UNFORGETTABLE (Able Series Book 3) by Gigi Aceves Read Free Book Online Page A

will be. But that thought only stayed in my brain for a fleeting moment, because my fear’s strength is so strong rationale is nonexistent.
    Pulling my hair and yelling in frustration I ask, “So, you knew then that you missed taking one. Why the hell would you . . .”
    “Stop right there! I didn’t plan this or go behind your back. I know you’re shocked, but we are having a baby, Brian. It’s not as if I committed murder. It’s the exact opposite, because life has been gifted to us. Our child. Why are you so mad? Why? Help me to understand.”
    Now, the avalanche of secrets start to unravel. I walk toward the window, not wanting to see her hurt face and unforgiving eyes on me. Admitting to her what happened years ago is as painful for me as it would be for her, because everything depends on me facing my fears. If I don’t. . . . if my fear of having another child wins, there won’t be an us.
    “I lost a child once, Tami.”
    A loud agonizing gasp echoes behind me. I don’t turn around even though everything in me is screaming to, because seeing her eyes full of hurt will stop me from spilling everything. Everything needs to be expelled, right now. Every fear. . . . every secret. . . . every guilt.
    “With Lorraine,” she says more like a statement than a question. I told her about Lorraine being my high school girlfriend, just not about me having a child with her.
    “I was a senior in high school when Lorraine got pregnant.” A sad laugh escapes me, “I was warming up to the idea of having a child. I was ready to face it. She got over the first trimester, only to lose our child during the beginning of the second because I fucked her so hard that night.”
    Another gasp fills the silence, only this time, it’s ten times the agony of the first. I brace my hands against the window sill to stop myself from holding her. The pain I’m in is a million times more than what she’s feeling, because I’m reliving my past and mixing it with my future—her and our child. She might not be able to accept it.
    With a shaky voice, she says, “I’m sorry you had to go through that, but maybe this time . . . with our child, it’ll bring healing instead of pain. You did love your child, right? You still do, I’m sure, because that’s the type of guy you are. So probably, even with your fears and doubts, you can learn to accept our having one.”
    The sour taste of fear and dread prickles my tongue and poisons my heart and mind enough to say words that aren’t true. At this moment, all I know is I need to protect myself from pain, so I say, “I loved. . . . love my first child, but I don’t think I could risk loving and losing another.” That’s when I turn to face her . . . maybe I shouldn’t have.
    Part misery and part rejection mask Tami’s face as her eyes question mine. Slowly, she backs away from me as clarity shifts on her face. I reach for her, realizing I shouldn’t have said what I said, but she starts shaking her head. Abruptly, she turns away from me as I hear her feet hitting the floor, followed by a loud bang of the door.
    I didn’t mean it. . . .
    Didn’t believe it for a second. . . .
    My words were powered by my fears. They didn’t come from my heart, not at all; but it’s too late, the cut has been inflicted.
    TAMI
    I run out of our bedroom, straight to the guest room, locking the door behind me. My mind is still reeling from everything that came out of his mouth. How could I not know he lost a child? How could he have hidden it from me all this time? But, what hit me the most. . . . what hurts the most, was when he said he will not risk losing another. Risk what? Risk loving another child? Risk opening up? Risk facing his fears?
    I rummage through the walk in closet for any old clothes. Luckily, I find old sweat pants and one of Brian’s old Marine shirts. After dressing, I climb into the bed, covering my head with the blanket, trying to hide myself from the world . . . maybe from the