Page 87 of Sexting the Boss
I stare at him. “You flew here?”
“Yes.”
“Because a hospital called you?”
“Yes,” he repeats, and he holds my gaze. “Are you okay?”
“No,” I answer, and honesty comes out before pride can stop it. “I fainted in the lobby. My potassium is low. They want to keep me overnight.”
He sighs. “There’s so much you haven’t told me, Lila.”
I let out a short laugh, and I hate that he looks so disappointed with me. “That’s kind of the theme.”
He steps closer, then stops at the foot of the bed, and his eyes go to the IV, then to the monitor, then back to my face.
“They said you’re pregnant.”
“Yes.”
His throat works, then he asks, “How have you been?”
“As good as a pregnant woman can be, at the risk of sounding like a cliche,” I answer, and then I add, because anger is easier than shame, “You’d know if I wasn’t a coward.”
His eyes flicker, and he exhales slowly. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Don’t call yourself that,” he says. “Call it what it is.”
“Fine,” I snap. “I left without telling you I was pregnant, and I let you think I was gone because I didn’t trust myself not to run back, and I didn’t trust you not to crowd me until I broke.”
He holds still, then he nods once. “Okay.”
That calm should soothe me. It doesn’t. It makes me want to throw something because I’ve been carrying this alone and he gets to walk in here and be controlled.
“You’re not mad,” I accuse.
“I’m furious,” he answers, still quiet. “I’m just not going to aim it at you while you’re in a hospital bed.”
My throat tightens.
“I didn’t want you involved,” I say.
He looks at me for a beat. “Why?”
I stare at the blanket then force myself to meet his eyes because he deserves the truth and I’m tired of swallowing it.
“Because of Gavin,” I say.
His face changes instantly, and it’s small but it’s real.
“You know his name,” I say, and it comes out flat.
“I know it,” he confirms. “He’s connected to Victoria.”
My stomach turns. “He’s my ex,” I say. “He was the worst thing to happen to me. He was grabbing my wrist when I didn’t move fast enough, and checking my phone, and making me feel guilty for needing anything, and then acting sweet in front of people so I looked crazy.”
Ethan’s hands flex once, then go still again.
