Through her whole speech he regarded her with an unflinching stare. Now he spoke. “So, what are you saying?”
“I’m saying what you’re trying to preserve by not moving our relationship forward no longer exists.”
A muscle jumped in his jaw as he stared at her. Silence surrounded them.
“Is this an ultimatum?”
Was it? When she started, she hadn’t meant it to be.
“No. It’s a statement of intent. Our friendship as it once was is over. I love you and I want us to be a family.”
“And if I don’t accept that things have to change?”
She made no attempt to hide her sadness. “Then we both lose.”
*
Half an hour after her conversation with Jason, Ming plopped onto her window seat and stared at the dark backyard. She didn’t bother changing into a nightgown and sliding between the sheets. What was the point when there was no way she was going to be able to sleep? Her conversation with Jason played over and over in her mind.
Could she have handled it better? Probably not. Jason was never going to relish hearing the truth. He liked their relationship exactly the way it was. Casual. Comfortable. Constant. No doubt he’d resent her for shaking things up.
Dawn found her perched on a stool at the breakfast bar, her gaze on the pool in her backyard. She cradled a cup of coffee in her hands.
“You’re up early.” Lily entered the kitchen and made a beeline for the cupboard where she kept the ingredients for her healthy breakfast shake. “Couldn’t sleep?”
“You’re an idiot.” Ming knew it wasn’t fair to take her frustration out on her sister, but Lily was throwing away love.
Her sister leaned back against the countertop. “Good morning to you, too.”
“I’m sorry.” Ming shook her head. Her heart hurt. “I’m sitting here thinking how lucky you are that Evan wants to marry you. And it just makes me so mad that you turned him down.”
“Are you sure that’s what you’re mad about?”
Ming blinked and focused her gaze on Lily. “Of course.”
“The whole time you were with Evan I was miserable.”
Seeing where her sister was going, Ming laughed. “And you think I’m unhappy because Evan loves you?”
“Are you?”
“Not even a little.”
“Then why are you so upset?”
With shaky hands, Ming set her cup down and rubbed her face. “I’m pregnant.”
After all the arguments she’d had with her sister, the last thing Ming expected was for Lily to rush over and hug her. Ming’s throat closed.
“Aren’t you going to scold me for doing the wrong thing?” Ming asked.
“I’m sorry I’ve been so unsupportive. It wasn’t fair of me to impose my opinions on you. I’m really happy for you.” Lily sounded sincere. “Why didn’t you didn’t tell me you’d gone to the clinic?”
“Because I didn’t go.”
“Then how…?” Lily’s eyes widened. “Jason?”
“Yes.” Ming couldn’t believe how much it relieved her to share the truth.
“Have you thought about what this is going to do to Evan?” It was natural that this would be Lily’s reaction. She loved Evan and wanted to protect him.
“I was more worried about it before I knew he’d moved on with you.” Ming crossed her arms. “But now you’ve turned down his proposal, and neither Jason nor I want to keep his involvement a secret.”
“Why did you have to pick Jason?” Lily shook her head.
Ming refrained from asking Lily why Evan had picked her. “When I decided to have a baby, I wasn’t keen on having a stranger’s child. Jason understood, and because he’s my best friend, he agreed to help.”
“So you slept with him.”
Ming’s cheeks grew warm. “Yes.”
“Does that mean you two are a couple?”
“No. As much as I want more, I understood that us being together was a temporary thing. Once I got pregnant, we’d stop.”
“But now you’re in love with him.” Not a question, a statement. “Does he know?”
“I told him last night.”
Lily squeezed Ming’s hands. “How did he react?”
“Exactly how I’d expected him to.” Ming put on her bravest smile. “He has his reasons for never falling in love.”
“What are you talking about? He loves you.”
“I know, but he won’t admit to anything stronger than friendship.”
“A friend he wants to sleep with.” Lily’s smile was wry.
“We have some pretty fabulous chemistry.” The chuckle that vibrated in Ming’s chest was bittersweet. “But he won’t let it become anything more.”