by Jolie, Mika
“Or maybe the other night at Vapor? God damn it, Lily! You’ve had how many opportunities to tell me?”
The sound of her shortened name cut her. She could count on one hand the times he had addressed her by it. They had disagreements before, but over mundane things. Her heart pulsated against her chest. The last thing she wanted to do was to cause him grief.
“I’m sorry, Adam. I had every intention of telling you. I just needed…some time to sort things out.”
“And did you sort them out? Was us fucking all night part of the sorting out?”
There was a strange note in his voice. In spite of her pain, she smiled. “No. We fucked because you’re my weakness,” she admitted. “A weakness that I was trying to overcome.” She waited for him to interject. When he didn’t she continued. “You touch me and set my body on fire. I want you in the worst way, your taste and the feel of your skin next to mine. You’re not the only one who is addicted, Adam, but physical attraction is not enough to raise a child.” Lily exhaled. “That’s why I didn’t tell you.”
He just looked at her for what seemed like eternity, his eyes blazing. “There’s something else. Tell me what it is. Tell me the whole truth before I lose my fucking mind.”
“I knew if I told you, you’d want to marry me. I don’t want to marry you.”
Chapter Thirteen
“It is much easier to become a father than to be one.”
Kent Nerburn
The silence in the room was deafening. Lily braced herself for the explosion, the questions, maybe even accusations. What she found was even worse—a stoic expression, revealing nothing. Adam stood there, his posture stiff. The only hint of some sort of reaction was the way his rigid bicep muscles flexed involuntarily.
He didn’t say anything, but she felt the tension vibrating from his body. She’d hurt him. The realization made her queasy because honestly, she hadn’t realized she could cause him any type of anguish.
“I’m pregnant.” Her voice cracked on the word this time.
After what seemed like eternity, he let out a short breath and ran a hand over his face. His palm moved to his corded neck and stayed there for a beat. The act was unintentionally sexy and just so totally Adam. Her heart twisted.
“I had every intention of telling you,” she said quietly.
His eyes flicked through the room then moved back to her face. The hardness in them sent chills down her spine. He took a step forward, she shuffled back.
“I found out two days before I arrived here.”
He said nothing.
For good measure, she added. “And he’s yours.” Somehow, it seemed fitting to refer to their baby as he. A version of the man standing before her.
“I don’t believe I questioned you about that.” His voice was deceptively calm.
She didn’t trust it. The way his jaw flexed, eyes sharp and cold just like the rest of his facial features, told her he was fired up and ready for war.
An awkward silence settled in the room while they stared at each other. Lily eventually looked away, grabbed her purse and turned to walk out of the room. As she brushed past him, one hand caught her waist and held her still. The movement caused his T-shirt she wore to ride up a bit, exposing her bare thighs.
“Where are you going?”
She cleared her throat. “To get dressed. I booked a room at Martha’s Way.”
“Cancel it.”
“Adam…”
“We’re not done,” he said in a menacing whisper. “I let you speak; now you’re going to listen.”
Lily swallowed, her gut clenched with anticipation. His hand fell away from her waist, but he was still standing way too close.
“We are getting married,” he said, his voice low and definitive. “It is not about what you want. You’re pregnant with my child. We get married. End of story.”
What? No. And just like that her temper flared. “I told you I don’t want—”
He cut her off. “I told you, this is not a choice to be made. Not for you or for me.”
Because she needed all the strength she possessed, Lily stepped back, tilted her head up and looked at him. He was totally serious, not a hint of amusement on his handsome face. This couldn’t be happening. “You’re willing to be miserable for the rest of your life for the sake of a child.” It wasn’t a question; this had been her fear all along.
He looked unperturbed. If anything, she caught a hint of a smile. “We won’t be miserable. The sex is good.”
She let out a chuckle, not of amusement, more out of the ridiculousness of their conversation. “We’re over, Adam, and now you know why.”
A do-not-fuck-with-me look crossed his face. “We’re not over. We are just beginning.”
The finality of his words made her stomach hurt, but more than that, it made her mad. If Adam wanted a fight, then he’d get one. One of the many things she learned growing up with three pain-in-the-ass brothers was a woman needed to grow a pair once in a while. Chin up, she walked right to him and stabbed a finger into his hard chest. “You don’t get to tell me what to do,” she said between clenched teeth. “We’re over.” She turned on her heels and walked past him.
Lily reached the doorway when Adam caught her hands. The whole thing happened too fast. His fingers laced in hers, chests pressing against one another. With his weight he directed her to the wall, raised her arms up over her head, and caged her in. Not one to cower, she looked straight into his eyes.
“You don’t love me,” she whispered.
His jaw tightened, but he made no attempt to dispute otherwise. Her heart scattered in tiny little pieces. She hadn’t expected a declaration of undying love, but the reality still stung.
“I need love, Adam. That mad, passionate love. It should be experienced at least once in a lifetime.” She examined his stoic expression, and her posture sagged. The fact she was forever bonded to a man who didn’t love her smacked her in the face. It shouldn’t. She already knew that. But…still, reality sucked. “That’s not who we are.”
