ad gone qu

rruptions. Machines hummed. A cart rattled somewhere down the corridor. Voices rose a

the ceiling, co

ood near

caught the side of his face-sharp cheekbone, jaw clenched hard enough to ache. His skin was a deep, warm, familiar in a way that made her chest tighten witho

e the sil

are yo

her. Steadier than

t cost him something. His eyes-dark, intent, always

be," he s

not an

a smile. It didn't last. "

h through her nose.

o w

hifted slightly, pain flaring along her ribs. She

bed. He didn't touch her. Didn't reach for her ha

" he said quietly. "You di

to the sheet. "I wasn'

kn

tainty-made somethi

asked again, sharper now. "I

ifted again. "Because you don't g

tightened.

he was counting to ten in

I di

ll bleeding

'm stil

words came out rougher tha

d instinctively

kn

"They should be. This isn't some

d. "Don't talk t

like someone who does

humorless sound. "You don'

ened. "That'

shot back. "Neither is standing

d. "You made m

rs ago. When I thought-" She stopped herse

eal," he said

Toward anything that wasn't his eyes

d in again, hea

ly. "The doctors said t

ed back toward

aid that mig

hat's my

said, voice rising despite

"You don't get to d

care whethe

ded. "Why do you

ickering across his face before he co

etween them, frag

k her hea

n't

she whispered. "Don't say i

step closer. "It c

but she didn't stop. "It changes nothin

didn't care about

ned. "You don

he's no

t hit harder th

ped. "That doesn'

-" He gestured toward her stomach, then stopped himsel

ed. "It's not co

er doesn't want it. He doesn't want you

nd sudden, burning away

"Don't you dare talk about

idened slightly

he shot back. "You s

. Just a frac

thing inside h

she challenged. "

he said, but his voice had l

et them fall. "You meant that because the father is a deadbeat, becau

at's

, louder now. "And you don't get to decide

g through his control. "Mia, you're risking everything

shook. "I

om went

at her. Really

this alone,"

Ye

're okay

she nodded. "I'd rather be alone than

ed. "You don't ha

arp and bitter. "You don'

fering i

trying to fix something t

rkened. "Tha

to erase my child becaus

at's

she said

froze.

aid l

de shifted, clea

lief written across his fa

ice was shaking, but her

, pain and anger warring in his exp

aze. "Maybe. B

ressed into

he said.

oom in long strides. At the door,

ithout looking back. "You shut p

nd you always mistak

flin

n he

sed harder th

ounding too fast, her breath uneven. The room felt co

back to her sto

red. To herself. To the life

r face with a p