He shrugs. “Couldn’t sleep.”
I bring the latte to my lips and take my first sip of vanilla in years. I haven’t had it since I moved to college. The velvetyespresso and creamy milk hit my tongue before the sweet vanilla evokes a feeling of coziness and comfort. Lord knows, I need the comfort to make it through this conversation.
Storm finishes her breakfast and trots her way over to me before plopping down at my feet. Her warm fur covers my bare feet as I reach down and scratch behind her ear.
Jett shuts off the burner, scoops the bacon onto a paper towel-lined plate, and sets the skillet aside. His eyes find mine as he walks to the table, placing the platter between us and sitting opposite me. My eyes flick over his bare chest to the black swirling designs. A cross with a date is placed over his heart, with dog tags wrapping around the top before dangling as if they’re blowing in the breeze. A soldier carrying a waving flag with a soaring eagle is on his right side. More black designs fill the gaps, making the piece look like one tattoo over his chiseled chest. I squint as I make out the time on the pocket watch. 9:04.
He clears his throat, snapping my attention to him before I have a chance to ask what the time is symbolic of. Not that I even have the right to ask.
“How are you feeling?”
I wince as he reaches for a piece of bacon before taking a bite of half of it. My stomach grumbles at the sight—and smell.
“Eat.”
I reach for a piece and take a small bite as he rolls his eyes. I’ve never been one to shy away from food, especially in front of him. Well, I never used to be that way. Elias would glare at me whenever I ordered anything heavy at a restaurant. He could order a juicy steak, but God forbid I ordered one too. It got to the point he’d order for me. She’ll have a salad. Or she’ll have the chicken with a small portion of pasta. Like, I think the fuck not. Give me a quarter-pound burger stacked with all the fixings or a juicy steak cooked medium.
Shoveling the rest of the bacon into my mouth, we sit in silence while I chew. Do I over-exaggerate how long I chew to avoid this conversation? I guess we’ll never know.
“I’m onto you, Wren.”
I guess Jett knows.
“Do you remember what you said last night?”
The question hits like a knife to the chest. I guess we’re going there. I swallow the bacon and reach for my latte to clear my throat.
“Yes.” I curl my fingers tight around the cup as if it’ll save me.
“I need to hear you tell me sober.”
Silence stretches as my stomach knots. But he doesn't rush me. We both know I’m going to tell him the truth.
“We were pregnant,” I whisper, tears burning my eyes. “And I lost our baby.”
His face doesn’t move—it’s as stoic as ever. But I see the cracks forming. Those beautiful blue eyes I get lost in start going glassy as his mouth tightens. He drags a hand down his face as his shoulders collapse in his chair.
“Help me understand.”
“Help with what?” I snap, emotions getting the best of me. “When two people have sex—unprotected sex—as much as we did, they’re bound to make a baby.”
“Lose the attitude.” His voice is gravelly, and I feel bad for letting my sarcasm out. “How could you not tell me? I feel fucking blindsided.”
“I didn’t mean for it to come out while I was drunk—”
“You think that makes it better?” he cuts me off. “That's the only time you planned on telling me about my child was when you were shit-faced?”
I flinch and my eyes sting. “I didn’t know how to get in contact with you.”
“Don’t,” he bites out. “Did you even try?”
My silence says everything, and he curses. I didn’t try, because it was pointless. I’d already lost the baby, and he was living his own life, wherever that was. In the three months since he left, I never heard from him. How dare he blame me for our lack of contact.
“You’ve had ten years to tell me the truth, but you never did.”
I scoff. “So this is all on me? How was I supposed to know you still cared about me?”
“You were supposed to know me better than that,” he shouts, pushing to his feet. The movement is sharp, startling me. “You know me better than anyone else. You knew I loved you.”
