The Whispers

14

"What do you mean better than you deserve?"

Nate tried to sit up but was held down by Bea and he groaned in protest.

"You need to rest a little bit more," Bea cooed in a gentle voice while tucking sheets around him.

"How long have I been out?"

"Just a few hours. Why?"

"Feels like a year. My mind is..." He struggled to find the word.

"Jumbled?" She asked and he nodded slightly, wincing at the movement. "That's normal. And I know you're trying to evade my question," she ended with a raised brow.

Nate groaned again. "I was hoping you'd let it go." He looked at her hopefully.

She shook her head. "Not a chance. So?"

Nate looked away and spoke in a very low whisper Bea strained to hear. "The physical pain is nothing compared to how I felt when I thought I'd lost you forever."

"Nate..."

"Have I? Lost you forever?" He looked at her expectantly.

Fat tears rolled down her cheeks. "I should be the one lying here for being a hypocrite."

He reached to brush away the tears with his thumb. The slight contact sparked a lust so strong his shaft snapped to attention. If the hitch in her breathing was any indication, she was just as affected.

"Bea, who said anything about you being a hypocrite?"

Bea slowly looked up at him. "I got angry with you and felt betrayed just because you withheld your identity from me while I withheld something of major importance."

Nate stiffened and withdrew the hand that had been caressing her face. "What?"

Bea stood and walked over to the window to stare unseeingly outside. "If you don't want me after this I'll completely understand." Her voice sounded so small and shaky.

"Bea, just tell..."

"I'm pregnant, okay?" She exploded and slid down to cry.

Nate frowned in confusion. "But we never..."

"Exactly! It's not yours, Nathan," her voice was high.

The outburst was followed by complete, strained silence. The room crackled with heavy currents of tension. Nate looked...shocked, for lack of a better word. His jaw was clenched so tight his teeth hurt. A heavier sense of de javù numbed him for a few long moments.

Fate has dealt you the same hand.

Rebecca's words tumbled back, snapping him out of his shocked daze. "So this is what Rebecca meant," he said to himself.

"What? What did she say?" Wide-eyed, Bea pushed to her feet.

Nate looked her over. She looked so small and sad that he felt slightly guilty for her sadness. If anything happened to the baby, he would never forgive himself. Same as if Bea left him.

"Would you marry me?"

Stunned, Bea took a step back —not that she was able to having the wall right behind her — confused.

When she remained mute he groaned and growled her name.

"It's not the answer to my question, Nate."

Trust Bea to never let her questions go unanswered. "Rebecca said fate has dealt me the same hand and now I understand what she'd meant."

What? "So you asked me to marry you because you feel pressured to?"

"Pressured by who?" Nate's voice dripped with annoyance.