She waited for him to speak.
He didn’t. Instead he sent her a long, pained look then slowly released his grip and put some distance between them.
Lily swallowed hard, her heartbeat slowing to a grinding thud. This was her life, pregnant and in love with a man who wanted to marry her for the sake of their unborn child. Feeling small, weak, and defeated, she turned to leave.
“What about you, Liliana?”
The question ripped through her. She stopped, but didn’t dare look at him. Still, she felt him move to erase the distance between them once again. His hands gently grabbed her arms and turned her to him.
“Look at me.”
Slowly, she tilted her head and met his gaze.
“You’ve told me how I feel.” His gaze swept over her face. “But you haven’t told me how you feel.”
The heart had a way of wanting what it wanted. Of aching to override reason and common sense. Even now, wounded, dulled with sadness, hers still ached for Adam. Hearts were wild creatures that way.
I’m in love with you.
The pain in her chest hurt like a deep gash. She took a deep, laboring breath and tried to get a grip of her emotions, but the liquid sadness flowed down her cheeks, leaving a wet trail in the path.
* * * *
Oh, damn. Adam could taste the tears as if they were his own. And true enough they were rolling down her cheeks. He could handle a lot from a woman but tears; yeah, he was fucked. He reached for her, but Lily turned on her heels and ran down the hall. Seconds later, the door slammed, hitting him like a sucker punch.
All of a sudden the room felt too large. He stood there feeling smaller and smaller as he searched for the right words, the right action, and the right way to feel. A cannon ball had blown through him and left a gaping hole in his stomach. He was going to be a father. Dad. Padre. Pere. Vater. It didn’t matter what language he translated it into, it was scary as hell. They had to marry. No ifs,
ands, or buts about it, but bringing Lily around to the idea was clearly going to take some work. His gaze landed on his cellular phone on the coffee table. He picked it up and pressed on the names of the three men he viewed as brothers.
Meet at Vapor in twenty.
Within seconds the phone buzzed back. He scanned their responses.
Can’t…patients. Full day today.
Forrest’s office was always busy with so-called “sick” patients.
Blake’s text followed.
In a meeting with Jason and his father. Sorry, bro.
Adam responded.
Twenty.
Blake and Forrest responded almost simultaneously.
Noon.
Jason added.
This better be good, asshole.
Adam checked the time on his cell. He had less than two hours to kill. His thoughts on auto drive, he started toward the bedroom and stopped. A vision of Lily’s quivering lips still fresh in his mind. He’d give her time. Hell, he needed time. Changing direction, he made his way down the stairs to the laundry room. From the clean bin, he pulled out a wrinkled, long-sleeved T-shirt and changed into sweats. Tension caused his leg muscles to tighten. A good run and a cold shower should bring him some relief.
At exactly noon, the four men sat at the round table on the far left of the bar. Other than a few stragglers left for the last wave of the foliage, the place was empty. Maxie placed chilled beers on the table.
“Thanks, Maxie,” Adam muttered.
“Want some food?”
All four shook their heads. She smiled at them then walked away leaving the three other men waiting for Adam to explain. He took a swallow of cold beer then let out a breath.
“You look like you just saw death,” Jason was the first to speak. “Want to spill it?”
“Lily’s pregnant.”
His three friends nodded. None of them appeared overly surprised by the news. They usually took great pleasure teasing him about hooking up with Minka’s best friend. He caught them exchanged quick, solemn looks. Apparently everyone knew about Lily but him. What the fuck!
“Why does it feel like I’m the last one to know?”
After an endless moment, Jason spoke. “I didn’t know for sure. Minka never said anything.”
“She looked a little pale last night during dinner,” Forrest added.
“She stopped drinking,” Jason said, then took another sip of his beer.
Adam remembered Lily choosing sparkling water the other night at Vapor. Shit.
Why did he not pay closer attention?
He already knew the answer. The last few days, he’d been thinking with his other head.
“I thought you two were casual,” Blake said carefully.
“You’ve never heard of those little things called condoms?” Jason added.
“Has she seen a doctor?” Forrest, the forever practical one, asked.
Adam’s head pounded from the questions thrown at him. He shrugged and answered in one breath. “I don’t know. We are casual and she’s on the pill, so I don’t know what happened.”
“I’m guessing the usual age-old thing.” Jason grinned. “You know, boy and girl got naked, rolled around, and stopped thinking.”
He shot his friend a long, hard look. Unfazed, Jason leaned back and continued to drink his beer as if he were at a parade.
“You’re the one who was having sex with Minka without any protection. Do I need to bring up Chappaquiddick?”
“Hey.” Jason waved his hands defensively but still looking relaxed in his chair, “That was only a few times. She went on the pill for a while.”
“A while?” Adam asked.
“We want to start a family but seems like you’re a few steps ahead of us.” Jason tilted his beer to Adam and took a swig.
“And us,” Blake chided.
“And you should know antibiotics lessen the effectiveness of birth control,” Forrest said, shaking his head.
Adam frowned. “Speak English.”
