My words must resonate, because he softens, leaning back in his seat.
“Why now?”
I give an impatient shrug. “Because it finally clicked. There’s no science behind it. I love Belle, and she loves me.” I can see he’s still struggling. “People change, Theo. Look at Matthew. He swore off women, and now he’s moving Lola to another country to be with him.”
He shakes his head. “Can you believe that shit?”
“I would’ve said no if you’d asked me last year, but now I understand. I would do anything for your sister.”
He holds my stare. “Don’t fuck this up.”
“Not planning on it.” We sit in awkward silence until I ask, “How’s your mom?”
He blows out a frustrated breath. “Hanging in there. Seeing Dad wasn’t easy on her, but she’s taking it day by day. She’s taken a liking to Wills’s mum, which has been a healthy distraction, so let’s hope it stays that way.”
Me too.
“Oh, before I forget.” I reach into my gym bag and pull out a stack of papers. “My sister printed these for you a few weeks ago and I completely forgot to give them to you. I don’t know which dogs are still available at Amelia’s Angels, but based on the information you gave Sades, she thought one of these dogs would be the best fit for you to adopt.”
He flips through as I pack the rest of my stuff up. For the first time since getting together with Belle, I’m dreading going home. I almost wish I were back in the ring with Theo getting my ass beat.
“Peters,” Theo calls. “She acts strong, but be gentle with her. She has a lot going on in that head of hers.”
* * *
I walk into the house to find Belle sitting in her loungewear, a large blanket wrapped around her and a cup of tea in her hand.
This isn’t going to be good.
“Sit,” she whispers and pats the chair in front of her with her free hand.
My stomach is twisted in knots as I walk with a heavy foot toward the chair. I had hoped she would still be in the office, but it’s clearly not my lucky day.
“I think it best if I just jump right in.”
“Probably best,” I say dryly, not purposely wanting to sound like a dick but my nerves about this conversation are getting the better of me.
She places her teacup down and wraps her arms around her legs in a protective hold. “I want to start by telling you this is not easy for me to say, and I hope you keep an open mind. I see the anguish in your eyes anytime I try to talk to you about it. I know you’ll be upset, but please consider the bigger picture. Things are not always black and white.”
I give a curt nod, unable to speak.
“I’ve kept something from you, and I’m beginning to think it was a mistake. But I was only a teenager, listening to my mum, and scared. Then, as time went on, I saw no reason to hurt another person with what I went through. It wasn’t until we got serious that I realized you needed to know, and maybe you should have known all along.”
I lean my elbows on my knees and hang my head in my hands. “What is it, Annabelle? What should I have known?” I whisper in despair.
She sniffles, trying to rein in her emotions. “In my first semester at Cambridge, I had an ectopic pregnancy,” she whispers. “A miscarriage.”
My head snaps up. “What? A miscarriage?”Wait…“Your first semester…” I trail off, doing the math in my head.
When I meet her tear-filled eyes, it hits me.
“I had a miscarriage withourbaby, Jackson.”
21
Annabelle
Jack stills,letting the words sink in. “Our baby?” he whispers in complete shock.
