: He left yesterday to go into New York.
The breath pushes from my lungs as though I’ve been punched. He left?
Me: You’re sure?
Ellie: Yes, he stopped by the house to let Connor and I know he was going to be gone for a bit.
He left me. He ... he went to New York. I knew it was stupid to get my hopes up, but I did. I thought that maybe he’d hear what I said and give us a chance. I’m such a fool.
Time and time
