Brooke’s insides went cold.
She should have known Kristi wouldn’t give up Cody without a fight.
The cleaning crew was tidying the living room and patio out back from the party last night. She walked past them and stood just outside the study doors, listening and hoping Kristi didn’t tear her and Cody apart.
Cody didn’t notice her by the door and continued to stare at Kristi, looking mildly perturbed. “What are you doing here? You made it perfectly clear last night how you felt and that we were over.”
Kristi sank onto the edge of the sofa and stared up at him. “I’m sorry. I said some things I didn’t mean in the heat of the moment.”
Cody folded his arms over his chest. “You accused me of having an affair.”
“I was hurt about the attention you paid Brooke. It’s no secret I’m jealous of your relationship with her.”
Everything had changed when Cody kissed Brooke.
“Until last night, I never gave you a reason to think Brooke and I were anything but friends. I tried to apologize to you about the kiss, but you didn’t want to hear it.”
Wait. What? Cody was sorry he kissed me?
No. He wouldn’t have made love to me all night if he regretted it.
“I was furious. I let my emotions get away from me. I hate that we left things unsettled last night.”
“You settled everything when you said you weredoneand walked out the door. That was pretty damn clear.”
She leaned toward him. “That’s not what I want.” The plea in her eyes begged him to understand.
Cody looked impenetrable, and Brooke hoped that meant he didn’t want to get back together with Kristi.
“I love you, Cody. So much. We are so good together.” Her whole body leaned toward him, imploring him to understand and accept her back.
Cody’s arms dropped. “For a long time, we were. But lately…we fight more than anything else.”
Kristi’s eyes glassed over and her lips trembled. “We can’t end this, Cody.” The desperate way she said it made Brooke’s stomach knot.
She felt something bigger coming.
Cody sighed and dropped his arms. “There’s something you need to know about me and—”
“I’m late. I took a test this morning. I’m pregnant,” Kristi blurted out, then burst into tears. She covered her face and cried harder.
Brooke felt her whole world shatter into a million pieces.
All her hopes and dreams exploded into tiny little splinters.
The pain in her heart became so unbearable she could barely breathe.
Her gaze locked on Cody, shocked into silence even as his mind worked out what Kristi had just told him.
She saw everything he thought reflected in his eyes. Kristi was pregnant with his baby. She needed him. The baby needed him. He had to take care of them. There was no other choice.
His gaze shifted to the floor and she knew he was thinking of them making love in that very spot for the first time last night.
He glanced at Kristi and Brooke saw all the light go out of him.
All the broken pieces of her heart crumbled to dust.
“The broken condom last month,” he whispered.
