Page 105 of End Game

“You want a baby?”

“Well, I mean, I’d like to graduate college first.” I let out an awkward chuckle. “There are a few other goals I’d like to achieve before that happens. But if you were… it wouldn’t be the end of the world. We could make it work.”

“We used a condom,” she reminds me.

“I know.”

“And I have an IUD.”

“I know.”

“It’s only been a week.”

“I know.”

“I’m not pregnant,” she says again.

Is it weird that I’m a little disappointed?

“So, why are you here?”

She swallows again. “I miss you.”

“I miss you, too.”

“I needed to see you.”

It’s my turn to swallow. “I needed to see you, too.”

“Can we…” She takes a deep breath. “Can we pretend like last weekend never happened? Just for a minute?”

If that’s what she needs?

“Yeah, of course.”

“Good.” She sighs, her face creasing. “My dad is home. He survived.”

“So he’s out of the hospital?”

“Out of the hospital, had surgery, recovering nicely,” she summarizes. “It was… I never want to do that again.”

“Dee…”

“I just…” She chews her lip. “I need a hug. I needed to see you, and I needed a hug.”

I take a step towards her, and when she doesn’t flinch, I pull her into my chest and wrap my arms around her. She takes a deep, shuddering breath, and then she sags against me, her forehead pressed to my neck. She isn’t ready for a relationship. She doesn’t have any more to give.

“It wasn’t fun,” she says quietly. “It was absolutely terrifying.”

“I know, baby.” I run a hand over the back of her head. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

“And it’s only going to get worse.” She hiccups into my neck. “He might get better in the short term, but long term…” She sighs.

“What can I do for you?”

“Just hold me.”

I tighten my hold on her. I can do that. I can do that from now until eternity.