Page 40 of Let's Be Forever

The last time I was in a position like this, it was in Colorado. I had just arrived from France after finding out I was pregnant.

“I just need to talk to him,” I demand. I need to hear him say it. I need to hear him tell me he wants nothing to do with this baby.

“If you don’t leave the premises, I’ll have him escort you out.” Clara peers around me, and when I look over my shoulder, I see the security guard. He’s staring at me, body language charged like he’s ready to force me out; all he needs is her say so. “Either way, Sylas already took your name off the list. He doesn’t want you here. Leave, Anna. You’re embarrassing yourself.”

“Can I help you?” The man at the desk smiles politely at me.

I force one foot to lift followed by the other until I’m standing across from him. “Hi, yes, I’m here to see Sylas. My name is Anna Lopez.”

“Can I see your ID?”Tobias, his name tag reads.

I hand it to him, already having it ready. He scans it, taps away on his computer, and returns it.

“Wonderful, you’re all set. You can follow me.” Tobias rounds his desk and escorts me over to the private elevator. He flashes me another kind smile as I enter and stays even as the door closes.

As it ascends, I can’t help but wonder if I’m making a mistake. I know I’m doing the right thing for Rosie, but I’m nervous.

Sylas broke my heart and it fucking sucked. But if he breaks Rosie’s, I don’t know how I’ll live with myself for allowing him into her life.

“It’ll be okay,” I chant under my breath once I’m at the top floor. But when the doors slide open, the chant I’ve done well at repeating disappears as Sylas stands opposite me.

“Hey, Anna.” He smiles, dimples on display and his posh British accent softer somehow in the narrow hallway.

You’re here for Rosie, I repeat in my head.

17

ANNA

The momentI step out of the elevator, my legs grow heavy.

I stand at the entryway, staring at Sylas as he stares back at me.

It still feels unreal that this is happening, that we’re about to have this conversation, and that he’s actually going to be part of Rosie’s life.

In my dreams, it was always the other way around. That he wanted nothing to do with her, that he detested that he had a kid with me and not someone who belonged in his circle.

But that’s obviously not the case. He wants to be involved, and for that to happen, we need to talk. I would have brought Rosie, but I know there’s no way we’d be able to focus. And doing this in public wasn’t an option.

“Hey.” I glance around, but there’s not much to look at, so I draw my eyes back to him. He’s still watching me with this indescribable expression on his face.

It makes me feel self-conscious, and I hate that. I’ve never felt like this before with him or anyone else for that matter. “What?”

His chest expands as if he took in a deep inhale. “I’m just…I’m happy you’re here, Anna.”

Oh.Don’t get excited. They’re just words.“You can thank Rosie for that.”

His smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “Right, yeah, follow me. The living room is this way.”

We walk through the entryway with just enough space between us. It’s almost awkward, and I’d be lying if I said this didn’t make me feel a little sad.

There was a time I couldn’t get enough of his hands and lips on me. Where any amount of space between us felt unbearable. When we were with other people, his fingers would be twined through mine. When we were alone, his hands touched everywhere they could, and I don’t mean we were having sex constantly. We were exploring not just our bodies but our hearts.

I’d never known how intimate words could be until he whispered them against my skin. But it didn’t stop there. They penetrated the barrier, sinking deep into my bones, branding themselves into the marrow.

“This is the living room.” He tucks his hands in his pockets.

Some things really don’t change. While his penthouse when we were in college was smaller, it’s no different than this. Other than the light brown wood floors, it’s bare, sterile, and doesn’t feel like anyone lives here. And it smells just about the same, disinfectant combined with the slight stench of tobacco.