Forbidden Fate (Crowne Point 3)

“We’ll just be friends.”

STORY

* * *

I laughed, but it was choking and hollow. Grayson Crowne and I had never worked as friends.

“What?” He gripped my face. “Why are you laughing?”

“We can’t be friends, Grayson.”

“Why?” He seemed genuinely upset that I’d pointed out what should have been so obvious. His brows caved.

I can think of a billion reasons. Because I like it too much when you say you’re the father. Because I’m trying to build a life, a good life, a respectable life for our daughter, and with you I’m…bad, shameful.

“You know me,” he said, voice raised. “I know you. You know the darkest parts of me. You know what makes me bleed. Isn’t that friendship?” he demanded.

I couldn’t speak.

“I want to hold your hair back when you have morning sickness,” he continued. “I want to satisfy your weird cravings. I want to rub your feet. I want…” He broke off. “I can’t be your husband, but I’ll be your everything else. I’ll be your protector, your guardian. I’ll make sure you’re cared for. You always have everything you need. I’ll be your best friend.”

It was so, so tempting. I wanted to give in to him. Let him be there for me. But he couldn’t be there for me, not really. We were once again in the dark. Hidden. A secret.

I looked up at Grayson, the ninety-degree angle of his chin, the determined, concerned way he listened.

And my chest sank.

My diamond ring glared back at me—I’d barely had time to grab it off the floor before Grayson rushed me here—and his wedding band glimmered under the fluorescent light.

I felt protected and safe…by someone who didn’t belong to me.

We didn’t belong to each other.

I couldn’t let my child be born into that.

“You can’t give me everything I need,” I whispered. “It’s impossible.”

He balked. “I’m Grayson fucking—”

“Crowne,” I finished.

For some stupid, irredeemable reason, I still needed the one thing Grayson Crowne couldn’t give me.

Grayson Crowne.

His blue eyes cracked. “Let me fix what I broke, Story.”

My heart filled and broke at the same time. Only months ago, I’d been in the same position.

“Let me stay with you during the pregnancy. Let me get you through this safely, let me get you out of the position I put you in, let me save you, Story. I won’t be able to live with myself otherwise.”

Tears were hot and scratchy in my throat.

I wanted us to be different.

I wanted to aim for a happily ever after.

But this was all I would ever get with Grayson Crowne. A goodbye.