thing illuminating the hallway was the faint glow of her bedside lamp seeping out of her door. No matter how hard she searched, she couldn’t see the expression in his eyes, and fear dug its sharp claws into her a little deeper. Suddenly realizing she’d been gripping the glass bottle with all her strength, she stuck it out to Landon.
“Here.”
When he just stared down at the bottle in her extended hand, she was certain he wouldn’t take it and almost lost the little hope she’d had. But Landon slowly raised his hand and took it from her, and Aubrey sighed with relief.
“I got it from the glassworks store in Cambria and filled it with the stones we gathered that morning.”
“I can see that.”
“I wanted to thank you for that wonderful trip. I’ll never forget it.” She fought on doggedly despite the lack of encouragement. “That bottle means the world to me, and I hope it’ll mean as much to you—”
“Aubrey,” he interrupted. “What are you doing?”
Cut off in the middle of her practiced speech, Aubrey froze and blinked at him. When his question finally penetrated her brain, she told him the truth.
“I love you.”
His eyes snapped up to hers, and she felt the intensity of his gaze even in the dark hallway. Then his face became a hard mask. “Don’t.”
“Landon, please listen.” Tears clogged her throat. Stark fear slithered down her back, and she realized she’d never felt real fear before. Not like this.
“This morning, you handed down an ultimatum. You ordered me to choose between you and my career.” She couldn’t tell whether the tremor in his voice came from fear or anger. “There is no reason why we can’t see each other in secret. For the good of our careers, it doesn’t make sense to flaunt our relationship publicly.”
“But I—” Panic thumped in her chest like in “The Tell-Tale Heart.”
“I refuse to be manipulated. My career, my life, and my future are not inconsequential.”
“I never meant to imply they aren’t important. I meant quite the opposite. I love you, and I want to be with you. Forever. But I can’t be with you in secret. I don’t want to hide anymore. I can’t live believing that the person I love is ashamed of me. Not again.”
Something akin to anguish and desolation flitted across his face, but it faded in a second. “My career isn’t only about me. I have responsibilities and duties to my family. The same responsibilities I would have for you, your career, and your happiness if we were together.”
“I know it isn’t going to be easy, but we could do it together. I want us to build a life together. Something real and lasting.” Aubrey gripped his hand in both of hers as tears fell endlessly down her cheeks. She couldn’t tell him about the baby yet. She didn’t want to trap him into staying with her. Prey on his sense of responsibility and his drive to set things right. But she wanted him to know what they could have together. “We could build a family of our own.”
“It’s wishful thinking—as far removed from reality as a fairy tale.” His harsh expression was cut in stone, and the bitter certainty of his words drove the point home.
“Please, Landon.” Aubrey dropped his hand and retreated a step. “Don’t do this.”
“I have no choice.” His voice was thick with emotion, and his eyes were almost pleading. “We have no choice.”
Aubrey couldn’t remember how she’d gotten back in her room, but there she was. She’d given up and walked away from Landon. But she’d fought for their love with everything she had. Right now, she felt as though she were being ripped apart strip by strip, but she would be proud of herself someday. She had no regrets.
She couldn’t tell him about the baby. She couldn’t trap him in a relationship he no longer wanted. Even if he chose to be with her, she would always know he’d stayed for the baby. She’d know he didn’t love her. She could never live like that again.
She let her tears flow silently. There was no holding them back. It hurt so much. Landon didn’t love her. He wasn’t willing to give them a chance. The anguish threatened to overwhelm her until she wished it would consume her.
Aubrey sat on her bed until she was certain she could form comprehensible words. Then she reached for her phone and dialed.
“Bree? What time is it?” Tara’s voice sounded croaky from sleep. Ribbit-ribbit. Aubrey