Crazy Stupid Love (Dirty Dicks 3)

I want to reach out to her, touch her, soothe the unintentional pain I caused, but her brown eyes are wild and fierce, daring me to deny what she clearly heard me say.

“I don’t know what you heard, but—”

“Everything.” She laughs, the sound lacking any form of humor. “I heard everything. God, Lincoln. I had no idea that’s how you really felt. No wonder you wanted to keep things casual in the beginning; you knew we didn’t have a future. You knew you wouldn’t fall for me the way I was falling for you. And to think I was ready to tell you I love you. Because I do,” she says, brushing the tears from her cheeks.

All of the breath is sucked from my lungs. I’ve heard those three words from one other person in my life: Chloe. Well, two, if you count my dad saying them a few minutes ago. “Adley—”

“Don’t.” Tossing her hand in the air, she shakes her head frantically and turns, running past Chloe.

I’m stunned, rooted to floor as I watch my girl run from my life.

How did I let this happen?

I’m a fucking idiot, that’s how.

“Go,” Chloe says.

26

Adley

Oh God, I think I’m going to be sick.

My shoes squeak on the freshly waxed floor, drowning out the hammering of my heart. I’m not paying attention to my surroundings as I barrel down the hall, weaving through patients, nurses, and visitors. Lincoln’s harsh words keep cycling through my head, and all I can think of is what this means for me and the baby.

The baby.

I accidentally shoulder-check a woman in pink scrubs, but I don’t stop.

“I’m so sorry,” I call, continuing down the hall as fast as my feet will carry me.

“Adley!”

Oh, damn.

Lincoln’s boots slap against the floor as he chases after me. I ignore him and keep running. The warm night air smacks my face as the automatic door at the entrance of the hospital slides open. I’m halfway across the parking lot when I hear him yell again.

“Adley, wait!”

I’m huffing and puffing by the time I make it to the car. It’s pointless to try to leave; he’ll only chase me. We’re better off getting this over with now. Bending down, I rest my hands on my knees and try to catch my breath.

“Adley, sweetheart, I didn’t mean it,” he pants, reaching for me.

I jerk back. “Don’t touch me.”

“I know what you think you heard, but—”

“I don’t think anything,” I shout, standing up straight. “Stop saying that. I know what I heard, Lincoln.”

“What you heard was an argument with my father. I didn’t mean half of it. I regretted the words as soon I said them.”

“Is that supposed to make me feel better?”

Lincoln curses under his breath. “Jesus Christ, Adley, please don’t do this.”

“What the fuck am I supposed to do? Forget what I heard? Pretend you didn’t say it?”

Lincoln looks defeated and spent, exactly the way I feel.