Page 124 of Pretend You Love Me

“I don’t want you to come any closer.” I take another little step back.

He looks like I’ve slapped him, and then he nods. “Okay, but please listen to me.”

“You have thirty seconds, and then I start screaming.”

Before the words have even come out of my mouth, he says, “I’m sorry.”

I shut my mouth tight.

“Brooklyn, I’m so sorry.” He looks like he might cry. What the hell is going on?

He rubs his forehead and then continues, “The things I said to you...I’m so ashamed. I think about it constantly, and it makes me feel sick.”

I wasn’t really expecting this.

“I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I wanted to let you know that I'm sorry. You didn’t deserve how I treated you. I wish I could take it back, but all I can do now is apologize.”

He’s looking at the ground now. He takes a deep breath and then continues, “I was jealous.”

His eyes float up to mine. “Seeing you with someone else shattered me.”

Our eyes are locked. I’m still angry. Angry with the whole situation, and I’m not ready to forgive him yet.

“It hurt me that you’d moved on so quickly.”

I don’t respond.If only he knew.

He quickly adds. “That doesn’t justify the way I acted.”

The air feels thick. He takes a step back. “That’s all I wanted to say.. I don’t want to ruin your Christmas. I tried to leave, but...”

Idowant him to leave. Heisruining my Christmas, but there’s no alternative.

“It’s fine.”

His eyes brighten just a little. “You sure?”

“Don’t have much of a choice, do I?”

His face darkens just a little. “I’ll try to keep my distance.”

He shifts uncomfortably, and I look down at my watch. “I should really be getting some sleep.”

“Of course. I’ll leave.”

He walks toward the door and then pauses. “Good night.”

I’m already heading into my bathroom, so I call over my shoulder, “Night.”

Once he’s gone, I sit down on the side of the tub and rest my head in my hands. My mind is racing. I’m still mad at him, but I’m slightly less mad, and I’m not sure what to do with that.

I sit up and groan. I’m so horny. I might be angry with him, but my body is not. My pregnancy hormones are completely out of control. I’d read in one of my pregnancy books that increased libido is normal, but holy hell,increasedis a vast understatement. My whole body is buzzing right now, and I’m sure all my blood has diverted to my lady parts. It took every ounce of self-control not to jump him when he was in here.

I groan again.

He is surely here just to torture me.

Chapter Thirty-Six