Total pages in book: 163
Estimated words: 164828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
He exhales heavily. “Let me shower.”
“Okay.” I kiss him softly again, and he disappears up the hall.
He kissed me. There’s hope.
I get back to making dinner, and I put the chicken in the oven and pour two glasses of red wine. Then, I stare at my glass and frown.
What if I’m pregnant?
I take a sip with a shaky hand, and then I pour my glass down the sink.
Fuck, this is a disaster.
The apartment phone rings. I frown and pick up. “Hello.”
“Hello, Miss Bennet. It’s Roy from concierge.”
“Hi, Roy.”
“I have a visitor here for you. He said you are expecting him.”
“Who is it?”
“Robert Scott.” My eyes widen. What? Nathan must be expecting him. “That’s fine, send him up.”
I pour myself another glass of wine. One glass can’t hurt, surely fucking not.
Moments later, there is a soft knock on the door, and I open it.
“Hello, Eliza.” Robert smiles. He leans in and kisses my cheek. I know Robert from over the years. He’s a nice guy. Handsome and sweet.
“Hi.”
“Is Nathan home?” he asks nervously.
I frown. I thought he said he was expected. “Yeah, he’s in the shower.” My eyes hold his. “Does he know you’re coming?”
“Um.” His eyes dart up the hall to where the shower just turned off, and Robert twists his hands nervously in front of him. “No.”
The hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention. ……Something feels off.
Nathan walks up the hall in his navy, silk boxers, and he stops mid-step when he sees Robert.
“What are you doing here?” he asks.
“Um.” Roberts eyes flicker to me nervously. “I wanted to talk to you… both.”
I look between them.
“I wanted Eliza to hear this from me, out of respect.” He shrugs. “I don’t want anything underhand.”
“Stop!” Nathan snaps.
“When you cut all ties this week—,” Robert whispers.
“Stop, right now.” Nathan growls. “I mean it, Robert.”
It’s as if Nathan already knows what he’s going to say.
My eyes flick between them as they stare at each other. You could cut the air with a knife.
“I broke up with Liam,” Robert says. “I can’t be with Liam… because, I’m still in love with you.”
22
Eliza
My eyes widen. What the fuck?
“I don’t want to hear it!” Nathan snaps. “How did you know where I live?”
“Umm.” Robert’s nervous eyes flick to me, rattled by Nathan’s cold reception. “I…. um—”
“You what?” Nathan bellows, making me jump. “How do you fucking know where I live?”
“I followed you home from work,” Robert whispers.
“You what?” Nathan erupts.
“I just…” Robert’s voice trails off, and his eyes come back to me.
“You wanted to say this in front of Eliza.” Nathan sneers. “Is that it?”
Robert stays silent.
“Answer the fucking question!” Nathan bellows.
“She… she needs to know,” Robert stammers. “When she said we couldn’t speak anymore… she needs to know it isn’t possible. She deserves to know the truth.”
Nathan must have told him I don’t want them speaking. I pause as I look between them.
“I’m going to go out for a while and give you both some privacy,” I say quietly.
“Don’t you dare go anywhere, Eliza!” Nathan yells.
My eyes widen.
“I love you,” Robert says, his eyes searching Nathan’s. “And I know you still love me, too.”
My heart stops as I watch him. Robert’s hair is dishevelled and his eyes are crazy. He seems desperate. This would have taken a lot of courage to come here and do this.
“You’re too late,” Nathan tells him. “I’m happy. For the first time in ten years, I’m fucking happy. You think you can barge into my home and want me back? No, you’re too late.”
Robert shakes his head as if panicked. “Don’t say that.”
“I’m tied to Eliza now,” Nathan whispers as if forgetting I’m here.
I begin to hear my heartbeat in my ears, and I put my hands over my mouth. This is too much to handle. I drop my head as I process that statement.
Tied to Eliza.
Not I love Eliza. Not I want Eliza. I’m tied to Eliza.
The baby.
He’s tied to me because of the baby. Emotion overwhelms me, and I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to hear this. I feel the need to protect myself take over. I walk out of the kitchen and into the living area.
“Eliza!” Nathan yells. “Don’t you fucking leave!”
“I’m not going anywhere,” I fire back. Fuck you. I want to be anywhere but here, listening to this.
“Get out!” Nathan yells. “Leave now, Robert.”
“You’ve been begging me to come back to you for years,” Robert cries. “I know you still love me, Nathan. It’s not too late for us.”
Horror dawns. What?
Nathan’s been begging for Robert to come back to him for years?
My eyes well with tears.
“Get out!” Nathan cries. His voice cracks, betraying his hurt, and I screw my face up in pain.
He does still love him. I can hear it in his voice.
“Please,” Robert begs, and I can tell by his voice that he’s becoming upset.