'Brought what back?’
Ellie wrapped her arms around her waist, covering the place where their baby grew and forced herself to look at the man who had always meant so much to her.
Brody didn’t look broken anymore… He looked…haunted. But he deserved to know the truth.
‘The day I met you was the day my father walked out on me,’ she said, her voice surprisingly steady as her insides churned. ‘He left me at Summerville and I never saw him again. I wrote letters begging him to come get me. I tried to call him, left messages, but he wouldn’t answer. He ghosted me, my own father…’ She gulped, the sob locked in her throat painful now, as she was forced to acknowledge how much of that pain had never been healed. ‘I was so sad and scared, until you befriended me. And then, seeing you again, having you tell me I hadn’t ruined your life, it meant everything to me. Every time you touched me, every time we kissed, every time you were inside me that night, it felt so right—and not just because of the spectacular endorphins.’ She sucked in another shattered breath. ‘I think I was always in love with you, but that night was like finally coming home. I thought we were always meant to be… But, when you disappeared the next morning, I discovered we weren’t, and we never had been, not to you. You made me feel like nothing again, Brody. Why would I contact you, when I knew you would only reject me again… The way my dad had?’
He swore viciously, and thrust his fingers through his hair, looking stricken and guilty. ‘I’m sorry, Ellie. Let me explain, why I ran away, please…’
‘This pregnancy was an accident,’ she interrupted him. ‘An accident I’m probably more responsible for than you, because I was the one who begged you to take the risk that last time so I could feel you inside me again…’ She sucked in a harsh breath to control the quiver of emotion in her voice, determined to own her part in this. ‘You don’t need to feel guilty. I’m okay, I can do this on my own.’
She didn’t want his money. Any more than she wanted his guilt or regret.
She had a good job, with maternity benefits, and she had made the decision to have this baby. And that was one choice she would never regret.
But instead of accepting her offer, he shook his head. ‘Will you stop being so damn noble now, Ellie and let me explain?’ he said softly.
And the stupid bubble of hope swelled against her breastbone again.
But it only hurt her more… Until he began to speak.
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