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I'ht here on her bed My hand slides out oflike the worst idea I've ever had

"I don't understand what that means" My hand curls into a fist and I want to slam it into a wall "You told my mom you went into labor when you were in class"

"No, I didn't say I went into labor She asked how the delivery was and I said it was fine But I was in class when I started bleeding, so that started everything"

"I don't understand What's a placental abruption? Why does it happen?"

"No clue why it happens," she says as she picks at the hem of her frayed shorts "But it's where the placenta detaches froen to the baby It's very dangerous Luckily, an aet Lilly out in time She's perfectly fine, if you're worried about that She was close enough to the due date that her lungs were developed well enough"

I shake ain "I know Lilly's fine I justI can't believe you didn't tell h all that by yourself?"

Another shrug as she lifts her gaze toto do with you"

That shouldn't hurt, but it does She's right It's none of my business, but damn it, it should have been my business

And fuck

Just fuck

She had a hysterectomy She can't have any more children Lilly is it for her unless she adopts, and she can't ever get pregnant again by me

I shake my head hard and push up off the bed so fast Gracen lets out a little gasp Why in the fuck I'nant is beyond me, but I need to shut that shit down fast

Taking a breath, I wipe uardedly

I have no clue what to fucking say I feel wretched that Gracen went through that, and that she did so alone For perhaps the first ti up with her and for the way in which I did it For telling her that I wanted my freedom and didn't want the responsibility I created a situation where Gracen had to face that pregnancy alone, and she and Lilly almost died from it

"I'h that alone and that you can't have any more kids"

Gracen's expression softens and she looks at me with empathy

At me with empathy

Me

Fuck I don't need that to make me feel worse than I already do

"Marekit's fine," she says quietly "I've made my peace with it and I have Lilly I'm blessed"

So easy for her to say that She's had years to process it, but I just had o

"I, uht tohts of kissing that beautiful face and sinking into that gorgeous pussy are long forgotten I turn to face her just before I step out of her rooh?"

Understanding dawns on her face as she iht was truly a one-ti There's no way I can continue that shit with Gracen

Not when she provokes the s within et tied back up with her like that again, as I' hurts when the person you care about hurts

Chapter 20

Gracen

I feel my bed dip and I come awake It's what htest disturbance when you have a child to consider My first thought is of Lilly, but then a hardarht

Marek

His lips go to the back of , "You awake?"

"What are you doing?" I ask, answering his question and asking one offrom his closeness and pure shock he's in ht the boundary lines had been drawn deeply

At least by Marek He wasit clear that intione, which included a game in New York and one in New Jersey, I've talked to hi hi They were short and not really necessary, as he video chatted with her a few tiet the ti

"I thought I could walk away from this," he says from behind me "But I can't I don't want to"