Chapter 26
Zach
“Yes. I’m offering you an out.”
Her words hit me harder than any puck ever has. I stand there, frozen in place, the heat of the August sun beating down on us, but all I can focus on is her voice. Quiet. Determined. Unwavering.
She means it.
She’s giving me an out, a way to step away from this whole situation—the pregnancy, her, everything. And it’s killing me.
“Lainey,” I start, my voice rough, but she shakes her head, cutting me off.
“No, Zach.” Her hand tightens on the strap of her bag, her knuckles going white. “You don’t have to say anything. I just… I need you to know that I can do this on my own if I have to.”
Her words should feel like a relief. Isn’t this what I’ve always wanted? No ties, no complications? But instead, something sharp twists in my chest, something that feels a lot like panic.
“On your own,” I repeat, the words bitter in my mouth. “You think I’d just walk away from this?”
She lifts her chin, meeting my gaze squarely. “I’m saying you don’t have to stay just because you feel guilty. I don’t need you to fix this, Zach. I don’t need you to save me.”
I stare at her, my pulse hammering in my ears. Guilt? Is that what she thinks this is?
“I’m not here out of guilt, Lainey,” I say, the frustration leaking into my tone. “I’m here because this is my responsibility. I’m not going to run away just because things got hard.”
“But responsibility isn’t the same as wanting to be here,” she counters, her voice soft but firm. “And I can’t force you to want this.”
I rake a hand through my hair, the words sticking in my throat. I do want this. Don’t I?
I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “Move in with me.”
The words come out before I can second-guess them, and Lainey’s eyes widen in shock.
“Move in with you?” she echoes, her voice filled with disbelief.
“Yeah.”
“Why?” she asks, crossing her arms. “We’re not in a real relationship, or did you forget?”
“It’s practical,” I say, my voice firmer than I feel.
“Practical for who?” she challenges, her blue eyes flashing.
“For us. For the baby.” I pause, searching for the right words. “I want to be there for you, Lainey. And for the baby. This makes sense.”
She stares at me, her lips pressing into a thin line. “So what you’re saying is, you want me to move in so you can feel better about yourself, but you won’t give me anything more than that?”
I wince at the accusation, but I don’t back down. “You know I can’t give you more,” I say quietly. “That was the whole reason we started this fake relationship. It was supposed to be simple, remember?”
“Exactly,” she snaps. “It wasn’t real. We had sex, Zach. That’s it. And now we have a baby coming, but that doesn’t change anything.”
Her words hit harder than they should. My chest tightens, a discomfort I can’t quite place spreading through me.
“I’m just trying to do the right thing,” I say, my voice softer now.
She sighs, her posture softening slightly. “Zach, I’m grateful for that. But I don’t want you to feel like you have to play house with me just because we’re having a baby. It’s not fair to you—or to me.”
I take a step closer, lowering my voice. “I care about you, Lainey. And I care about this baby. That’s not going to change.”
She looks up at me, her eyes searching mine, and for a moment, I think she’s going to relent. But then she shakes her head.
“I know you care, Zach,” she says softly. “But you can’t promise me more than that, can you?”
I hesitate, the truth sticking in my throat. She’s right. I can’t promise her the kind of love and stability she deserves.
“Think about it,” I say finally, my voice rough. “That’s all I’m asking. Just… think about it.”
She doesn’t answer right away, but the tension in her shoulders eases slightly. “Alright,” she says at last. “I’ll think about it.”
It’s not a yes, but it’s not a no either. And for now, that’s enough.