“So that’s it?” her voice is once again soft and unsure. “You’re just going to keep pretending it never happened? Deny it?”
“I–”
“Deny yourbaby?” she asks in disbelief.
“But … how–?” I’m not even sure what I’m asking anymore.
She’s staring at me and the hurt in her eyes is unbearable. It leeches away all my anger and I just stare back at her, confused and concerned. When her eyes widen in surprise and her mouth drops open I’m even more confused.
“Oh my God,” she breathes. “You really don’t remember?Shit.All this time I thought you were pretending.” She swallows audibly and stares off into the distance. “I don’t know which is worse,” she adds in a whisper.
“What?” I manage to gasp out.
She takes a deep breath, squares her shoulders again, and meets my eyes. “Well,” she says, “here’s a news flash for you, Noah. We fucked.” Her voice is harsh and I flinch at the curse. “Yeah,” she continues, nodding exaggeratedly, “we fucked. On the beach, after the wedding. I guess it wasn’t very memorable for you, but you know what? We still managed to make a baby.” She holds up a hand in front of my face. “And before you ask, yes, asshole, I’m sure it’s yours. I haven’t been with anyone since–and I don’t like to think about why that is, especially after this delightful conversation.”
What doesthatmean? My head is spinning.
The beach.
Thebeach.
A little something niggles at the corner of my brain at her mention of the beach. I remember waking up there, but … I was alone. I wasalone. I was–
But then a flash of those lust-glazed hazel eyes hits me again.
And another … soft skin in the moonlight.
What the–?
“But you don’t have to worry about it,” she continues. Her voice pulls me from the glimpse of a memory, but I can’t lose it, I can’t–
“I did my duty.” She nods to herself, practically vibrating in place now. “I told you, and now it’s done. I’m having an abortion and you can go right to hell Noah Gardner.”
And with that, she spins on her heel and stomps away. I know I should go after her. At the very least make sure she gets to her car safely. Do …something.Saysomething. I should–
And then the dam breaks loose.
And I remember.
CHAPTER 3
NOAH
“We should get some food.”
“Yesss!” she hisses. “Fooood! We should totally get food.” Lucy stumbles into me giggling and licking her lips, and not for the first time tonight I find my sight zeroed in on that pouty mouth of hers. “God, I need a cheeseburger so bad,” she whines.
“You shouldn’t take the Lord’s name in vain,” I mumble, still staring at those soft-looking lips. I help her straighten up, my arm lingering just a little longer than normal on her shoulder before I let go.
“What?”
“What?” I parrot.
“I don’t know …” she shakes her head. “Where are we going?” She reaches out and grabs hold of my arm.
“Um …” I’m struggling to hold onto my train of thought with her small warm hand wrapped around my bicep.
“Jesus, Noah, check out these guns!” she exclaims, squeezing my arm.
