บททั้งหมดของ HIS: บทที่ 71 - บทที่ 80

By the time security arrives to escort us to the Mennetti compound, Rylan and I haven't exchanged more than a few words. The drive out to the country is miserable and I can't help but think our lack of communication is a portent of things to come.Or, in this case, not to come.It suddenly and overwhelmingly feels like our possibility for a future, a real relationship outside of this, is doomed. Over before it ever truly began.Especially when Rylan turns to me and murmurs, "I think it's best you stay with Trish."My chest tightens and I bite my lip to keep from crying. I don't know how we fell apart so fast. I suppose it was nearly as quickly as we came together. My voice is caught in my throat, knotted by emotion, so I merely nod.By the time we pull through the estate's large gates, head up the long driveway and park in front of a smaller house, off the side of the main house, my heart is slowly crumbling and doubt plagues me. I feel physically ill.Trish rushes out and I throw the

His words make me squeeze my eyes shut and I feel bile rise up the back of my throat. Sick to my stomach, I turn and throw up in the lilac bushes. Once I'm done heaving, I wipe my mouth and set my mug down with a hand that shakes.He's done with me and he doesn't even have the balls to tell me. Heart crumbling in my chest, I stumble back to Connor and Trish's house, blinded by tears. I've never felt so used or devastated in my entire life. Here I was trying to figure out how to talk to him and he's completely washed his hands of me.Pulling the door open, I rush up to my room, throw myself on my bed and sob until I have no more tears left. I'm not sure how long I'm lying here and, at some point, there's a soft knock on the door."Lana?" It's Trish. "Can I come in?"I'm on my back, staring blankly up at the ceiling, all cried out. I've never felt so emotionally drained. It's to the point where I felt sick most of the afternoon and even threw up again."Sure," I say so softly, I'm not s

"Earth to Rylan!" Connor snaps and my head jerks up. "Can you repeat one thing I said in the past half hour?"I slide my hands through my too-long hair and apologize. "Sorry. I'm having trouble focusing.""No shit," Roberto supplies. "Mind on a certain dark-haired pixie?"My eyes narrow and I don't like that he calls her that. I've always allowed my older brothers to get away with shit and they used to boss me around all the time while we were growing up, but they better not say anything about Solana. "She's mine," I growl."Okay, chill." Roberto lifts his hands, as though backing off, and he and Connor exchange a look. Damn twins. They don't ever have to say a word because they're so in tune with each other and always know what the other one is thinking. It gets annoying.Connor closes his folder and pushes it aside. "Okay, Ry, relax. No one is after your woman.""She's not my woman!" I snarl, way too forcefully. Again, they exchange a look with each other then study me closely. With

Something isn't right.I know my body very well and it doesn't feel right. I've felt off all week and all I can think about is all of the unprotected sex that Rylan and I had. Maybe he assumed I was on birth control, but I'm not.And now my period, which arrives like clockwork, is officially late. Three days, to be exact, and that's never happened to me before. My cycle is exactly 28 days and it doesn't waver.Shit.I should've been more vocal about him using a condom. But there's no point in beating myself up over it now. Passion and inexperience drove me and now I feel sick to my stomach. Literally.After hurling again this morning, panic set in because deep down, I know the truth.I'm pregnant.The thought scares the crap out of me, but my cycle never alters and I never throw up. Not since I was 5-years-old and had the flu. I'm healthy as a horse and I don't get sick, other than the occasional sniffle, so I know when something is wrong.And right now, something is very wrong.After

First things first. I need to tell him about the baby.Skirting around the table, I follow Rylan to the two empty seats. Our gazes collide as he pulls my chair out and my pulse starts racing. Gah, those eyes of his are beyond stunning. The lightest, brightest blue I've ever seen. He cut his hair, too. It's still longer on top and I'm glad because I love the sexy way his bangs always fall on his forehead and how he's forever shoving them back."Thank you," I murmur and sit down."Welcome," he responds and sits down beside me.When I look up, everyone is staring and I shift in my seat, uncomfortable under the weight of all those probing stares. I have no idea what to say and it feels like there's a spotlight on us. Instead of speaking, too nervous to utter a word, I reach for my napkin and lay it across my lap. His family must realize that they're staring because they immediately begin to chat with each other. About the weather, about some new television show, about how good of a cook M