“El… Well, look at that, I never thought you would call me back.” I can hear the smirk through the phone. It kills me to be the one to wipe it from his face, he might never offer it to me again.

“Yeah, it’s… look, we need to talk.”

Chapter Five

Ellis

My sweaty hands are shaking so violently I trap them between my knees for a moment of relief. Moments like this are supposed to be happy but instead I can still taste acid in the back of my throat after my latest trip to the bathroom. It could be morning sickness but I think it is anxiety. Seeing those two little lines after I’ve been in a committed relationship for less than two years shouldn’t make me this scared, but every second that ticks by as I wait for Michael to come home seems endless.

When the front door of Michael’s – or rather, our – flat opens, my heart pounds in my chest.

“No kiss? You’re slacking Ellis.” His voice fills the silence as I sit across the room from him. The only reason I’m not greeting him is because when I try to stand my knees buckle.

“Michael, we need to talk,” I reply.

“I’ve just come home Ellis, can a man have one fucking minute?” His tone is full of warning, but today I need him to listen.

“Michael, please.” I beckon him to the sofa. He lets out a sigh moving closer but I push through: “I’m pregnant.”

Without missing a beat, he responds, “Who’s the dad?” He sounds disinterested, but his unyielding glare sends chills over me.

“What?” I ask, sucking in a shaking breath.

“Tell me, who’s the dad?”

“You are!” I exclaim with him towering over me.

He scoffs. “Don’t lie, I always wear protection. I want a paternity test.” His skin flushes red. One vein on the side of his forehead starts to protrude an ugly purple colour.

“I haven’t slept with anyone else for nearly two years Michael, I wouldn’t cheat.” I want to soothe the situation. When he calms down from this he’ll be happier. He’ll hold me and kiss me, apologise for his outburst. It’s the only way we can get through this.

“Oh please, don’t try to tell me you’ve been faithful.” He rolls his eyes.

“You want a life with me, right? Why don’t you trust me?”

“I don’t want to waste my life like this, I have plans. Fuck!” He lets out a bitter laugh. “You know you’re not the only woman in my life, right?”

“Excuse me?” My whole body stills, breath catching in my chest. He must be lying. Trying to hurt me because I ambushed him, he loves me. He’s always said he does.