The Proposition(90)

“Well, frankly, I think your female friend said it best. You’re a fucking bastard!”

“I agree.”

“And that’s all you have to say for yourself? Not that you’re sorry you valued the importance of today so little you skipped out on the ultrasound to cheat on me?”

Aidan shook his head. “I didn’t sleep with her.”

She threw her hands up in exasperation. “You were going to before I interrupted you!”

“I swear to you I was not going to screw her. I had just told her I couldn’t, and she should leave. Jesus, you heard her yourself say I couldn’t get it up!”

“And that’s supposed to make me feel better about the fact you had some skank riding you when I walked in here?”

“Look, I admit I fucked up. But I am sorry.”

“Oh, I guess you’re also sorry you lied to me when you said you would change. God, I was so stupid to believe you would treat me any different than Amy or the other women. I should have realized this is who you are and what you do.”

“Emma, please, I am sorry!”

“Really? Do you honestly feel that or are those just some words you think you can say to make things right between us?” Her voice choked off with the sobs rising in her throat. “Are you really and truly sorry you broke my heart?”

Aidan winced. “You have no idea what I’ve been going through lately. I’m never going to be all that you need me to be, Emma. And the pressure from trying just broke me.”

She didn’t bother wiping away the tears streaming down her cheeks. “So what you’re saying is trying to have a relationship with me drove you into the arms of another woman?”

His expression became anguished. “No, that’s not what I mean.” He shook his head wildly. “I’m fucking up what I need to say and do. And you’re making this harder on me. I feel bad enough for what I’ve done.”

“Harder on you?” she questioned, her voice raising an octave. “How could this possibly be hard on you? I’m the one who opened myself up to all this pain despite my better judgment.” She ground the tears out of her eyes with her fist.

He took a step towards her, but she backed away from him. “Don’t you dare touch me after your hands have been all over that whore!”

“Emma, please don’t do this. I told you I was sorry. I’ll do whatever it takes to make it up to you.”

Without even thinking, Emma blurted, “Tell me you love me.”

He stared at her, unblinking and unmoving. “What?”

“You’ve been emotionally shut off from me since the day I told you I loved you. So if you really mean it when you say you’re sorry and you really don’t want me to go, then say the words. Tell me you love me.”

At his hesitation, stabbing pain crisscrossed through her chest. The silence echoed through her as loud as a freight train. She shook her head. “That’s what I thought,” she murmured.

Her hands went to the purse at her side, and she fumbled for the DVD of the sonogram. Using all the hurt and anger welling inside her, she chucked it at him. It smacked against his chest hard. “Not that you’re even interested, but that’s a video of your son. I can only hope and pray he grows up to be nothing like his father!”

Sobbing, she turned and fled from the room. Beau followed her out the door, howling and crying right along with her. As she fumbled with her keys, Aidan called several times for her to come back, but she refused. Then he started calling for Beau.

“Go back, boy,” Emma instructed, pointing a shaky finger to Aidan. She flung open the car door, but he still wouldn’t leave her side.

“Dammit, Beau, I said come!” Aidan shouted, stepping off the porch. He stalked over to them and tried dragging Beau back by the collar.

But Beau jerked away. His nose nuzzled Emma’s belly, and he whined. Emma met Aidan’s horrified glance. “Yeah, that’s right. Your dog is even more loyal to me and your son than you are!”

With a defeated look, Aidan hung his head and released Beau’s collar. “Fine, take him.”

“Come on, boy. Get in the car,” Emma instructed. Beau wagged his tail and eagerly hopped inside. Without another look at Aidan, she slammed the door. Squealing out of the driveway, she tried to keep her emotions in check. But it was no use. She got half a block down the road before she had to pull over. Tears blinded her eyes to where she couldn’t see in front of her, and she couldn’t breathe from the sobs raging through her chest.

A knock at her window caused her to jump. Hope ricocheted through Emma that Aidan had come after her. Glancing up, her heart fell.