Lindsey bought her a yellow Labrador puppy as a present and a new addition to their family. Little do they know of the other new addition due to arrive in six months’ time.
I scratch the pup behind the ears and kiss his nose. “Yeah, Char. He’s the cutest all right.” I smile at him and he jumps all over me. His tongue tickles my cheek as he sneaks in a lick. “Okay, little dude. That’s enough.”
My fingers plunge into the plush navy carpet as I get up from the floor. I excuse myself from Charlotte and her grandparents and head into the kitchen. After washing my hands, I move over to the window near the kitchen counter. Mason has a floor to ceiling window stretching from the kitchen into the living room and the view is breathtaking. I’d choose this apartment for the view alone. Thoughts of sharing an apartment like this with Roamyn cross my mind until Olly’s laugh filters around the room and he comes to stand beside me taking in the beautiful view. I wring my hands together to calm the nerves jittering inside me. Roamyn should be here soon and today I’m breaking the pregnancy news to him.
Everyone’s in high spirits for Charlotte’s birthday. Cassidy and her new partner Trey are mucking around in the kitchen. He’s taunting her like he always seems to do and she bites back in frustration. Mason and Lindsey are loved up, as usual, sharing a few longing glances and sneaky kisses. There are only two people missing—Roamyn and Elias. Eli couldn’t make it and as I glance at the large round clock on the wall behind me, my tummy flutters with butterflies because Roam should be here any time now. The doorbell rings no more than a minute later. While a part of me becomes more excited than nervous to see him, my smile falters the second Lindsey walks back in, sparing me a sad glance laced with pity. My heart flops. Roamyn comes up behind her, chest out, shoulders tall, gorgeous as ever in jeans that hug his ass and a button down shirt, cuffed at his thick forearms and bunching around his biceps. Linked around his arm is a leggy brunette with beauty to outshine me any day. My confidence drops to an all-time low and I stand awkwardly, crossing my arms over my chest.
The room becomes quiet. All eyes shoot between Roamyn, his mystery woman, and me. Tension grows thick and fast. My heart cracks when our gazes connect. His eyes are hard and angry. Angry at me. I just have no idea why. Hurt builds in the form of tears but I refuse to cry. Angry for whatever reason, Roamyn’s not doing anything wrong. My heart doesn’t want to accept it but I have to. He’s single. Free to see whomever he pleases. I take a step back. Maybe I was naïve to believe he was waiting for me. I swallow hard and force a smile at the woman on Roamyn’s arm because I can do this. I can bear the hurt of seeing him with someone else. I can bear it, handle it, and have my cry later because things are different now. I’m different now. And what better way to prove it to Roam. I asked him to give me time to become the best version of me I could possibly be so I could give him the love, happiness, and relationship he deserves. Well, now I can. I can set him free so he can have it all, even if it isn’t with me.
I take a few steps toward Roamyn, never breaking eye contact with him until I turn to the woman beside him and jut out my hand. “I’m Ali. It’s nice to meet you.”
Her eyes widen and after a moment of shock crosses her face, she puts her hand in mine and smiles back at me. “It’s lovely to meet you, Ali. My name’s Sarah.”
After introductions and a few drinks later, the tension surrounding us loosens. At least, it did for everyone except Roamyn and me who are on opposite sides of the room avoiding one another. Every now and again I catch him staring at me with confusion and sadness. He’s mad, he’s hurt, and I’ve got no idea why. I’ve just about had enough whiplash from his emotions for one day and I haven’t even got to the pregnancy bomb yet. An abundance of food litters the kitchen counter.