There’s nothing but silence for a minute as we stare at each other. Briella finally clears her throat. “Mr. and Mrs. Davis, I was wondering if you and Lucy wanted to grab dessert at Frank’s Diner. I heard they made a mean blackberry cobbler tonight.”

They all say yes and scatter like the cowardly critters they are. But as they walk out, Rhett and Lucy both give me a look that I read as you better not mess this up. I’m left with Ivie staring a hole through me with the most beautiful green eyes I’ve ever seen—the eyes I’ve tried to shut out of my dreams over the last week.

I step toward her, and she steps back. “Ivie, please. We need to talk.”

She tilts her chin up, daring me to say more. “If it’s not about the baby, I’m not sure what about, Sterling.”

“I deserve that.” I take my hands out of my pockets and let them hang at my sides. “But you’re wrong. We need to talk about us.”

Her eyes widen just a fraction. “There is no us, not really, Sterling. You don’t trust me. I don’t know if I trust you.”

I step toward her again and she steps back, almost hitting the wall. “Damn it, Ivie, you ran away from me after hearing me tell Bree about the baby instead of staying and talking it out. Then I got pictures sent to me of you and Dean. You’ve always run, Ivie. That time you ran right into my best friend’s arms who just happens to be your ex. What was I supposed to think? And whatever you saw with Jade was a cruel joke and her trying to get to you; it was not real then and certainly not real now.”

Ivie shakes her head, and I can see her wall start to crack. “You saw that kiss and you used it to run instead of confronting me. This time you ran with a secret, one that affects me just as much as it affects you. Two, actually.”

Ivie looks at me, confused. “I didn’t run, I left town for a night, but I came right back. When I left, I just didn’t know what to do. It felt like my heart had been ripped out, Sterling. It felt like I had already lost you no matter what we wanted. It was only later that night when Briella followed me home to Camden Springs, that I figured out I was pregnant, and I left your house the day I overheard you and Briella because we were both upset, emotions running high. I thought it would be better to cool off, for the both of us. Angry words can’t be taken back.” She sniffles trying to fight back a sob.

I step even closer, and she steps back again, finally hitting the wall. I reach out and put my hand on her face, tipping her chin up so she’s looking me in the eyes. “I’m sorry, Ivie. I never meant to hurt you. Please forgive me.”

She closes her eyes, making the tears spill down her cheeks. I kiss them away and then kiss her lips. She kisses me back but just barely.

“I don’t know, Sterling. I may forgive you, but I don’t know if I can forget. You left me. You left me when you knew I needed you.” She starts to come apart, and I pull her to me and hold her against my body, willing her to somehow let me take all doubt and the pain from her.

She doesn’t try to get out of my embrace. When she calms down enough to talk, she pushes on my chest, and I let her go.

She walks into the living room and sits down. I sit beside her, waiting on her to say something. My heart is in her hands.

She looks over at me with red-rimmed eyes. “I do forgive you, Sterling. But I’m not sure how to forget you turning around and leaving me to deal with all this by myself.”

Panic surges through me. “I didn’t leave you. I’ve been here the whole time.”

“But you did. You left me in that hospital. You said you’d be back, but you never came back. I needed you. I was so scared that I would lose this baby, too. You let me go through that alone. I’m not out of the woods yet. Things look promising, but anything could happen. It’s still early.”

“I thought about you and the baby every day, Ivie. I checked up on you every day. I just needed to think. Bree and Tate kept me updated on your condition, and the baby.”

Ivie lets out a humorless laugh. “I’m so glad they could make you feel better about you leaving me alone, Sterling. And yes, I was surrounded by people who care, but I didn’t have the one person that I needed more than anyone else. You. How could you do that to me?”

I stare at her, unable to answer. I don’t know what I was thinking. Yes, I needed time to think, but she’s right. I left her scared and alone. Me, the one person who really knows how she was feeling about the possibility of losing another baby. “I’m so sorry, Ivie. It was a mistake. I needed time. Time to process all that had happened. But I shouldn’t have left you alone. I can’t undo it, as much as I wish I could. I can only sit here and ask you to forgive me. I love you, Ivie. I want this baby, and I want you. I promise if you give me another chance, I’ll do everything I can to make it up to you, if you’ll let me, and I’ll never leave you again.”

