The Surrogate Girlfriend

Six

Two weeks passed in a blur. Even though Kelvin hadn't replied to my text, and my heart ached with the weight of his absence, I had everything I needed, food, drinks, TV, and a big house to myself.

I kept up my lie with my mom, telling her that the job was going well. She bought it, never questioning anything, and for that, I was thankful.

On the way to the hospital for my insemination results, the silence between Mr. Leonard and I was becoming suffocating. I didn't mind silence, but this kind made me anxious, so I decided to break it.

"So, if this doesn't work out, what happens? Are we going to wait for my next ovulation, or are you going to fire me?" I asked, trying to sound casual, though my nerves were on edge. He kept his eyes on the road, not responding immediately.

"I bet you won't find anyone like me," I added, attempting to lighten the mood.

"I prefer you, Miss Eva," he said, surprising me.

I frowned, confused. "Why, Mr. Leonard?" I asked, mimicking his formal tone.

"Because," he glanced at me briefly, "you fit my description perfectly."

"I don't know what that means, but it sounds like a compliment, so thank you," I said with a small smile. To my surprise, I saw the faintest hint of a smile on his face. It was brief, but it was there, and it made me smile in return.

When we finally arrived at the hospital, I could hear my heartbeat in my ears. Nerves rattled inside me as I waited for the doctor’s verdict.

"Congratulations," the doctor said, her voice filled with warmth. "You're pregnant."

The news hit me like a freight train. My heart leapt into my throat. A baby was growing inside of me, and it wasn’t mine or Kelvin’s. A wave of overwhelming emotion swept through me.

I turned to Mr. Leonard and was stunned to see him smiling, not his usual half-smile or brief smirk, but a full, genuine smile. He looked... happy. Truly happy. It was the first time I'd ever seen that expression on his face, and it left me speechless.

"Congratulations, Miss Eva," the doctor's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I forced a smile and looked at Leonard again, and still, the smile hadn’t left his face.

Why did he want this child so badly? Questions buzzed around my head, but I kept them to myself. It wasn’t my place to ask. I was here for a job, not to understand him.

Back at the house, Leonard’s expression had returned to its usual stoic demeanour.

"So... congratulations, I guess," I said, tossing my purse onto the dining table and grabbing a juice box from the fridge.

"Thank you, Miss Eva," he said in that formal tone again, making me roll my eyes. Did he ever relax?

I tilted my head back, gulping the juice, then sighed. I was mentally and emotionally drained. When I looked up, Leonard was staring at me, but he quickly looked away when our eyes met.

Weird.

"I..." he cleared his throat. "If you need anything..."

"Yeah, yeah, I got it," I cut him off, walking toward the TV. It was just me and the screen now.

I turned around when I noticed he hadn’t left like he usually did. He stood there, lingering. What was up with him?

"Do you need something, Mr. Leonard?" I frowned.

He took a few steps closer until he was right in front of me. "I prefer you because I know my child will be beautiful," he said, holding my gaze for a moment longer than necessary before turning and walking out of the house.

I sat there, dumbfounded, unable to process what had just happened. Of all the things he could’ve said, that was the last thing I expected.

The sound of my phone beeping brought me back to reality. My heart raced as I grabbed it from my purse, praying it was Kelvin.

And it was.

"I missed you too," his message read.

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I smiled. Without thinking, I grabbed my purse and headed for Kelvin’s house. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I needed to see him.

When he opened the door, his eyes widened in surprise. He just stared at me, not moving, not saying a word. His eyes flicked down to my stomach, and my heart sank. He stepped aside, allowing me in, but still, no words were exchanged.

Why wasn’t he hugging me? Kissing me? He had just texted that he missed me, so why was everything so... cold?

Before I could dwell on it any longer, he pulled me into a kiss, deep and full of emotion. I wrapped my arms around his neck, returning the kiss with equal fervour. I had missed him so much. A month without him felt like a lifetime. His lips trailed down to my neck, sending shivers down my spine. Every kiss screamed, "I missed you."

But as his lips left my skin, he abruptly pulled away.

"We can’t do this," he said, his voice heavy with emotion.

"Why? We love each other," I whispered, my breath still uneven.

"We’re not together anymore." His words hit me like a punch to the gut. A tear slipped down my cheek, but I wiped it away quickly.

"Look at me," I moved to stand in front of him. "Tell me you don’t love me."

Silence.

"Tell me you’re not already pregnant," he countered, his voice cracking with pain. My silence said it all. His eyes widened as the truth hit him. He ran his hand through his hair, pulling at it in frustration.

I stood there, sobbing silently, unable to move, unable to speak.

"Let’s not hurt ourselves anymore," his voice was soft but filled with anguish. "We need to stay away from each other. It’s what’s best."

I shook my head furiously, desperate to hold onto him. "Please, Kelvin," I begged, reaching for him, but he stepped back, putting even more distance between us.

"I guess this is where our story ends," he said, his voice breaking. He looked at me one last time, his eyes filled with sorrow. "Goodbye, Eva."

And just like that, he walked away, leaving me shattered on the floor.

Again.