trust anyone.”
Ouch. “’Kay.”
“Don’t take it personally.” He sighs like I’m being ridiculous for feeling a little bit sad over this. “Trust is earned over time, not given freely on request.”
My mouth drops open. “And I haven’t earned your trust yet?” What an arsehole.
“Just drop it, would you?” He looks at me briefly. “Whatever happened between Caleb and I is my business. It’s not for you to worry about.”
I glare at his profile when he faces the road once more, my arms folded across the top of my belly. “What about what you said to me?”
“What are you talking about now?”
“You told me to get rid of the baby while I still had the chance. Why would you say that?”
He doesn’t respond, staring blankly ahead, his hands gripping the wheel tightly.
“Nathan.” I persist, wanting him to explain.
“I apologize for saying that.”
“Clearly I’ve forgiven you already, but I’d like to know why you said it.”
Like before, he doesn’t respond. I rest my forehead on the glass. Out of the corner of my eye I see him look at me as if wanting to say something, but then he shakes his head and looks back at the road, his lips a thin white line and his jaw tense. “I have a meeting with my solicitor tomorrow in the city. I’ll be away until the weekend.”
“Don’t do that,” I snap, feeling my anger rise. “Every single time we have a heated discussion, you take off. Maybe I should just leave, then you won’t have to keep doing that every few days.”
“That’s not why I’m leaving.”
“I’m calling bullshit.”
“Don’t swear; it’s not attractive.”
I laugh humourlessly. “Seriously? I’m not trying to be attractive.”
“Just don’t swear and don’t leave. It’s not why I’m leaving.”
Eye roll. “I’m always the reason you leave. It makes me feel guilty, knowing I’m in your house and you feel forced to stay elsewhere.”
“You’re being ridiculous.”
Am I? It doesn’t feel like it. “Whatever.”
“I’m serious,” he remarks, stopping the car so he can look at me. “That house… it holds some painful memories for me. That’s why I leave on occasion.”
I’m sceptical. “Why do these memories only resurface when you seem to be pissed at me?”
“Stop swearing.”
“Sorry.” I say this flippantly and continue on as before. “I don’t get it, Nathan. Do you want me to leave? Tell me honestly. I don’t want…”
“Stop reading into things that aren’t there.” He cuts me off; his tone is louder than it was a moment ago and it startles me.
“Like you can talk,” I mumble and instantly regret it.
Pain flashes through his features before vanishing behind a hardened mask. “Is there something you’d like to say to me?”
My chest tingles and my eyes widen slightly. I look away and shake my head.
“Really? It sure seems like there is.”
I shake my head again.
“Go on, I’m waiting.”
I chew on the inside of my cheek. Should I say something? After what happened when he rubbed my lower back, things have been good between us but also awkward.
Should I?
“You tried to kiss me.” My heart starts pounding against my chest. I regret the words the second I speak them.
“It won’t happen again.”
“I know that.” This is so awkward. “Why did it happen in the first place?”
He shrugs. “I felt like it.”
“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard,” I scoff, almost slamming back into my seat as he starts up the car once more.
We drive in silence for a while. He has to give me more than that. He can’t just not explain this to me.
When we pull into the driveway I ask again; I can’t help myself. He climbs out of the car, slamming the door with a bang, not even bothering to look at me or even help me out like he usually does.
“Nathan.” I say sharply and grab his arm. “Don’t walk away from me.”
“What do you want me to say?” His brown eyes narrow on my face. “You’re like a dog with a bone, just drop it. I’ve apologised. Let it go.”
“I’d like to understand.”
“Fine,” he laughs once. “You honestly want to know?” I nod slowly. “I was aroused, you were available. Nothing more and nothing less.”
A loud breath leaves me and I release his arm. “Seriously?”
“Yes.” He starts to turn. “I won’t do it again, you can be sure of that.”
“I would never do it with you anyway,” I clip and stroll past him. “Do you have any idea how wrong that is? I’m pregnant with your brother’s child. Yet you’d try and use me because you’re