I hold her hand, and we sit in silence for a while. She finally leans her head on my shoulder, and I breathe a little easier.

“I need some time, Sterling. Just give me a few days. I love you too. But we need to examine the fact that you didn’t trust me, and I didn’t trust you, and we both assumed the worst. We need to figure this out, not just for us, but for the baby.”

I feel like she just squeezed my heart so tight it will stop beating. “I understand. I’ll give you your time. Just don’t shut me out. Please. And whatever you need with the baby, I’ll be there.”

I get up and head to the door to leave. I turn and look at her. “Ivie, I love you. I always have and always will. It was always supposed to be you.” I feel the tears sting my eyes and leave without another glance back. I brought this on myself. Everyone was right. I should’ve been there instead of letting my own doubts destroy the best thing to happen to me. All I can do is wait and hope and pray she forgives me and gives us another chance. I swear if she does, I’ll never let a day pass again without her knowing just how much she means to me.

I pull up at home and find Tate and Dean on the front porch, both with a beer in hand. I walk up to them, and they both wait expectantly. I shake my head and walk past them. I go into the kitchen and grab my own beer.

Tate speaks first. “How’d it go, man?”

“It wasn’t that great,” I admit.

“Did you give her the flowers?” Tate asks.

“Yes, Romeo, I did. She glanced at them for a few seconds before slapping me in her mind.” I clench my teeth together at the memory.

Tate puts a hand on my shoulder. “So, how did you leave it?”

“She says she needs time. I have no choice but to give it to her. I told her how sorry I am and asked her to forgive me. She does, but I’m not sure she will forget me leaving when she needed me in the hospital.”

Dean looks down, and Tate’s gaze hardens. He knows I messed up. I know I messed up. Now I’m at her mercy.

Dean looks back up. “Don’t lose hope, Sterling. She loves you. I think she’ll come around. Don’t give up on her.”

“I’m not going anywhere. I want to make this right and be a family with her and the baby.”

Dean grins, flashing me his perfect white teeth. He had braces when we were in school, and they still look perfect. “Congratulations on the baby, man, and I’m sorry about y’all losing the first one all those years ago.” He slaps me on the shoulder.

“Thanks,” I say as I smile and then take a drink from my beer. I’m still trying to wrap my head around losing our first one but becoming a father anyway to this one. I feel nervous but excited.

Tate lifts his beer in the air. “I’ll drink to that. Baby Brigg is on the way. I can’t wait to see you get wrapped around that baby’s little finger.” He chuckles as Dean and I clink our bottles to his and then take a drink.

“Who knew you’d be the first to have a baby?” Dean laughs with Tate.

“Laugh it up, boys. Tate’s caving on his no-dating policy. We should talk about that.”

Tate snaps his mouth closed. “You’re dreaming, Brigg. I’m not the kind to settle down. Your boy Dean will one day, I’m sure, but not me.”

Dean and Tate bump fists. I tell Dean, “You just wait. Tate will be the next one to fall head over heels. I think he’s about half there now.” Tate gives me a dirty look as Dean laughs harder.

Tate looks at Dean. “I don’t know why you’re laughing, jerk. You can’t even make up your mind where you want to be. Dude, make a decision already.”

Dean punches Tate in the arm. “I’ll make up my mind on my own time, John Wayne.”

We laugh and cut up for a while. It gets late, so I tell the guys to crash here. Dean takes the recliner, and Tate takes the couch. I start to head for my room when Dean says, “Really, man, everything with Ivie will be fine.”

Tate pipes in too. “Yeah brother, it will.”

“Thanks for being here, guys.” I head down the hall to my bedroom and feel my phone buzz in my pocket.

Ivie: Why the flowers?

Me: I wanted to give you something with meaning.

Ivie: What do they mean?

Me: Well tulips in general mean deep and perfect love. But the white ones mean forgiveness and red means perfect love. I thought they fit.

Ivie: How do you know what they mean? Isn’t that a girl thing to know stuff like that?

Me: Just ask Tate, he’s a flower whisperer. LOL

Ivie: Goodnight, Sterling

Me: Goodnight, baby girl. <3

I get ready for bed and lie down. I smile a little, knowing she’s thinking about the flowers. There may be hope for us yet. Not that I’m admitting that to Tate.