We are stronger together

- 12 - Breathing

"Pictures?" I asked.

He gritted his teeth. Was it that bad?

"Show me" I said.

He walked over to me and I moved over on the couch so he could set down next to me.

I took in his scent as he sat down and didn't dare to touch him. His shoulders looked huge up close, I bet he could carry me without any issues at all.

He swiped and typed away on his phone before handing it to me.

I looked at the pictures. They were taken outside one of the shops we had been to. He looked good of course, me not so much. But I wasn't even worried about the photos all that much, I was rather worried about the headlines.

<<Taron Egerton will be a dad>>

<<Is she carrying his baby?>>

<<Did he cheat on Emma with her?>>

<<The happy couple is expecting>>

I gulped. Was I the bad guy now? Media seemed to be split in two halves. The ones who were happy for "us" and the ones who hated me.

I handed the phone back to him, not meeting his eyes.

"Please say something" he whispered.

I scoffed "What do you want me to say? I'm surprised. I mean you said you're an actor but I never expected something like this to –"

"I'm so sorry. I wish I would have known. No, I should have known better" his voice was low.

"Yeah" I sighed "Will they follow me around now?"

I looked up and found Taron looking at me. His brows were furrowed and his lips were a tight line. He seemed tense. As tense as I felt.

He let out a breath "I don't know. I don't think they followed us"

Well, at least that was good news.

"How famous are you?" I asked.

I just had to know what I had to prepare for.

Taron didn't meet my eyes for a while and he didn't speak. I watched him breathing hard. He seemed mad.

"I never wanted that to happen to you. Or my child for that matter"

Yeah, looked like he didn't really have a choice.

"I won a Golden Globe last year"

I raised my eyebrows "You have?"

Taron didn't meet my eyes "Yeah. Press has been intense ever since"

That was a huge thing! I wondered why I haven't heard of it.

"Well it says you're talented" I said before I could stop myself.

Then he looked at me, grinning "You think?"

I wanted to slap him on the shoulder playfully but stopped myself. Just.

"I don't think they give that to just anyone" I teased him.

"Gee thanks" he smiled.

I let out a breath "But I'm not sure what to do about it. I don't want my daughter to grow up in the spotlight"

I had been stupid. I should have thought of this sooner.

"I don't want that either" Taron said softly.

I looked over to him "Yeah but you chose that job"

"I didn't choose this" he tapped on his phone "But yeah, it comes with it"