Wrapped in You (The Monroes 1)

She wished she’d ignored the persistent doorbell now.

“If you think Zach spent the night, then you’re right.” Sophie turned toward Zach, who still clutched the twisted sheet at his side. Just as she started toward him, she threw a glance back at her mother. “I don’t need, nor do I want your opinion.”

Sophie’s mom gripped her arm before she could move away. “After all this time, are you still this careless? This hung up on a man who ruined your life?”

Sophie glanced to Zach, but he’d closed himself of

f again. She couldn’t read his stony expression, and after all that had happened with them in the last few weeks, she prayed to God this was not going to be a setback.

Pulling her arm free, Sophie rounded on her mother as she pulled her robe tighter over her chest. “What I’m doing with my life now is not your concern. I know you love me, but Zach and I have something and—”

“No.” Her mother cut her off with a shake of her head, holding both hands up. “No, Sophie. Do you forget what you went through because of this man’s recklessness? The surgeries, the therapy?”

“That’s enough,” Sophie stated.

“Or maybe you forgot that a family was stolen from you, since you can’t have children.”

Dread consumed her. Heat washed over her as she froze in place. Of all the things her mother could’ve said, Sophie never expected her to play the infertile card. But the woman was desperate to crush everything that Sophie wanted with Zach.

Risking a glance at Zach confirmed her mother’s jab had hit home. He barely looked at her before turning and disappearing into her room.

Anger flooded through Sophie as she whirled on her mother. “Get out. Your damage has been done.”

“Honey, your mother—”

“Don’t defend her, Dad. Both of you just go.”

Sophie pushed past her mother and jerked the door open. Crossing her arms, she stared down the hall, knowing full well that Zach was now getting dressed and had most likely fully detached himself from any emotions he’d been feeling only moments ago in her bed. She wanted to go back thirty minutes, she wanted to be snuggled up against Zach’s warm body, talking about the Sunset Lake house, Brock, or anything else that pertained to the happy life they were just getting started with.

Sophie didn’t even spare her parents a look as they passed through the door. She couldn’t focus on anything other than getting back to Zach, talking to him to see what he was thinking, if he would even open up to her. For so long he’d felt so guilty for causing her limp. How would he react to discovering her infertility, a result of the emergency surgery after the accident?

Once on the porch, Sophie’s mother started to say something, but Sophie cut her off.

“We’re done for now,” Sophie said before closing the door and flicking the lock back into place.

It was no secret her parents didn’t like Zach, but Sophie hadn’t expected them to find out about this newfound relationship this way. She’d been unprepared, and now she had some damage to clean up. In all honesty, she would’ve told them in her own time, in her own way. But their surprise visit ruined everything . . . literally.

Heart beating fast, Sophie stepped into the bedroom just as Zach was tugging his shirt down his abs. He searched the room until he found his socks and boots. Sophie crossed her arms and leaned against the door frame. He knew she stood there, she could tell by his tense shoulders and his jerky movements, yet he never made eye contact.

Fear flooded her, but they’d come too far for her to let him back away now. He loved her, and she was holding on to those precious words. Zach wouldn’t have told her his feelings if he hadn’t truly meant them, and she could tell by the way he’d loved her all night, the way he’d treated her so delicately, as if she were everything to him.

“Don’t let my parents ruin this.”

Zach paused in tying up his work boot. “They didn’t ruin it. They opened my eyes to reality.”

Sophie gripped the material on her arms, but didn’t move into the room. Zach needed space, she could give him that, but she was blocking his only exit. They were going to talk and he wasn’t about to run just because things were uncomfortable now. Okay, that was a major understatement, but how did she put into words how their relationship had just taken another drastic turn?

“This didn’t change anything,” she said, needing him to know she meant every word. “I’m the same person you spent the night with. I’m the same woman you claim to love.”

Pushing off her bed, Zach propped his hands on his narrow hips and finally met her gaze. Everything he’d been feeling last night was gone, she could see it in the pity staring back at her. The guilt-ridden Zach had returned, and in the span of only minutes, their relationship had taken a major nosedive.

“I don’t want pity.” She tipped her chin and squared her shoulders. “Don’t look at me like that.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you couldn’t have children?”

Sun flooded through the slats of her blinds. She’d never be able to look at them again without hearing Zach tell her to open them so he could see her naked in the moonlight. He’d filled her bedroom, her home, her heart, and now she had to fight to keep him there.

“I would’ve,” she admitted, realizing at some point she wouldn’t have been able to keep it from him any longer, not with the way their relationship was going. “I never said anything before because nobody knew other than my doctors and my parents. Chelsea didn’t even know. I couldn’t risk her telling you.”