Page 37 of Clear Shot (Lauderdale Knights #9)

Hana

The airport is busy, and I make my way to my gate feeling oddly detached.

Like this is happening to someone else. I had hope last night, after my conversation with Remy, that I might hear from Aiden, but there hasn’t been any contact at all.

Not even through my attorney. Remy said he was going to talk to him first thing this morning but either it didn’t happen or Aiden simply doesn’t care enough to reach out.

The paternity results came in yesterday and they were positive, of course.

I always knew that would be the case but it felt good to make it official, just in case anyone had any doubt.

Johan and the others all swore they believed me but a tiny part of me couldn’t help but wonder if they had even an inkling of doubt.

This ends that concern once and for all and allows me to focus on what’s next.

Starting over in Bratislava.

Preparing for a baby.

Scoping out employment opportunities.

There’s a lot to do, and I’m grateful I have the support of my family.

When they announce the call for first class passengers to board the plane, I’m grateful for my brother, who upgraded my main cabin ticket. He said I would need to rest on such a long flight. I hadn’t wanted to spend the money but my brother has no such qualms. One of many things I love about him.

I look around the airport, sad and frustrated that I have to leave, and just before Christmas. We had so many plans for the holidays. But it’s better this way. Staying through the month of December would just rub salt on an already raw wound.

I grab my carryon bag and walk toward the jetway.

“Hana!” I hear my name and don’t react at first because I assume whoever it is, is looking for someone else. “Hana, wait! Don’t get on the plane— Hana! ”

There’s a sense of urgency, and something familiar about the voice, so I turn almost out of habit.

“Hana! Please, wait.” Aiden comes running toward me, his hair sticking up and his face a little red, as if he’s out of breath.

I stare at him, completely flabbergasted that he’s not just at the airport but also at my gate. How did he get past security?

“What… are you doing here?”

“I love you. I’m sorry. About everything. I don’t want you to go back to Slovakia. Please give me a chance to explain.”

“Aw.” An older lady standing a few feet away from me fans herself. “Unless he hit you, you should at least let him say what he wants to say.”

In any other situation, I would laugh.

But this isn’t funny.

This is my life.

“He would never hit me,” I manage to whisper, my eyes never leaving his.

“Babe.” He finally reaches me and comes to an abrupt stop. “I love you. I’m sorry about so many things. Please—you can’t leave. Not like this. Can we talk first? So I can explain. And then, if you still want to go, I’ll buy you another ticket.”

All I can do is stare.

“He sounds really sorry,” another woman stage whispers.

“I’d give him a chance if it were me,” someone else says.

“Hana, I can’t fix things if you get on that plane. Please don’t go. Not today.”

“Today, tomorrow…what difference does it make?” I ask quietly. “If you think I’m capable of?—”

“I don’t!”

“Because of the test.” There’s a sad finality to my voice that breaks my heart all over again.

“No. Because of me . Because I’m a dumbass. Because I’ve been so worried about my past that I couldn’t see our future.”

Our future?

Do we still have one after everything that happened?

God, this is hard. My feet are rooted in place, heart thundering against my ribs, stomach roiling dangerously.

“Did you put your hands on her, young man?” The older lady comes closer to us, eyes narrowed. “Look at me and tell me the truth.”

Aiden looks up without hesitation. “No, ma’am. I would never put my hands on my wife in anger. I said some dumb shi—er, stuff, but I never touched her. Trust me, if I used anything other than my stupid mouth to hurt her, her brother would have already broken me into little pieces.”

Apparently, we’ve drawn a crowd because a few people laugh.

“All right then.” The woman looks to me. “Go talk with him, honey. Believe me, once you get on that plane, it might change your whole life in a way that you can’t come back from.”

Oh, lovely. Now even strangers are involved in my business.

I look around and realize a bunch of people are watching, listening, and I think someone is trying to be sly about recording us. They must have recognized Aiden.

And that’s not going to happen.

We both deserve a modicum of privacy.

Especially since I’m pretty sure I’m going to vomit.

“All right,” I say finally. “I just—” I clap a hand over my mouth and run, abandoning my carryon as I make a beeline for the bathroom. I have no doubt Aiden will take care of my stuff for me, and my stomach doesn’t care about that anyway.

I make it just in time to empty the contents of my stomach.

I’ve never puked later in the day like this so either this is the beginning of some new phase of pregnancy hell, or I’m upset.

I’m hoping for the latter.

