Follow You (Second Chances Series Book 3)

Staying would be harder...

It's early Monday morning and I'm still alseep in bed when I feel Andrew place a kiss on my forehead. My eyes slowly open as I stretch.

"Sorry to wake you but I wanted to say goodbye before I head to the airport."

I turn onto my side so I can face him where he sits on the side of the bed. He pushes the hair away from my face and just looks at me a minute.

"I'll see you in a couple days?"

What should be a statement is worded as a question and I know in that moment that he definitely knows what's been going through my head. But I can't talk to him about it or I'll change my mind. And I can't change my mind. So I say what he wants to hear.

"Yes, see you in a couple days." I give him my best smile and it takes a minute before he returns it.

"Okay then." I can tell he wants to say more but he doesn't, instead he leans in and places the sweetest kiss on my lips. Then he stands up to grab his suitcase and heads out the door.

I lie there for quite awhile just staring at the empty doorway before I finally get up and shower. Once I'm done I throw on comfortable clothes and begin to pack. I can only take what will fit in my car and then I'll have to hire movers to come and get the rest.

When I have everything that I'll need for now packed and loaded into my car I sit down and write a note for Andrew. It's one of the hardest things I've had to do. He's a good man. A good man who deserves better than to be stuck with a broken women who he probably wouldn't even want if he hadn't gotten her pregnant. He deserves someone who he can love with his whole heart. Someone who can make him happy. Right now I don't feel like I can be that woman. When I'm done writing I leave the note on the kitchen counter and leave.

I make one stop on my way out of town at Leo's work. When I'm shown back to his office, he gets up and gives me a hug.

"Abby, everything okay? What are you doing here?"

He leads me over to the chairs infront if his desk and sits next to me.

"I'm leaving." He starts to shake his head no. "Yes, Leo. There's nothing here for me now. I moved here because of the baby and it just made more sense for me to move instead of Andrew. But now-"

I let my words trail off. I can't bring myself to actually say that there is no baby. That Olive's gone.

"Abby, that's not true. You still have Andrew and me and Emma and all your other friends."

"Andrew and I were thrown together because of an unplanned pregnancy. That's not a factor anymore so I'm giving him the all clear. He doesn't have to stay with me out of some sense of obligation anymore."

"Wow, and here I thought you knew Andrew by now."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Andrew would not be with you if he didn't want to be with you. Baby or no baby. He would of always taken responsibility for and loved Olive but that has nothing to do with why he asked you to move in with him. That was about you and what he feels for you. What he's felt for you since the first night he met you."

"You can't know that for sure. None of us can. Besides, that's not even all of it. I can't stay here, Leo. It hurts too much. This city and that house, with Olive's room still all set up, it's too much. I have to go. You of all people should get that. You left Chicago for the same reason." I stand up and when Leo does the same I hug him. "This doesn't change anything between us. I'll visit and I expect you to do the same."

I pull back from him and he puts his fingers under my chin so he can look me in the eyes.

"Abby, did you tell Andrew yet?"

I pull away from him and look down to my feet as I shake my head no.

"Abigail. You're going to break his heart. You have to tell him face to face."

"I can't. I wrote a letter and left it for him."

"Abby-"

"I have to go." I turn and walk to the door. As I open it I look over my shoulder and look my dearest friend in the eye. "I love you and I love him, but, I have to go."

"Abby!" I hear my name as I run down the hall towards the elevator.  Once inside my phone rings, it's Leo, I quickly turn it off.

When I get in my car I quickly pull away incase Leo tries to find me. Once I'm a few blocks away I pull over and lay my head against the steering wheel to cry. This is hard, but staying would be harder.