I shrugged. “Not all of it. I had Gabby.”
“Who you didn’t tell about the pregnancy.”
“Yeah.” I tilted my head up, looking at him. I placed my hands behind my back on the wall and leaned my weight against them. That was all I had. All my dirty little secrets were exposed. He could take them or leave them, I supposed.
“Was that meeting the last time you talked to him?”
My brows furrowed. “With Ethan?”
“Yes.”
“Uh,” I hesitated. “Not quite. He emailed me after that article came out to apologize again and ask if there was anything he could do.”
“This fucking clown,” he sneered. “Where is he now?”
The thunderous anger in Xavier’s eyes related that he’d surely do more than talking if he knew where Ethan was.
“I don’t know. I don’t!” I insisted when he looked at me dubiously. “I emailed him back and told him thanks, but no thanks, and that was the last I heard from him. I didn’t bother to ask him where he’s living when we met. I only know he’s no longer in D.C.”
“I swear, when I find him—”
“When?” I questioned.
Xavier didn’t respond.
“Xavier, don’t…” I took a step toward him, grabbing his hand, but he cut off my protests.
“Don’t defend him to me. I swear...”
“I’m not defending him. I’m just asking you not to get crazy. It’s over. It’s in the past.”
Again, no words came from him.
I decided to try and lighten the mood. “You know, my therapist would say I’m making pretty good progress. I told you something I’ve never told anyone else.”
That elicited a response. “Therapist?”
I nodded. “Yeah, after everything that happened, I couldn’t sleep. I’d wake up from nightmares about Anne Marie and Noah, or from my past. So, I finally decided to use the card you gave me awhile back. I’ve been seeing her for about three weeks now.”
I sighed a little in relief when his eyes softened. “She’s helping?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“No more nightmares?”
“Not as many.” They’d subsided but still occurred.
I saw the intensity rise in his eyes as he drew closer to me. Standing toe-to-toe, he cupped my face and lowered his forehead to mine. I wrapped my arms around his waist and ran my fingertips up and down his spine. I grinned when I saw his stomach muscles jump at my touch. I loved the physical reaction his body had to mine.
“I’m sorry,” he stated just above a whisper.
“Can you answer my question now? Why did you leave?” I’d opened up to him. I’d done all of the talking. It was his turn.
Chapter Eight
Xavier
I didn’t have an answer to her question. Not one I was ready to share just yet, anyway. I felt too much anger. The hurt and pain, and mostly shame I saw in her eyes when she talked about her ex, was too familiar. It made everything in my body vibrate with anger.
