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Shit

What had I done not to deserve her trust? I’d given her everything A start in business, a rekindled acting career She owed it to lass, spinning it like a top on the table in front ofaround the corner at lance

“Do you need anything, sir?”

What I needed, she couldn’t give me

Shaking aze and looked out theonce more

The hum of the aircraft always soothedin absolute synchronicity, propellingo in the world in a matter of hours

Fucking a, really

Even so, the tiniest round, obliterating it, and me, in the process

How godda Christ!

I snatched the bottle and swung it tothe last of it down I drank so fast, so down my chin I slammed the bottle down on the table and chuckled as I wiped the wetness from my face

The kid was co

What the fuck was she going to do? Show up to the set with a goddamn stroller and then tell ust in silence for several moments

“Melanie,” I slurred as I cast another glance towards her “Another bottle, honey”

She nodded, grabbed one and hustled over tothe bottle open with a flourish, she placed it down on the table in front of me

“Mr Sinclair?”

I licked my lips as I reached for it “Hmm?”

“Are you… okay?”

I lifted my head at her and exhaled Melanie’s face softened with concern

“Tellher off

Her face brightened a bit as she tugged a strand of hair behind her ear

“Lucas?” she asked

Well shit, I did get it right after all

“Yep, Lucas”

“Um, what do you want to know?”

“Don’t care Anything”

She proceeded to tellor so, I watched her face and body language You can’t fake that shit People think it’s easy to lie but the body gives it away You can’t hide from the truth Or run from it

As she finished, I nodded

“Thank you, honey” I said “Sounds like a da man”

“Yes sir, he is He’s my entire world”

I looked at her as she spoke but didn’t reply

“Why did you want to know about hi?”

Pouring another glass, I glanced up at her

“No reason, Melanie No reason at all”

MADDIE

“Maddie, please…” Katy begged “You can’t do this to yourself You have to eat”

“Why?” I moaned

With ed the nail of er in a lazy, mindless maze

“Why should I care anymore?” I whispered “Grey doesn’t”

Katy clapped her hands together in fury

“Fuck Grey!” she screaoing to hurt the baby Is that what you want?”

Listless, I moved my hand back doards my stomach and touched et rid of the child That would be his ‘decision’ I was certain of it That is, if I ever saw hiain

Katy, good friend that she was, strategized and plotted any nuations as father but I didn’t care If he didn’t want the child, I just didn’t care anymore

When he left, I broke down He crushed me

I cried so much in the days afterward, my throat hurt And now the dull ache served as an ever present reminder of his cruelty and my foolishness I wondered what I could have said or done to change his mind