Jeremiah laughed loudly and shook his head slowly.
“Nice?You wouldn’t think he was nice if you knew who hereallywas.”
“Iknowwho he is.” I reached into my bag and pulled out the book. Jeremiah’s eyes widened when he caught sight of it. I strode toward him and slammed the book against his broad chest. “It’syouI don’t know.”
“Sadie…” he started, as he clutched the book against his chest as I slowly backed away, my eyes searching his for a clue about who he really was. The iciness in his eyes had melted away to silent worry. He took a single step toward me, reaching out his hand, but I avoided his touch.
“Don’t,”I said sharply. “I can’t believe you. Telling me that you don’t knowme, when you had an entire other life you’ve never talked about. Howdareyou?”
“I was going to tell you.”
“When? When you were reading that very book at the café weeks ago?”
“I didn’t read it. I barely looked at it.”
“Why didn’t you tell me youknewhim?”
“I did. In Dallas.”
“When you were talking about friends dragging you to hell and back?” I remembered the conversation on the rooftop and how Jeremiah had become quiet, not wanting to go further.
“Yes.”
“You didn’t tell meanythingthat night about this Anderson guy or you being a criminal,” I said, throwing my hands up exasperated.
“It wasn’t the right time,” said Jeremiah softly.
“Well, then tell me now. I deserve to know who I’m having a child with.”
“It was a lifetime ago, Sadie,” he said casually, rolling his eyes and tossing the book on the couch as if it wasn’t the bomb that just went off. He was trying to get out of this.
“Oh, don’t do that. Don’t act like this isnothing.Did you not think it was important to share this ‘nothing’ with the mother of your child? Or do you still nottrustme?”
“We are still getting to know each other.” He shrugged.
“We are past that! We were past that as soon as you asked me to move in here because I’m having your baby!” I shouted.
“You are testing my patience…” said Jeremiah, his voice clipped.
“So will a child,” I said. “So, you better figure out how to get better at being uncomfortable.”
He closed his mouth at that. Defeat clear on his face.
“Now.” I nodded toward Anderson’s smiling face staring up at us from the couch. “Explain.”
Chapter 36
Jeremiah
Sadie looked at me with her hands on her hips, though the sharp look in her eye had faded to something else, her green eyes pleading for answers she deserved. Answers I wondered if I could tell her without sending her running. We had such a good thing going on. Sure, it was turbulent at times, but we always found our footing again. Even with the press finding out about us and papers surely gathering sources and rumors to print the next jaw-dropping story, I knew we could figure it out.
But this thing with Anderson coming back into my life.Ourlives. I wasn’t sure how we were going to navigate our way out of this, especially when I had left so much of my past out. Surely, she would never look at me the same. Either way, the truth had to come out.
I sat on the couch, next to Anderson’s book with his stupid face staring up at me from the glossy black cover.
“Sit,” I said, patting the couch next to me. Sadie hesitated for a moment before giving in, and taking a seat. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, gathering my memories to recant to her.
I tried to keep up with Anderson as he practically ran down the busy sidewalk of Manhattan, pushing past commuters heading home after a long day of work. I apologized for him as I tried to keep up, keeping a watchful eye on the darkening storm clouds gathering overhead. The chance of rain was imminent as it loomed over the towering skyscrapers fading in color with the setting sun.
