Page 254 of The Grand Duel
“It’s sad.”
“He’s sad,” I correct. “And stubborn. I’ll never forgive him for it either.”
“Don’t say that,” she says gently. “You’re angry right now—which is fine, but what’s broken can be fixed. Eventually.”
“Alwaysfine, us.” I run my hand up her side, lightening the mood.
She chuckles. “We are.”
Are you, though?It’s what I want to ask her. But the idea of drawing attention to it, to what I’ve done…
I stare down at her as she gazes into the fire, her body fully relaxed and draped across me.
I’ve been watching her for weeks, waiting for her to need me. To break. It wasn’t even two months ago that she sobbed in my arms because of her parents’ actions. Because of her infertility. And yet she’s here now, telling me she’s fine whilst another woman may be carrying my child.
I swallow, thinking back to the appointment I attended today and the little life that was presented in black and white on the screen.
My child or not, my breath was utterly stolen in that moment.
“How was the meeting earlier?” she asks, as if she knew exactly where my mind had gone the second it shifted from her. “With Emily.”
I close my eyes, my stomach knotting. “It was…” Incredible. Terrifying. “It was fine.”
She chuckles. “Was the other guy there? Jack, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, Jack. He’s a bit of a bastard.”
“Oh.”
I stare across the room, needing the conversation to be over.
“What happens next? Will Emily have scans? I remember Jovie having some towards the end. I don’t know if that’s normal for everyone.”
My heart sinks, and I chew on my lip. “No.” I force the lie. “No, I don’t think so.”
She sits up, resting her chin on her hands that are flat on my chest. “I can imagine it was the most horrific, awkward thing in the world to have to walk into that room today.”
I search her eyes, unsure how far I’d go to protect her from this. From the potential I hold in my hands to hurt her. “It was shit.” I nod.
“But you did it.” She smiles at me, genuine, too. “There will be worse moments to come over the next eight weeks, but so long as you show up, be you”—she tips her head to her shoulder—“it’ll work out, Charlie.”
She lies back down, turning her face to the fire.
I reach for her hands, keeping them on my chest, holding on to them.
Holding on to her.
As if my life depends on it.
FORTY-SEVEN
Lissie
“Trust Elliot to like a finger up the bum more than us.” Nina rolls her eyes, smiling around her glass.
“Leave him alone,” Lucy pleads, placing her hand on her chest. “The man is not himself in the moment. It’s as if a switch is flicked.”
“They do say the male’s g-spot is in the ass,” Scarlet adds. “Makes sense they have a secret button.”