His throat muscles contract. His mouth opens to say something, then closes again without vocalizing a single thought. I think he knows there’s nothing else hecansay, in this moment, to repair things between us. Too much has happened.
Hawaii. The baby. Helena.
Running a hand through his hair, he looks down at his feet. “I’m sorry. I truly am.”
“I know,” I whisper.
His sad eyes meet mine. “For all of it.”
“I know,” I repeat, even more softly.
Nodding, he turns and walks out my door. And it’s strange, because I know I’ll see him again soon with the movie premiere rapidly approaching, but as I watch him walk out I get the sense that it’s the last time I’ll see him. An indisputable goodbye.
I shake off the ridiculous sensation and look around from Masters to Harper to Wyatt. They’re all watching me warily.
“So… this was a pretty stellar day, huh?”
Masters smirks.
Wyatt looks to the heavens, as if seeking patience.
“You aren’t funny.” Harper elbows my side. “And you look like crap.”
“Thanks.”
“I mean it,” she insists. “You should go upstairs. Get in bed.”
“I won’t be able to sleep.”
“I’ll stay over so you aren’t alone,” she offers.
“No.” Wyatt’s firm tone interjects. “She’s coming home with me.”
My eyes widen. “Excuse me?”
“You. Are. Coming. Home. With. Me.” He over-annunciates each word, eyes narrowing. “Which part of that statement did you not understand?”
“You aren’t the boss of me.”
“Technically, I sort of am,” he reminds me. “But even if I wasn’t your boss, you’d still be coming home with me, because I love you and I’m worried about you and you could’ve died today. And until that image is out of my head, I’m not letting you out of my sight. Got it?”
“You’re being very domineering, old man.”
“I don’t give a shit.”
My voice gets quiet. “I thought…”
His brows lift. “What, baby?”
“I thought you neededspaceandtime.”
“Fuck space. Fuck time.” He takes two steps, closing the gap between us, and bends so our eyes are level. “I was an idiot earlier. I was scared and stubborn. I let my own selfish needs distract me from what’s important —you. I chooseyou, Katharine Firestone. Even when it’s hard. Even when it’s complicated. I chooseus.”
My eyes are stinging, but he’s not done. Carefully, so carefully it breaks my heart, he reaches out a hand and places it flat against my stomach. When his eyes meet mine, they’re filled with something like wonder.
“When I look at my future, I see you. At my side, in my arms, in my bed. I want to build a life with you. I want to start a family with you. This baby…” His voice cracks. “Ourbaby… will be so loved. Unbelievably loved. It doesn’t have to be a burden. I was wrong to even think that. This… it’s an incredible gift.”
“But…” I bite my lip to keep from blubbering. “What if it’s—”