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CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

REED

I fucked up. I fucked up big time, but I will fix it.

I’m relieved to find the taxi pulling up when I place my SUV into park and throw open my car door just as Gia steps out. She pays the driver, and our gazes collide.

Her shoulders drop, and disappointment washes over her face as I head toward her, and that move alone causes irritation to rile through me once again.

“Go home, Reed,” she snaps out, and turns her back and heads up the steps to her house, but I follow after her.

“Go home?”

She unlocks the door, and I push inside behind her. “Go home?” Throwing her purse on the counter, she turns to face me with her arms crossed over her epic chest.

“Who were you with last night?” she bites out, and I won’t lie, the fact she’s acting jealous sends a rush of elation through my veins.

“I went to an event, and I took Shaw’s wife, Emi, with me. I was asked to be a stand-in.” I fail to mention the fact I had to negotiate being a stand-in to borrow their child, but she must sense the truth in my words because her shoulders drop.

“You didn’t tell me.” Hurt laces her words, and my heart skips a beat at the thought. “What was I supposed to think?”

“I’m sorry. I should have told you.”

She turns her head away, and I hate that she’s pushing me out. “I have to deal with Tyson staying here, Gia. Under the same roof as you.”

“He’s a friend. He’s like a brother to me,” she bites out.

“A brother whose cock slipped inside you.”

She cringes at my words. “I told you it was a mistake. We both agreed as much. You’ll be pleased to know, I didn’t even come.” She shrugs, and my chest preens with pride, but I need to say what’s on my mind before I kiss her senseless for her comment. Dumb fucker can’t even make a girl come.

She strokes over her bump.

“You were rude, Gia. You spoke about our baby as if he’s solely yours.” My jaw tics with aggravation when I consider how she could take all this from me. She holds all the control, all the power in our dynamic, but the decisions she’s making should be discussed first because he’s my baby too. “That’s our baby you’re discussing.”

Anger flares in her eyes as she stares back at me. “I don’t want that son of a bitch anywhere near me and our baby.” The way she spits our boils my blood.

“That’s something we’ll discuss at a later date,” I grit out, refusing to hide my annoyance, and when she jolts, I know my words have annoyed her further, but what does she expect? Me to back down and let her have her way without discussion?

Her nostrils flare, and she lifts her chin higher. “It’s nonnegotiable.”

I choke on a humorless laugh. “Because your father didn’t like your late husband does not mean he won’t like this one.”

Her eyebrows narrow, and genuine surprise coats her features. “This one?” Hurt lances through my chest at the thought of her never considering me a viable option for her. Possibly our baby too. Was this always her intention? To never truly acknowledge me?

“Yes, this one. What the fuck do you think this is between us?” I step forward as hurt mixes with anger. “We’re getting married, and I’m adopting Bryce. Our baby will have a solid family unit,” I bite out.

Rage simmers through me when her mouth drops open and her chin wobbles, then she shakes her head, and fury threatens to erupt from inside my veins.

“You’ve got to be kidding me? You’re not adopting my son!” She throws her arm out.

“Ours. He’s going to be ours.” I point at her.

“He’s not yours!” she screams back at me. “He’s Jaxon’s son. Not yours!” She shakes her head, her chest rising.

Pain stills my heart as her words sear deep, slicing through me and twisting my emotions, and I stare back at her, motionless.

And there it is. The confirmation I needed. He’s Jaxon’s and not mine. He’s another man’s child and will never be mine. Despite everything I’m trying to do, I’ll never be enough.

My eyes lock on to the photograph on the sideboard of them as a family. It’s almost as if he’s taunting me from beyond the grave. I drop my head forward to block out the image of the three of them, a happy family unit without me, and swallow back the lump of hurt gathered in my throat.

“He’s not going anywhere near my children, Reed.” Her voice wobbles, and I snap my gaze back up to hers.

Tears flow down her pretty face, but there’s more than that; it’s determination too.

I knew Gia was strong, but this side of her is like fire, and I’ve gotten burned. Her flames devour me and scar me deep, and in this moment, the sheer brutality of them threatens to extinguish every thought and feeling I have toward her.

My strength is my own, and I’ve let my emotions take over. I’ve allowed her the strength to possess me, granted it wholeheartedly, but not anymore.

“We’ll see about that, Gia,” I snipe back. Then I do what I promised I would never do. I turn and walk out the door.

The sound of her cry wavers my footing, but I replay her words in my head as I stride down the stone steps. “He’s not yours! He’s Jaxon’s son. Not yours!” And that thought gives me the strength I need to walk away.