Hush (Just This Once 1)

“Evan and stuff, “ she repeats back. “You need to give me more than that.”

I smile. “It was really personal. He asked me intimate questions. We’ve done intimate things so why did it freak me out when he asked me intimate questions?”

“What questions?” The level of concern in her tone rises. “Does he want to try some kinky stuff that you’re not sure of? I’ve done most everything so ask away if you need more info on any of that.”

I cringe inwardly. “No, it’s nothing like that.”

“I’m not following, Chloe. You can just tell me what the questions were. I promise you’re not going to shock me.”

I know I won’t. I doubt anything would shock her after the confession she just made.

I wait for a beat before I respond. “He was worried that the condom had broken on that first night we spent together.”

“Did it?”

I shrug. “I didn’t notice if it did. I showered when I got home and I…I just don’t know.”

“Has he been tested recently?” She moves closer. “We can go to my doctor right now for the tests. She’ll fit you in.”

“He was more worried about the possibility that I might be pregnant.”

Realization washes over her expression. Gabi knows. She was one of the people who talked me through those years and helped me see the light at the end of the tunnel. “I’m sorry, Chloe. That had to have been rough for you.”

“I told him,” I admit. “I just came right out and told him why he didn’t need to worry about me getting pregnant.”

“You told him?”

I nod. “He was scared. I wanted to reassure him so I told him that I’m infertile.”

“Did you tell him everything?” She scans my face. “Does he know what caused it?”

I shake my head briskly. “That’s inconsequential. It doesn’t matter why I can’t have children. All that matters is that it’s not possible.”

“You’re right,” she says assuredly. “That’s not any of his business.”

It’s not. I’ve been trying to convince myself of that fact since I walked out of the café.

Evan and I are casual lovers who had a short-lived scare. It doesn’t change the fact that our relationship doesn’t involve long conversations about the past.

He doesn’t need to know the brutal details of what happened to me before we met. That’s my past and it belongs to me. I have every intention of keeping it that way.

Chapter 23

Evan

I fucked up. I know it. I’ve juggled my schedule like a master the past three mornings just so I could get to the Roasting Point Café by eight sharp. I waited every one of those days for Chloe but she didn’t show.

How the hell can I blame her for that? She’s probably still in recovery mode after that conversation we had earlier in the week.

I dug up some seriously painful shit from her past all because I was desperate for the reassurance that I wasn’t going to be on the hook for child support for the next eighteen years.

I could have been more sensitive, but I wasn’t and since I can’t hop in a time machine and make me way back to that morning, I did the next best thing. I tracked down her brother.

“Rocco.” I offer my hand when he approaches. “It’s good to see you.”

He’s surprised. I can’t tell if it’s because he recognizes me or not. He wasn’t expecting me. Who expects to be approached by a virtual stranger mid-workout?

I wouldn’t have known he’d be here except for the recent post he made on one of his social media accounts. It was exactly thirty-two minutes ago and since I had a break between a