“You don’t want me to stop.”
He doesn’t say anything.
Doesn’t have to.
His silence answers for him.So does the way he’s still standing here, breathing like he’s trying not to come undone.
“You want me to figure out a way to make this happen, don’t you, babe?”I murmur, leaning in close, letting my breath hit his ear as I nuzzle just behind it.“Say the word, and I’ll take care of you.”
I let the words curl low and dirty, soft enough to feel like a promise.
“You need a release?I’ll drop to my knees.Suck you slow in the shower, or a hotel room while we’re on the road or ...anywhere you need to.We can keep that going until she’s ready for us.”
He flinches.Like he wants to believe it.Like he does believe it, and that’s what terrifies him.
“We’re not playing with her,” he snaps, voice a low warning.
“I would never play with Ves,” I say—quiet now.Serious.The hunger’s still there, but I rein it in, shift my tone.
“Maybe you didn’t hear me right when I told you we’re about to become a family.But we are.All of us.I don’t know how the fuck you and I fix what’s between us, but for her?We have to.We hurt her enough making her choose between us.That’s done.This is going to be different.”
He looks away.But he’s listening.I can feel it.
“You either figure your shit out, or you let her be happy without dragging her through it again.But you don’t get to stand in the doorway forever, blocking what she needs.”
“So it’s still about choosing,” he mutters.“It’s always choosing.”
“Yes,” I say.“You choose her.And whatever she needs.Or you walk away.”
His eyes lift.“What do you choose?”
“Me?”I grin, but it’s softer now.Raw.“I plan to fight for who I love.”
And just like that, the door behind us opens.
Vesper walks out with her ultrasound pictures and that tired smile she gives when she’s trying not to cry—again.She looks at both of us like she’s still waiting for the punchline to this whole damn thing.
I don’t say anything.I just walk to the desk and pay.Apparently her insurance is shit.Doesn’t cover maternity.So yeah, I pay.No questions asked.Because that’s what you do when you love someone.
Even if you’re still figuring out how to deserve them.Even when the other person you love rejects you and is a grumpy asshole who would rather die alone than let people love him.
ChapterThirty
Alberto
The elevator ride up feels longer than it should.
It’s not even a long ride.It just ...feels like we’re trapped.Four walls, a ceiling that hums, the soft jerk of movement, and the three of us pretending everything is fucking fine when it’s not.
Vesper stands beside me, shoulders tucked into her coat like she’s trying to fold herself smaller.She clutches the ultrasound photos so tightly the corners are already starting to bend.Like if she loosens her grip, the proof evaporates.Like a heartbeat on a screen can vanish if you don’t hold it hard enough.
Callaway stands on her other side—blocking the world without crowding her.He’s trying.I can see the effort in the way he keeps his hands to himself unless she reaches first.Cally is built to bulldoze danger until it apologizes.Right now, he’s forcing himself to be gentle, to be quiet, to be patient.
It’s not natural for him.
It’s a choice I admire.Maybe I should be following his example and also choose to do the right thing.If only I knew exactly what that is.As of right now, I’m what people would like to call fucking confused.
Do I want to take care of Ves and the baby?Fuck yes.
