The spice of his cologne wound around her, enticing her to rub her face into the crook of his neck. Her legs went weak. “I’ve got a pretty good idea,” she sighed, leaning against the wall for support. “We have completely different lifestyles. If I came with you, I’d be unhappy, and if you stayed here, you’d be unhappy. Your parents don’t like me. It’s better if we avoid all the drama and part ways now.”

“How do you know you’d be unhappy?” he asked, drawing back. Hurt had clouded his eyes, and she desperately wanted to kiss the pain away. “You haven’t tried.”

“I lived away from here for eight years,” Aria replied. “The happiest I’ve ever been was when I returned and got back on my feet. This is where I belong.”

“Maybe you could belong with me.”

Steeling her heart against him, she blinked back a flood of tears. “We barely know each other. For all you know, I could make you miserable. Take some time to think about it, and I’m sure you’ll agree with me in the end.”

Eli pressed a kiss to her forehead and whispered, “Please don’t do this.”

She unlocked the door and pushed past him, closing it behind her. When she heard him leave, she collapsed against it and wept.

CHAPTER 24

Eli tossed and turned. He couldn’t sleep. Not with Aria out of reach. Instead, he climbed out of bed and wandered into the kitchen. He needed to do something. This inaction was killing him. Grabbing a pen and paper from the office, he decided to come up with a plan.

What does a pregnant woman need?

The clock ticked loudly in the quiet room, marking the wasted seconds as he thought of nothing. Weary of the silence and his failure, he picked up the phone and called Teri.

“It’s stupid o’clock,” she groaned when she answered. “What are you doing up? And why are you calling?”

Eli rubbed a hand over his forehead. “Couldn’t sleep.”

“Not my problem.” Teri sighed, and there was a rustling sound in the background. Then she spoke again, her voice clearer. “Okay, fine. I’m awake now. What is it?”

“I need help,” he said. “I’m writing a list of things to buy for Aria, to make the pregnancy easier.”

“You do need my help,” Teri agreed. “Men don’t have a clue when it comes to women.”

He tapped his pen on the paper. If she wanted to act like an expert on pregnant women, so be it. He’d let her play the part. “So? Ideas, Teri?”

She hesitated.

“What is it?” he asked impatiently.

“You called me Teri.” She sounded confused, younger, like the girl he remembered from years ago.

“I thought you preferred it.”

“I do,” she said. “But you’ve always called me Therese.”