“Last time you went to visit her, you told us she was sick as a dog and on antibiotics. I’m sure that didn’t stop you from…”
“I got it,” Adam growled, cutting his friend off. But shit, how did he not know about how antibiotics and birth control worked before? Because he’d always used condoms in the past, that’s how. But with Lily, they had thrown that extra caution to the shit. They relied on her being on the pill. He was screwed.
“So what are you guys going to do?” Blake asked
“I told her we’re getting married.”
His friends sat a little straighter. All three placed their bottles on the table. A dull pain hit Adam in the back of his head. He rubbed the still stinging spot and turned to Blake. “What was that for?”
“For being an idiot,” Blake snorted. “First of all, you told her to marry you.”
The others nodded in agreement. Fuckers.
“Second, you don’t ask a woman to marry you because she’s pregnant.”
What. Why not? “She’s pregnant with my child.”
Jason leaned his elbows on the table. His sharp blue eyes never wavered from Adam’s face. “You do realize we are living in the twenty-first century, right? The me man, you woman approach no longer works.”
Adam took a swig of his beer, ignoring Jason.
“You’re missing Blake’s point, dude,” Jason continued. “What was her reaction when you told her to marry you? Did she jump into your arms with joy?”
Adam groaned and shook his head. “No. She cried and locked herself in the bedroom.” He stared blankly at his barely touched beer.
“You’re still not getting it.” Jason shook his head in dismay, which drew an amused smile from Forrest and Blake.
“Love,” Forrest said after a heavy sigh. “You know, Blake and Keely, Jason and Minka kind of love.”
“You and Claire too.” Adam added just to be an asshole. On days like today when he was obviously the butt of the joke, he didn’t mind going for a below-the-belt shot.
Forrest sat back on his chair. His grey eyes dark. “Claire and I are not together.”
There was always a high level of tension between the two, which Adam found exhausting. He would have pointed out to his friend mental love still counted, but chose to let it go for now. “Are you even getting laid?” he asked instead.
Forrest laughed. “Are you offering?”
Adam flipped him the bird.
“Have you seen all those women who are always sick?” Blake put his hands up for the in air quotation, “sick.”
A pretty brunette approached the table and made small talk with Forrest. She reminded him of her appointment then sashayed her tight butt away to the bar, confirming Blake’s observation.
“Back to you,” Jason said, once the brunette was out of view. “You’re an idiot for telling Lily to marry you.”
“Fuck you,” Adam responded automatically. He rubbed his brows, the tension slowly leaving his body.
“No thanks, man. I’m getting ready to marry Minka. Oh, yeah…” He smirked. “We’re getting married because we love each other, not because of a child.”
“While I’m happy you found happiness, I don’t believe in that love shit.”
“What did you do for her birthday?” Forrest asked.
Adam searched his brain. Oh, yeah. “Flew to New Jersey. Bought her flowers.” Spent the weekend naked in her apartment.
Blake nodded but didn’t look that impressed. “Did you take her out to dinner or spend the whole weekend screwing her brains out?”
“Jesus, Blake!” Truth be told, he had done exactly that. Surely, he had taken her out to dinner at least once, although at the moment he couldn’t remember one occasion where just the two of them had been to a restaurant. Whenever they went out they were always surrounded by the three Stooges along with Keely and Minka.
How the hell had he never taken Lily out to a restaurant before? He’d done so with women he liked much less. Adam took
another swig of his beer.
Blake shrugged. “What do you know about her?”
Let’s see, he knew she had long, toned, beautiful legs that he loved best wrapped around his waist, whether standing up or lying down. He loved her legs. And her lips around him, he loved that too.
“Besides all the wonderful things she can do to your body,” Blake added.
He searched the faces of his friends. They were looking for answers with substance. Adam drew a blank. He couldn’t think of anything. He groaned.
“She needs a cup of coffee every morning,” he said, picturing Lily without her cup of caffeine in the morning.
“She has three brothers,” Blake added.
Adam’s eyes widened. Three. He knew she had brothers but he never took the time to ask how many.
“You didn’t know that, did you?” Forrest drawled, sounding almost disgusted.
Adam was starting to regret reaching out to them. He could do without the interrogation today. “I knew she had brothers. I imagined two.”
Blake grinned. “Three big bad-asses. I think one is a photographer, one is a Navy SEAL and the other is a big-shot engineer.”
“How the fuck do you know so much about her?” Adam growled. He didn’t like the tone of Blake’s voice.
“She’s Minka’s best friend,” Blake answered, like duh. “You don’t even know what college she went to, do you?” He paused, waiting for Adam to answer.
Shit. Adam regretted calling them.
“She went to Yale with Minka. That’s where we met.” Blake shook his head in obvious disgust.
“And her brothers are coming to the wedding,” Jason announced. His voice filled with pleasure.
Adam swore under his breath. “A photographer isn’t a badass in my eyes, and that engineer one, I bet you I can take both of them.” The third one, whoever he was, had Adam’s utmost respect. The military required a certain breed, a certain level of toughness.
“You’ve been together for a year now, how did you celebrate your anniversary?” Blake continued to probe.