I wash my hands and rinse my mouth, dabbing a little water on my face. I don’t look great, pale with dark circles under my eyes.

Ugh.

I want to dab some color on my cheeks, maybe a touch of lip gloss, but what’s the point?

He just said he loves you.

The little angel on my shoulder whispers into my subconscious.

He did say that—and he’s never said it before.

I don’t completely believe it’s not because of the test, though. Now that he realizes it’s his child, he wants to talk, and as much as I love him, I’m not staying for the baby.

But what if I did?

It’s an option now that he knows it’s his child and he appears to be sorry.

Even if we’re not together emotionally, we could stay married and go back to the original plan of giving me a year to find a job and get my own visa or green card. And it would be easier for him to help with the baby.

It would be harder on me emotionally, of course, but I’d suck it up for the sake of the baby and our future.

I’d also be able to stay close to Johan and the others, which is important to me.

I close my eyes and breathe in and out a few times.

I can do this. No matter what the outcome is with Aiden, I’m in control of my destiny.

“You okay?” The older lady worried about my safety comes into the bathroom.

I manage a smile. “Yes. Thank you.”

“He’s waiting right outside, and he looks worried.”

“Uh, thanks.”

“Listen, I know this is none of my business but once upon a time, a very long time ago, I walked away from the only man I’ve ever loved—and I never got over it. I don’t know what happened or why you’re leaving him, but if it’s not abuse, give him a chance. Does he drink?”

“Yes, but not the way you mean. He’s not a drunk.”

“Drugs?”

“No.”

“He has a job?”

I chuckle. “Oh, yeah. A good one.”

Her eyes twinkle. “Are there other women?”

“No. At least, that isn’t what happened between us. We had a misunderstanding.” I put my hand on my stomach.

“Ah. Well, kids scare some men, but the good ones come around. And from the outside looking in, I’m pretty sure he’s coming around.”

Tears fill my eyes.

“I don’t know if he’s come around or if I can forgive him, but I’m leaning in that direction because I’m starting to realize I don’t want to live without him.”

“Then dry your eyes, square your shoulders, and go out there and tell him how it’s going to be. And hurry up, so I can see what happens but still make my flight.”

I can’t help it—I laugh. “Yes, ma’am.”

I walk out of the bathroom and find him standing there with my suitcase, his face filled with worry.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah.”

“Can we go talk?”

I look into his eyes. “Here’s the thing—there’s nothing to talk about. I mean, there is, but there’s really only one question.”

“What is it?”

“Do you love me?”

“I do.”

“Do you want me and our baby to stay with you?”

“More than anything. But that’s two questions.”

“Have you changed your mind about kids?”

“That’s three, and it doesn’t matter if I’ve changed my mind or not—we’re having one. And I’m here for both of you. I was scared, and I still am, but we have time to figure that out.”

I stare at him, but he stares back without hesitation.

No matter how badly I want to protect my heart, all I see is the man he is. How sorry he is. How much he loves me. And that’s the guy I fell in love with.

But the lady in the bathroom is right—I have to set the tone this time.

“Before I agree to anything, there have to be some ground rules.”

“Anything.”

“You can’t walk away when we disagree about things. Disagreements happen, and will happen again, but we have to work through them.”

“Agreed.”

“If I give you another chance this will be the last one—I won’t do this again.”

“Absolutely not. This is forever, Hana.”

“Do you love me, Aiden? Really, truly love me. Forever love me.” I take a breath. “Are you in love with me?”

“Desperately. I haven’t been able to function without you. I thought it was my depression, but it was really losing you. Nothing in my life matters without you in it.”

He’s laying it on thick but I believe him. Trust him. I always have.

“You can’t change your mind again,” I whisper. “Because it’s not just my heart you’ll break next time.”

“I will never change my mind, and there won’t be a next time. I’ll die first.”

I’m going to cave.

I feel the woman from the bathroom behind me, a gentle hand on my shoulder—a tiny squeeze of encouragement.

And I know what I’m going to do.

Maybe I’m a dumbass but?—

I blink as he drops to one knee.

“What are you—” I stare as he holds out his hand.

“The first time I asked you to marry me, it was the least romantic thing ever, so this time I’m going to do better.” His golden eyes glitter with intensity.

Sincerity.

Love .

Oh, hell, I’m a goner.

“We’re already married, so…” He holds out the engagement ring I left with Johan to return to him. “Will you put my ring back on your finger and come home with me so we can try again?”