The Trouble With Love: An Age Gap Romance (The Forbidden Love 1)

“You must hate me.”

“I don’t hate you. That’s not possible.”

Andy crouches down on his knees to kiss my forehead. “Millie, I called your Mom because I was terrified. Do you remember what happened?”

I try to even my breaths, my heading spinning with a migraine persisting.

“Have some water. You’re dehydrated.” Mom opens the bottle of water for me, urging me to drink.

“I…I…” I turn to look at Mom, pleading with her to understand.

“Andy?” Mom says softly, touching his arm. “Would you mind giving us some time?”

“Of course, Aunt Charlie. I’ll be in the library. Just text me when you’re done.”

Andy grabs his things, closing the door behind him. The second he’s gone, Mom squeezes my hand.

“Before you say anything, I want you to know something.” She struggles with her words, pausing to gain some composure. “Nothing you can say to me will make me love you any less. I’ve been through my share of troubled times, and I always felt alone. I never want you to feel that way.”

I wipe the tear falling down my cheek. “I… I don’t know where to start.”

“You’re in love with Will, aren’t you, honey?”

My eyes search hers for judgment, yet I come up with nothing.

I nod my head. “How did you know?”

“You’re my daughter, my best friend. I’d like to think I know enough about love to know when someone is deeply experiencing it.”

“Don’t hate him, Mom.”

She smiles softly. “I can never hate Will. He’ll always own a piece of me. I love him like I would if he were my son. Our bond goes way back before you were even born.”

“I’m sorry I lied to you. I was so caught up in it all, and I just didn’t think straight.”

“Love will do that to you.”

“Mom,” I choke out her name, allowing the sobs to consume me. “I thought I was pregnant, but I just got my period.”

Mom lets out a huge breath, wrapping her arms around me tight as her tear falls onto my face. We hold onto each other before I pull away, trying to calm myself down. My gaze falls upon the distant stare on her face, almost as if she’s reliving an unpleasant memory.

“Okay, honey,” she says, wiping her tears away. “Let’s talk seriously for a moment. Have you done a test?”

Unable to speak the words, I nod.

“And it came out positive?”

I nod again.

“How late were you?”

“Close to ten days, but Mom, before I came here, I bled out after I…”

I choose not to continue with that sentence, not knowing if she’s spoken to Dad after my outburst.

Mom’s face falls, her lips trembling as she squeezes my hand tight. “Honey, we need to get you to the doctor. There’s a chance you may have miscarried. I need for you to get checked out.”

Without another word, I hop out of bed slowly, only noticing now that I’m dressed in Andy’s sweatpants and sweater. As Mom busily types a text on her phone, I’m wondering if she’s telling Dad.