Page 83 of Irreplaceable

CHAPTERNINETEEN

We’d just reached LA when Enzo said, “I think you should stay with me—at least until some of the craziness dies down.”

I frowned and kept my focus on the road. For the past hour or so, he’d been busy on his phone, and I’d been thinking.

“What? Why?” I asked.

I hadn’t been online at all this past weekend. Reception in the Alondra Valley could be spotty, and my family had kept us occupied. Even so, I figured everyone had already moved on from the news of Enzo’s and my relationship.

“You underestimate the paparazzi. They may have left us alone in Alondra, but now that we’re back in LA and the story’s out, they’ll be following us. Following you.”

“Me?” I laughed. He had to be joking, right?

“Yes.” He placed his hand on my thigh. “I don’t want to worry about you. My focus has to be on soccer, on winning.”

“I didn’t ask you to worry about me,” I said through gritted teeth. “I’m not your responsibility.”

He sighed, and I felt guilty for pushing back when I knew this was a sensitive issue for him. “I know that, damn it. But I want…I need to know you’re okay. You and the baby. I’m not trying to worry you, but I want you to be cautious.”

“And you don’t think you’ll be too distracted if I’m staying with you?” I asked, mostly in jest.

The idea was tempting. After the dream-not dream last night and then whatever the heck that was in the darkroom, my body was primed to detonate. At this point, I wondered why I was even holding out. Finding reasons not to sleep with Enzo was becoming more and more difficult, and I had a feeling the only person I was punishing was myself.

I mean, what more could I want?

He’d been sincere in his apology. And now that he’d told me about his father, I could see why Enzo had reacted the way he had. But it was more than words; it was in his actions. The flowers and gifts were thoughtful, but I was even more touched by how he’d been with my family. How he’d treated me. He was genuinely excited about the baby. He wanted us to be a family.

Besides, everyone already thought we were together. Shouldn’t I be benefiting from that?

And as my mom and Enzo liked to point out, it wasn’t like he could get me pregnant again. I was already carrying his child. Something he, apparently, found incredibly sexy.

“Fine,” I said. “If it’s that important to you, I’ll stay.”

“Thank you.” He sounded even more relieved than I would’ve expected. “I’ll ask Nico to get your things.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m perfectly capable of getting them myself.”

“Harper,” he ground out. “I don’t think you understand…”

But the words died on his lips as I rounded the corner to the hotel and a group of photographers came into view. I didn’t know how many of them there were. Ten? Fifteen? A lot. And as soon as they spotted us, they swarmed the car.

A pit opened in my stomach. Cameras were flashing, and they shouted their questions like hail being hurled at the windows. It was so loud and overwhelming, I couldn’t make out any specifics. Not that I wanted to. We were surrounded, and I gripped the wheel tighter, feeling trapped.

“Don’t make eye contact and head for the valet stand,” Enzo said in a commanding tone.

I nodded and did as he said. I drove slowly, afraid I’d run over someone’s toe, they were that close to us. It was suffocating and terrifying.

The valet opened the door, and I tried not to wobble as Enzo came to help me inside. My heart was racing the entire time, and it wasn’t until we were inside the elevator that I sagged against the wall.

“You okay?” he asked.

I blew out a breath. “That was intense.”

“Now do you understand?”

“I think I’m beginning to.”

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