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I shrug. “Found something I loved more.”
Her face softens. “She must be really special.”
“She is.”
She traces the rim of her wine glass. “Are you going to try for any kids?”
“I’m not sure that’s something I want to talk about, Stella.”
A tear comes to her eye. “With my dad dying, it kind of puts everything into perspective—how fragile life is, and how important family is.” She looks away. “Jeffrey and I have tried for years, almost since the moment we got together. I thought maybe with another guy things would be different. But I haven’teven been able to conceive. Turns out the doctors were right all along. Itwasall me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Late last year, we decided to try adoption.”
“Sounds like a great idea.”
Her head shakes. “We can’t get approved. Jeffery has a history of drug use. He used to steal cars to support his habit, so he also has a criminal record. It’s why his ex left him. He’s fine now. He’s been sober for years, even re-established a relationship with his son. But that doesn’t matter to the people who need to approve our application.”
“That’s got to be tough.”
She swallows what remains of her wine and raises her hand for a refill. “Tough doesn’t begin to cover it. I love him, I really do. More than anything.” She takes a long drink. “But I can’t go through life without having a child.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying I have a decision to make. I either have to leave the man I love and adopt as a single mom, or go through life never experiencing what it’s like to have a child.”
I want to refute that fact and tell her shedidhave a child. A stepchild who loved her and bonded with her and who called herMom. One she could have raised with me into adulthood. One she permanently fucked up when she left without so much as a hug goodbye. But I don’t say any of that. I don’t say it, because she’s clearly broken. At this point, her grief may be more about her father’s passing, but whatever it is, she’s torn up inside and beginning to cry.
I put my hand on her arm. “Stella, I’m so, so sorry.”
A throat clears behind us and I turn around to see Allie. I rip my hand away from Stella, utterly surprised to see her here. “I, uh… hey.” But Allie’s stare remains where it was, on Stella’s arm.
She steps forward and gets in Stella’s personal space, jutting her hand out like she wants Stella to shake it. “And you must be Rich,” Allie asserts with venom in her words. “Or maybe Arjun.” She glares at me. “I guess I’ll just go. I can see howhardyou’re working.”
Confused, Stella looks at Allie’s pregnant belly and says, “Um, I’m Stella.”
Allie’s face falls into devastation. “Stella?” Her eyes dart between Stella’s and mine. Then she turns and walks out.
“Allie!” I call. I point at the bar. “Stella, I have to go. I’m sorry. Please stay here and don’t follow me.”
“That’s your girl? And she’s… pregnant?”
“Yeah. Gotta go. I wish you all the best. And my condolences about your dad.”
I rush out into the hotel lobby, looking left and right, but Allie’s not here.
The doorman points outside. “Miss Montana just left, sir.”
Oh, Jesus.I rip the door open before he can do it for me, and I run after her.
Chapter Twenty-nine
Allie
“Allie!” Asher yells behind me.
It’s not like I can run with two babies growing inside me. I’m down the street and around the corner, doing something between a shuffle and a fast waddle.