44. Chapter Forty Four
Chapter Forty Four
Annie
The waiting room is too bright, too sterile, too… empty.
I sit stiffly in one of the cushioned chairs, my hands knotted together in my lap, staring at the door like I can will it open and make Cole appear.
He’s not coming.
I know that.
I knew it the second my phone vibrated in my hand fifteen minutes ago.
Cole: I can’t make it. Something came up. I’m sorry.
That’s all it said.
No explanation. No promise to make it up to me. Just those ten words and nothing else.
I hadn’t responded. I didn’t trust myself to. If I had, I might’ve said something I couldn’t take back.
Instead, I shoved my phone into my purse and walked into the office alone.
I should’ve known this would happen.
I did know, deep down.
For the past few weeks, Cole has been trying. Really trying. I’ve seen it in the way he’s paid more attention, in the way he’s checked in with me, in the way he’s let himself care.
But people don’t change overnight.
And Cole Wagner? He has spent years making his work his priority.
Why would things be any different now?
A knot tightens in my chest, and I clench my jaw, blinking rapidly to fight the sting behind my eyes. I am not going to cry in a doctor’s office waiting room. Even if I am pregnant.
I inhale sharply and glance around, forcing myself to focus on something else.
The receptionist is typing at her desk. A woman way further along than I am is sitting across from me, rubbing her belly while flipping through a magazine. Her husband is on his phone. But at least he’s there. Another couple sits a few seats down from me, whispering quietly to each other, their hands linked.
And me?
I’m alone.
My stomach twists .
I don’t know why I let myself get my hopes up. I should be used to doing things on my own. It’s not like I ever planned for someone to be here with me.
But Cole promised.
He said he’d be here.
And he isn’t.
The thought burns, and suddenly, I don’t want to be sitting here anymore, staring at the door like an idiot, waiting for something that isn’t going to happen.
I push to my feet, adjusting my purse over my shoulder just as a nurse steps into the waiting room.
“Annie Fox?”
I force a smile and nod. “That’s me.”
She smiles warmly, gesturing for me to follow. “Come on back. We’re going to start with a quick check-in, and then we’ll do your ultrasound.”
I nod again, my throat tight, and follow her through the door.
Without Cole.
***
The moment I hear the front door open, my entire body tenses.
I don’t turn around. I don’t acknowledge it. I just keep my eyes locked on the book in my lap, pretending to read the same sentence over and over again, even though I haven’t absorbed a single word.
I don’t know how long I’ve been sitting here in the living room, waiting for him to come home, but I know exactly what’s about to happen.
Cole is going to walk in, act like everything is fine, and try to smooth things over with some half-assed explanation.
And I am not in the mood for it.
Which is why I haven’t taken any of his calls.
I hear his footsteps in the foyer, the rustling of him setting down his keys, the subtle sigh he exhales like he’s exhausted.
Exhausted.
Right. Because I’m sure his day has been so emotionally draining.
I grip the book a little tighter, my nails pressing into the cover.
“Annie.”
His voice is low, cautious. Like he already knows I’m mad and is trying to gauge just how mad I am.
I don’t respond.
I flip the page—dramatically—and keep my eyes glued to the book.
I hear him take a few steps closer. “Can we talk?”
That’s it.
That’s all it takes to snap the tight thread holding my patience together.
I slam the book shut, stand up, and finally look at him.
His tie is loose, his sleeves rolled up. He looks tired. Stressed.
And I do not care.
“Talk about what?” I say, my voice tight with barely restrained anger. “About how you left me to do this ultrasound alone?”
He exhales, rubbing a hand over his face. “Annie—”
“No.” I shake my head, jaw clenched. “You don’t get to ‘Annie’ your way out of this. You promised me, Cole.” My voice wavers, but I push through. “You said you’d be there.”
“I know.” His voice is low, strained. “Something came up.”
I let out a bitter laugh, throwing my hands in the air. “Yeah. That’s what your very detailed text said. Something always comes up with you!”
“That’s not fair. I tried to call you, Annie. You wouldn’t answer.”
“No,” I scoff. “Because I was getting an ultrasound. By myself. Tell me, Cole, what could have possibly been so important that you missed the first ultrasound of your child?”
Cole runs a hand through his hair, clearly trying to keep his own temper in check. “Just as I was about to leave the office, someone showed up—”
I bark out a humorless laugh, cutting him off. “Oh, someone? Wow, that must have been so inconvenient for you.”
“Annie.” His voice drops, firmer this time. “It wasn’t just anyone.”
“I don’t care who it was,” I snap. “I don’t care if it was the damn president. There is no excuse for what you did.”
Silence.
Cole exhales sharply, his nostrils flaring, his jaw tight. His hands curl into fists at his sides, and for a second, I think he’s going to fight me on it.
But he doesn’t.
Instead, he watches me, his green eyes flicking over my face like he’s searching for something.
I don’t let him find it.
I reach into my bag, pull out the ultrasound printout, and toss it onto the table between us.
Cole’s gaze drops to it immediately, his brows drawing together.
“By the way,” I say, voice cutting. “We’re having triplets.”
His head snaps up. His entire body goes still.
I don’t wait for a reaction.
I turn on my heel and walk away, heading straight for my room.
The one I haven’t slept in since our date.
But tonight?
Tonight, I will.