Xander ran a hand down his mouth and released a small laugh.
“I get it, I get it.” He nodded. “It’s a lot. And it’s kind of crazy.”
She shook her head. “Xander…”
“But I got you,” he cut in. “I got you. Youknowthat. I love you. I love your kids.”
He closed the distance between them and pressed a hand to her stomach.
“And I’mma love this one too. On God.”
Her heart ached in her chest so much she had to drop her head, feeling the warmth of his palm against her belly.
His touch somehow eased the queasiness in that moment.
“You don’t have to do it alone, baby.” He shook his head. “You don’t ever have to do any of this alone. I got you. And I want this, Rylee. I really,reallydo.”
She stood there for a moment, hearing him, feeling him.
And still… she shook her head, biting at her bottom lip.
“Xander, it’s not about that.”
Rylee locked eyes with him and stepped away from his touch.
“You can’t carry this for me.”
His chest seemed to cave at that.
“Snoop…”
The defeat in his voice made Rylee’s throat go dry. But she shook her head harder, fighting off the feeling so she could stand her ground.
“Xander, as much as I hear you and as good as what you’re saying sounds right now… this decision is mine to make.”
His eyes bugged the moment the words left her mouth.
He stepped back like the words had hands and punched the air from his chest.
“I mean… shit. I know it’s your choice,” he acknowledged, low. “But damn, Rylee… I thought we were building something. I thought we were doing this whole thing together.”
She didn’t answer.
“So, what?” he asked. “You… you weren’t gonna tellmeor something?”
Rylee squeezed her eyes closed and pressed her hands to her face, turning away.
“You were just gonna decide this on your own?”
Her hands were on either side of her face, head spinning again.
Because… yeah, she was going to keep it to herself. Never tell him. And likely hate herself for it. But in the short time between realizing she was pregnant to Xander’s arrival, shehadconsidered never telling him.
“Wow,” she heard him whisper behind her. “Wow.”
She turned to face him again, seeing him shake his head and back away.
He pointed toward the front door behind him with his thumb.
