He sucked in a calming breath. “At first I tried to convince myself that it hadn’t really happened. That you were just lying to … I don’t know, I guess to trap me into taking care of you forever. But then I really thought about what happened that night. And…” His hand clenched into a fist. “God damn it, the very thought of what you did sickens me. I have been nothing but patient with you, but, fuck…” He slammed his fist on the table, sending vibrations through the room. “This is too much.”

“I’m so sorry. Just … sometimes I feel so alone and scared … and you’re the only one who’s ever cared about me. I’m always so afraid that you’ll walk away and—”

“All you’ve accomplished is to succeed in driving me away. As of now, you’re out of my life.”

She covered her face with her hands, sobbing. “Please, I know I have a problem. I’ll do anything you want. Please, don’t do this.”

He stared at her, considering.

“You’ll go into rehab again.”

“Yes, of course.” She stared at him, her eyes hopeful. “Anything.”

He compressed his lips, letting the silence continue.

“What about the baby?” she finally asked.

He sighed. “The only responsible thing for you to do is put it up for adoption.

*   *   *

Ashley waited anxiously as Dare opened his front door, then she stepped into the foyer, Dare and Adam behind her. Dare had taken the three of them out to a nice dinner, but had refused to talk about his conversation with Helen until they returned to the house. She walked into the living room and sat on the couch, her stomach fluttering. Dare sat down beside her.

“So how did it go with Helen?” Adam asked as he sat down on the other side of Dare.

Dare sighed. “She’d been drinking and she did it to try and keep me in her life.”

“That girl is truly screwed up,” Adam said.

Dare nodded. “At least she’s agreed to go into rehab again.”

“Thank heavens,” Ashley said.

A heavy silence hung between them, until finally Adam said, “So you’re going to be a father.”

Ashley’s stomach clenched. Since Dare was the father, would he stick by Helen, even after what she’d done? Would he … could he even consider actually moving Helen in with him?

Dare pursed his lips. “Well, not really.”

Ashley rested her hand on Dare’s. “What do you mean?”

“She’s putting the baby up for adoption.” Dare’s expression was strained. “She still has a lot of issues to work out and, especially given her drinking problem, it seemed the best choice.”

Ashley curled her fingers around his hand. “Did she want to keep it?”