Page 26 of Vegas Baby
My jaw tenses. Moment of truth. “Please tell her Sebastian Hernandez would like to see her.”
The nurse hands me a clipboard. “Sign in. I’ll go check with her.”
She turns her back to me and heads down the hall. I watch until she disappears into the fourth door on the right before recording my name and the date and time on her sheet. And then I turn and meet Michael’s gaze. I can feel his unease. And I wonder if he can feel mine.
The tense silence builds until I hear a door open and close and footsteps heading toward us. My eyes turn to meet the nurse’s.
“Follow me.”
19
KIRA
This is not how I saw any of this going. I thought I’d have more time to prepare. Silly me.
A harsh laugh escapes me as I pace the small room, my hands running unconsciously over my swollen belly.
Why should things start being predictable now? Nothing in my life has been. And I knew when I saw Sebastian as they brought me in that my time was up in more ways than one. On some level, I think I knew he’d find me eventually. Part of me hoped he would, even as I purposed to focus on becoming a mother.
Which was necessary. For me. For my baby. For our future. A future, I know, that will likely be as unpredictable as everything that has come before it.
I light knock on the door snaps me out of my thoughts. I don’t have time to respond before the door swings open and he’s there.
Our gazes meet and my body stills. In his eyes I see the same warmth as always, now wrapped in deep sadness. He’s still so handsome. And all at once, I feel all the emotions I’ve tried to stop myself from remembering. It’s overwhelming. Damn pregnancy hormones.
“Kira,” he breathes.
One word. Only one word, and it almost undoes me. But I must be stronger than that. I am stronger than that.
“Sebastian,” I offer back firmly.
A small frown tugs at his lips. He gestures to my hand which is still absent-mindedly stroking my middle. “This is unexpected.”
I snort a laugh. “Yes, for me too. But here we are.”
He steps forward, and for a moment I think he might reach for me. My eyes widen and I take a step back. He halts, clearly reading my body language and stepping back himself, holding up his hands.
“I’m sorry. I know this isn’t the best time. But I saw them bringing you in and I had to see you.”
I dip my chin in acknowledgment. Not admitting that I’d wanted him to come once I’d seen him too.
“You look … strong, Kira,” he remarks, tilting his head and examining my face.
“I was always strong,” I reply with a small smile. “But it was you who helped me remember that.”
He considers that for a moment before looking down into his hands. “And then you used that strength to leave me.”
I blow a sharp breath out of my nose. “No, I left because I was afraid.”
His eyes lift and meet mine. “But clearly you stopped being afraid at some point ….” He trails off, but the unspoken words hang in there. And still, I did not seek him out. I knew it would hurt him.
“Yes. But it was because I realized I needed to learn to stand on my own. Can you understand that, Sebastian?” I ask, allowing some of the emotion I’ve tried not to feel into my voice.
He inhales slowly, then lets out the breath just as slowly before he responds. “I guess I can.” He pauses. “Though I’m not going to pretend it didn’t hurt. Did you at least get what you wanted?”
I look down at my stomach, smiling and rubbing it gently. “And so much more.”
I settle down on the end of the hospital bed and gesture for Sebastian to sit in the chair next to it. He deserves an explanation, at the very least. He watches me carefully as I gather my words.