Chapter 40: Months Later

I stared at Dax in awe. I wasn’t sure what to tell him after he said those words to me. Did he really mean them to me? How could he stay by my side after the baby came? This wasn’t mean to be a long-term deal.

After I thought a moment longer, I asked, “Do you really mean what you said?”

“Yes. I mean it with all my heart. I don’t want to leave you,” Dax gazed into my eyes with incredible intensity.

I resisted smiling and carefully climbed out of the bed and gathered up my clothes. Dax looked at me with an unasked question. I knew what he was wondering even without speaking up. He was getting easier to read.

He got of the bed and picked up all of his clothes that were scattered around the room. His eyes met mine before he got dressed and headed for his room.

I let Dax leave without saying anything else to him. It would just make things worse if I said something that I could regret later. I had to just let him go.

How were we going to go on with living together after the night before? We had crossed the line of what we were before. I was afraid that this would just make things awkward between us. I couldn’t possibly look at him the same as before.

As months went by, things were okay with Dax and me. Somehow, we had settled into a comfortable relationship with each other. I would even go as far as saying that we had become friends. Neither of us had mentioned our passionate night together.

It was better if we just hid it in the past and moved on. We weren’t going to discuss it, because that would just complicate everything between us. I was glad that I had gained him as a friend at least. We had gone a long way from the first meeting.

Beneath the surface, something was happening to me. I still got that warm feeling around Dax and could imagine what his lips would feel like on mine. I wouldn’t ever forget our night together.

Sometimes I caught Dax giving a more than friendly look to me and wondered how he felt. Did he feel the same way? I wasn’t going to ask him.

Right before I was about to eat dinner one night, Dax came into the kitchen. He asked, “Would you like to join me?”

“Sure. What were you going to have?”

He thought for a moment and said, “Spaghetti and homemade meatballs.”

“Sounds good.”

I sat down beside him at the large table. He looked very dashing in his classic suit and tie. It kind of hurt to see him looking so good.

Dax’s eyes locked on mine and he casually said, “You look really nice today.”

His sudden words caught me off guard. I said, “Thank you. You look very nice too.”

I twirled a strand of hair and watched the chef finish cooking the food. It would take my mind off his surprise compliment.

Why had he done that? I was going to get confused. A friendship was much easier to deal with. I didn’t want to go back to what we almost could’ve been.

After the chef brought out plates, things got quiet between us. I wasn’t sure what to talk to him about, and Dax seemed at a loss for words too.

I began eating the spaghetti and avoided looking at Dax. I wasn’t sure if he was in the mood to talk or wanted to keep me silent company. We had previously enjoyed being together without any need for words.

A couple minutes later, Dax asked, “How are you feeling these days?”

It was getting closer to the end of my pregnancy. It was thoughtful of him to ask me that. I couldn’t believe that this was almost over. Time had gone by so fast.

Truthfully, I was having some mixed feelings. Was it better to tell Dax the truth or sugarcoat it? I didn’t want him to be concerned for me. He didn’t need more stress on his plate.

I ended up saying, “Honestly, I’m pretty anxious and excited at the same time.”

Dax’s forehead furrowed in concern and he asked, “Why are you anxious?” Is something wrong?”

I was right that he was going to worry. Maybe I shouldn’t have admitted that to him. But as his friend, I should be honest with him. There was no need to hide anything.

I shook my head and said, “Nothing’s wrong. I’m just getting more worried about my sister. I won’t be able to calm down until her debt is paid.”

He patted my back and said, “Don’t worry. Everything is almost over. Your sister will be fine very soon. Just hold on a little longer.”

His words made me feel a bit better. I knew that my stress would drastically shrink after her debt was gone. I had come so far for her benefit.

I wouldn’t have ever done this type of thing if she hadn’t been in trouble. I had Lola to thank for getting to meet Dax. But Dax was right that this was almost all over.

My heart hurt at the thought of being near the end of the agreement. I knew what I was going to lose. It was more than living a life of luxury. I’d never get to see Dax again.

He had become a very important part of my life. I politely excused myself, “I’m sorry but I need to go call my sister.”

Dax nodded in acknowledgement. I walked away towards the stairs and felt tears streaming down my face.