Page 13 of Love Delayed
I froze. I wanted to say hell no, but I stood in silence.
“I’m not asking you to take me back. I just need to regroup,” he expressed.
“Well, I’m glad you understand that there is no getting back together for us. And you lied, Evan! Why would you lie to me about being that kid’s…?”
I paused. He was what he was––a cheater and a liar––and why he lied wouldn’t change how I felt. So, at that moment, I decided not to withhold my pregnancy from him any longer.
“You know what, none of that matters because I have my own baby to worry about.”
“Come again. What do you mean by that?” Evan asked, his brows threaded together in confusion.
“I’m pregnant,” I uttered softly.
He leaned in closer with an even more confused expression. “What?”
“I’m pregnant. I was trying to find the right time to tell you.”
He inched closer with a pleasant look of surprise on his bruised face. “Are you serious, Zee? You’re having my baby?”
My eyes welled as I nodded my head and sat down on the edge of the bed.
“How far along?” he quizzed, reaching to touch my tummy.
I involuntarily flinched, and he quickly drew back.
“Two, maybe three weeks. It happened the last time we were together.”
He stood there staring down at me. “You’re serious?” he asked again with an inquisitive look.
I wiped the tears from my cheeks with the back of my hand. “Yes, Evan, I am.”
He sat beside me and didn’t speak for a moment.
“That’s great news, baby. I mean, this is a good thing. Maybe we can work on us. This baby could be what saves our marriage,” he said, looking at me with glossy eyes.
His words were heartfelt, but my thoughts were hell no.
Shaking my head from side to side, I replied, “Evan, this pregnancy doesn’t change anything with us.Weare not an option. You can stay here as long as you need because this house is in both of our names, but please don’t talk to me about rekindling our marriage. We must figure out this co-parenting thing, but I still want a divorce. The damage is too much. I forgave you, but I don’t want you back, Evan. The drama with the other woman took too much out of me, and you don’t deserve me anymore. You broke us,” I expressed, sniffling.
He swiped away some of his falling tears and gave me a vigorous nod.
“I understand, and we will work it out for the sake of our baby. I wasn’t the best husband, but I vow to be a great dad.”
“I believe you will be, Evan. Just please keep the drama with Terri away from this house.”
“No worries, Zee. That’s a done deal,” he said, holding his hands up in mock surrender.
“Thank you, and please don’t make me regret this decision to let you stay here longer. And understand we have to decide on either selling this house or me refinancing and taking your name off before this bundle arrives.”
“I’m aware. It’s whatever you want from here on out.”
“Perfect. Now I must sleep. This baby is sucking the life out of me already,” I said with a yawn before standing.
He followed my lead and stood up, too.
“I can only imagine. I’ll be here for you for whatever you need, Zee. You won’t have to go through this pregnancy alone,” he said, opening his arms.
This time, I didn’t flinch. The idea of Evan holding me or even touching me again repulsed me, but I let him give me a tight squeeze. It felt familiar and comforting, so I allowed him to hold me for a few brief moments. And for the first time in a long while, I believed him.