Two Can Play (Celeste and Dominic) novel Chapter 395

"Why? Why would you do that?"

He caught the stares then, looked around, and lowered his voice. "Let's talk outside."

I sighed, got up, and went out. He followed, and once we were on the pavement he pulled me to the side, away from the windows, his hand tight on my arm.

"What did you say, Pat?" His voice shook. "You got rid of my child? Without even asking me? Why? How could you do something so cruel?"

"I never planned for any of it to happen." I kept my voice even, though something in my chest was twisting. "And the day I found out, I just panicked. I know you don't love me, and I didn't want the fact that we have a child together to force a situation where we would have to end up together. I didn't want you trying to be with me out of obligation. So I got rid of the child, because I wouldn't stay with a man who doesn't love me."

Kingsley stared at me, and I could see he was visibly upset. His hands shook at his sides. His eyes turned red, so red that tears almost spilled out, and when he spoke again his voice was thick and raw.

"How could you do such a thing? That child was innocent. That was my child. My baby had every right to live. And I had every right to decide what would happen with the child. You had no right to get rid of it without telling me."

Seeing the tears in his eyes, I suddenly felt guilty for lying to him. I had thought he would not really care about the child, that it would be nothing to him but an inconvenience. But the grief breaking across his face was real, and I knew I had been wrong.

I sighed. Even if we did not end up together, I could at least tell him the truth.

"Actually, I had just begun..."

"Oh my God! Kingsley!"

The weight of it snapped him back. He stared at the ring in his palm, then pulled his arm away from the girl who said she was Sharon.

"What are you doing, Pat? What is all this?" He turned to look at the girl, then turned back to me. "Listen, listen. This is not what it looks like. I know what you're thinking."

"No, it's fine." My voice came out calm, almost kind. "I know exactly what this looks like. The truth is, Kingsley, I cannot do this, okay?"

I turned and walked away. He called after me, tried to follow, but I did not stop. I kept walking until I reached my car, got in, and drove away.

I drove for a while with no destination, the streets sliding past in a blur, and then I pulled over and took a deep breath. My heart was pounding.