“Ssssh. Cici, it’s not your fault, baby. Everything will be okay. Just talk to me, cutie. Tell me what happened and why you didn’t feel you could share the greatest news in the world.”
When his hand reaches my protruding belly, I’m jolted out of my despair and watch as he makes soothing circles over our baby. It’s also when I realize I should not be this close to him, and I scramble to move, only to have his arm clamp around me.
“Eli, this isn’t right. You’re engaged.”
“And if I weren’t? Would you still be trying to get away? Would you still be denying your feelings for me?” We go silent for a moment. “Why are you here, Cici? I want the truth.” His arm tightens.
“It’s complicated.”
“Uncomplicate it,” he says as he resumes the slow circles on my belly.
I inhale deeply and let it out slowly before diving in. “My flight was already booked to come here and tell you about the baby. But then Lily called about the accident, and I came the next day. There’s no excuse for not telling you sooner, but by the time I found out when I came back for Jackson’s proposal to Mia—”
“Holy shit! Jackson’s getting married? Sebastian didn’t tell me that.”
This is so weird.
“Yeah, he proposed in March, and they’re getting married in a couple of months. I’m pretty sure you’re in the wedding.” He has a contemplative look, like he’s trying hard to recall the details. “Anyway,I was three months into the pregnancy, and you were seeing Rebecca. I didn’t want to interfere in your relationship, so I sat on it for a while. Then the second time I planned to tell you was when you called about your engagement, and I just couldn’t. It didn’t seem right to come between you. Finally, Lily gave me a deadline, but I was ready to fess up anyway and let you decide what part you wanted to play. And here we are.”
“I’m glad to hear Lily had my back. I’ll have to thank her later. There are so many questions, but two come to the forefront. How did you get pregnant? We always used condoms, and you were on birth control.”
Does he not believe he’s the father?
“And before you think I’m doubting you, I’m not. I’m only trying to understand since I remember nothing.”
I fill him in on our last night together, including the antibiotics I was on in addition to going sans condom.
“Damn, that’s a memory I’d pay for.”
“Eli, you can’t say things like that.” I slap his chest, and he chuckles. This feels too much like before, when nothing stood in our way. “What’s your second question?” I ask to change the subject.
“What role were you hoping I’d take after telling me about our baby?”
He holds tight as I try to move again, but I don’t back down. “I’m not comfortable answering that question in this position. We shouldn’t be so close, not with your fiancée out there. If you want an answer, you need to let me go.”
This time, he complies. “Fine, if that’s the only way you’ll talk.”
My body feels the loss of his immediately, and I’m tempted to crawl right back, but my conscience wins out as I settle in the chair.
“Give me your hand at least.” He holds his hand out, palm up, on the bed.
I don’t give in. “We shouldn’t be holding hands.”
“I bet you had no problem doing it when I was unconscious.” He smirks.
I tilt my head and roll my eyes. “That’s different. You couldn’t reciprocate. Plus, they said touch helps bring patients out of their coma.”
“In that case, you really should have been touching something else. I might have woken up sooner.” He chuckles.
“Seriously, Eli, no more. You’re making me feel like the other woman, and I won’t be. I can’t handle this. Maybe I should trade places with Rebecca—she’s probably dying to see you.”
“I’m the one who almost died, and you’re the one I want to see right now.”
“Why?” My exasperation boils to the surface, and the question comes out as such.
“Because I still love you, goddammit!” he practically yells.
A gasp escapes, and my head shakes vigorously. “No. You’re only saying that because you’re stuck in time. You just don’t remember that you love Rebecca. You’remarryingher, for Christ’s sake—you obviously love her. I can’t do this. It would be one thing if you had your memory, but you’re acting from a false reality.”
