of seeing Landon again. But as always, the contractions faded quickly, and Aubrey straightened to her full height, belatedly jerking her arms out of his hands.
“We need to get you to a hospital. Let me grab my keys.” Unfortunately, the panicking man in front of her hadn’t calmed down like she’d instructed. “Fucking hell. I shouldn’t have brought you here so suddenly. I thought I would die if I didn’t see you again. I couldn’t wait any longer. Goddamn it. I’m so sorry.”
“Look at me.” She kept her voice steady even though the words coming out of his mouth kicked her pulse up to an alarming rate. Only after she’d repeated herself a couple times did Landon raise his gaze to hers. “You see? I’m fine, so calm down.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” His eyes darted over her face and body as though she might crumple to the ground any minute.
No, she wasn’t okay. Why was everyone asking her that? Couldn’t they see she was far from okay? Seeing Landon made her so fucking happy, mad, and terrified at the same time. She wanted to curl up into a ball and cry herself unconscious.
“Yes, I’m fine. But unless you’re planning to stand out here to talk, I’d rather go inside and have a seat.”
“Of course. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
He stepped to her side and moved as though he were about to wrap his arm around her. She stiffened and pulled away.
“Don’t,” she said with a burst of fury. “You do not get to touch me.”
Landon cringed at her vehement words, but he dropped his arms and took a step away with sorrow swimming in his dark eyes. “After you.”
The warmth of the house welcomed them as they stepped inside, and she allowed Landon to take her coat. He was so careful not to touch her that she hurt a little for him.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
He wouldn’t quite meet her eyes as he led her to a cozy living room with a fire gently burning in the fireplace. In the brightness of the room, Aubrey finally noticed how thin and gaunt Landon had become. He still appeared strong and broad, but his clothes hung loosely, his jawline was too sharp, and his cheeks had a sunken look to them. She could tell he’d shaved recently, but his overgrown hair curled at his collar, and there were dark shadows under his weary eyes. Landon looked sad and starkly beautiful as though he’d walked through hell to stand in front of her.
He offered her a deep, upholstered armchair, and she shook her head and chose a firm love seat instead. A deep, relieved sigh escaped her as she settled her tired body into it. Landon’s gaze sharpened at the sound, but he didn’t hover or fuss. He took an armchair close by her and sat forward, resting his elbows on his thighs.
“You found out about the baby,” Aubrey said when Landon sat silently.
“Yes,” he said huskily.
“Is that why I’m here?”
“Yes and no.”
“Are we playing twenty questions? If I recall, you were the one who wanted to see me.”
“And you didn’t? Want to see me?” His softly spoken words twisted like a dagger in her heart, and his desperate, searching eyes clogged her throat with pain and resentment.
What could he possibly expect me to say? Fuck him. Fuck him for breaking my heart. Fuck him for putting me through this.
“I’m not going to apologize for not telling you about the baby. If you’d let me explain what was in the bottle, you would’ve known months ago. But you made it clear that I was nothing more than a passing fling to you. There was no way I was letting you treat my baby like you treated me. You will not hide her in the shadows. She will never be your shameful secret. She is my heart, my blood, and she will be loved, cherished, and raised up high for the world to see.”
“Please, Aubrey. I never meant … God, I’m so sorry. Please listen.”
“I don’t want your excuses or apologies.” Suddenly, she felt depleted, and exhaustion rose in a wave to drown her. “I want closure. I need to move on. Whatever was between us is in the past.”
“Nothing,” he said brokenly. “Nothing is in the past for me, because I know in my heart we aren’t finished. This is all about now and the future. Our future. That’s why I asked you to come.”
“Our future?” Aubrey blinked, her heart pounding in