Chapter 16
I stare at Noah, my heart pounding so hard it’s a miracle my ribs don’t crack under the pressure.
He stares right back, unblinking, unmoving, his face pale, disbelief flickering across his eyes. Confusion clouds his features, as if he just can’t make sense of the words that came out of my mouth.
“Come again,” he says, this time quieter. His voice isn’t as hard. Just uncertain.
I draw in a shaky breath. “I’m pregnant p>
The words fall out in a whisper, so soft yet so loud between us. My gaze stays locked on him, searching for any flicker of emotion or reaction. Anything that might tell me what he’s thinking or how he’s going to react.
His confusion vanishes in an instant, replaced by something far colder. Looking into his eyes is like watching a storm rage over the sea. Dark and dangerous.
“Is this some kind of joke?” he growls. His features harden, eyes narrowing into sharp slits.
Is he being serious right now?
“Do you honestly think I’d waste my time coming here for some sick joke?” I snap, my frustration spilling over. “Do you think I’m doing this for fun? Trust me, Noah, I’d rather be anywhere but here dealing with your arrogant ass p>
Fear still clings to me, but beneath it, something stronger begins to stir. Maybe it’s defiance. Maybe courage. Or maybe it’s just that I’m already here, already facing him, and so far I’m still breathing.
“So, what if you are pregnant?” he sneers, his voice curling like smoke around a flame. “What the hell does that have to do with me p>
Did he really just ask that? Does he really think I’d be here if he wasn’t involved in this? Hell, I didn’t even want to come. I didn’t want him to know. If it weren’t for Lilly and the respect I have for his parents, I wouldn’t have told him anything. 1
“Are you being serious right now p>
“What are you doing here, Sierra?” he asks again, his voice tighter.
I close my eyes and ball my fists. Frustration boils in every single part of my body and I have this overwhelming need to yell at him, but I hold back. It’s obvious why I am here. Why is he finding it difficult to put together the pieces? Or maybe he just doesn’t want to.
“Haven’t we already established that? I’m here to let you know that I’m pregnant p>
He scoffs. “I still don’t see how you being pregnant has anything to do with p>
“It has everything to do with you,” I cut him off, throwing my hands in the air. “Because the baby is yours, Noah. You knocked me up p>
The words land heavily between us.
For a moment, he just… blinks. And then I see it. The way he staggers back like I just hurled a brick into his chest. His face twists into something worse than anger.
My heart clenches as I continue to watch his reaction. The horror in his eyes tells me everything I need to know. He’s not just horrified; he’s downright disgusted. 1
“That’s not true,” he spits, his voice sharp with denial. “That’s not fucking true p>
“It is p>
He just stands there, frozen. I can almost see the wheels turning in his mind, grasping for excuses, reaching for anything that’ll make this not real. Anything he can use to get out of this.
I knew this would happen, but deep down I still hoped that somewhere beneath it all, there might be some sliver of decency. A part of him that would care.
Then he says it. The one thing I prayed he wouldn’t.
“It can’t be mine.” His voice is a snarl now, low and vicious. “For all I know, you’re trying to pin that bastard on me. Who knows how many men you’ve seduced p>
I reel and my knees buckle. His words slam into me like a sledgehammer to the chest. Why does it feel like knives are making tiny little cuts on my chest and heart? Why does it feel like I’m bleeding all over again? 3
My fist connects with his face before I can stop myself. Pain shoots through my knuckles, but it’s nothing compared to the ache in my soul. The one his words just inflicted.
Heavens, I hope you guys don’t think I’m a violent person. I’m not… but Noah has a way of bringing that ugly version of me out in the open. 1
“I warned you never to call me a whore,” I hiss, blinking back tears. “But you just had to run that filthy mouth, didn’t you?” 2