Belong (Seven Year Itch #3)(40)

I had to assume he didn't have a clue Veronica was pregnant. While walking back to the car I promised myself I'd get through the day before saying goodbye. Maybe I didn't deserve? to be selfish, but I'd wanted this for too long to not enjoy myself for as long as possible.

Throughout the exhibits Chad carried Harper on his back, while leading me around by my hand. To outsiders I suppose we looked like a happy family. Sure, I was older than Chad, but time had sort of helped. Chad was older and more distinguished, and I’d like to say I’d taken good care of myself, especially considering the stress I’d had to go through. For a few hours I was happy, thrilled even. He was mine, and we were celebrating our joy together, out in public, showing the world we could exist as a team.

But all good things must come to an end, at least that’s what I’ve been led to believe. Nothing in my life had ever been permanent. Perhaps I was doomed to bounce around, existing on only hope that something would come my way and end the lonely cycle.

When we got to the dinosaur exhibit we found there was a station for small children to dig for fossils. Harper ran off with a group of other children, while Chad took the opportunity to check on me. “You’re still hanging in I see.”

“Where else would I be?” Our hands laced together, and as much as I tried to shove my secret under a rug, I knew I couldn’t look into those dark eyes and lie to him. That’s not what either of us were about. “I have to tell you something, and it’s going to change everything.”

His voided stare left me grasping for a way to break it to him easier than just being blatant. I stumbled at first. “Um, well, I’m not sure how you’re going to take this, and I know you would have told me if you knew. At least, I don’t think you’d string me on just to be with me for a few days if you knew.”

“Knew what? Rach, say it. Tell me what’s going on, so I can reassure you it’s not going to come between us.”

My head shook, my eyes blinking slowly, like none of it was real. “It’s Veronica.”

“What about her? I thought we said we weren’t going to talk about her anymore.”

“Chad, she’s pregnant. Harper told me this morning.”

“That’s bullshit. No.” He began pacing. “No way. She must have told Harper to get to me. It’s not possible.”

For a second I had hope. “Are you saying you haven’t been with her? Did the two of you stop having intercourse?” It was the yes every woman wants to hear when they’re involved with a married man, but as his face contorted, I knew it wasn’t the case.

“Don’t ask me that, Rach.”

“So it’s possible it’s true?”

He placed his hands on my arms and looked directly into my eyes. “I don’t believe it. Veronica is spiteful. She’d make this up to get to me.”

“But Harper hasn’t been around her. The way she talked about it, she’s known for at least a few days, maybe longer. Veronica told her she’d be a good sister when the baby was born.”

Chad ran his hands through his hair. The moment he let go of me I knew it was sinking in. “I’ll find out the truth.”

“And if it’s true, you’ll go back to her won’t you?” I didn’t give him a chance to respond. “I know you. There’s no chance of you walking away from something so important.”

I could see the desperate struggle in his eyes. It killed me, because I knew he was fighting with his inner conscience to do the right thing, while still holding onto hope we could have a future. “Rach, please.”

I placed my hands on his chest as I spoke. “We should have known it was too good to be true. I love you, Chad, but …”

“Don’t.” He was writhing. “Please don’t.”

“We still have today. Let’s try to make the best of it.”

In the middle of the crowded room Chad pulled me into his arms, kissing the top of my head while I fought to keep my composure.

Spending the rest of the day with him was going to be impossible, but I was determined to spend every second of it in love, because he was worth it.





Chapter 21


First I had suspicions about Veronica leaving town, and now this. I wanted to think it was some master plan to interfere with my newly rekindled relationship with Rachel, but I knew somewhere in the back of my mind that having a future with her wasn’t going to come easy.

Like two people living in different worlds, Rachel and I couldn’t find a common ground. I was prepared to fight for her love, but my expectations were failing by the second.

“Promise me you’ll still try, Rach.” She was in my arms, but felt a million miles away.

She peered up at me with tear filled eyes. “I thought I was going to be okay. I’d come to terms with what I couldn’t change in my life. I’ve suffered unimaginable loss, but made it out with a little less of me. Asking me to try is like telling me to give up another piece of myself. I don’t have the strength, Chad. You coming back to town, sweeping me off my feet, and reminding me what we once had, it’s all been just as I would have imagined it. The thought of walking away from you is impossible. The best I can do is spend the remainder of our time together loving you. I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to Grayson, and our first relationship didn’t end the way it should have. I’ll be damned if we don’t live like there’s no tomorrow for us.”