“I was with Michelle for months, and I never once felt for her what I’ve felt for you since our very first kiss. I tried to keep my feelings for you in perspective. I was used to being alone, and I liked it that way. But then you came along, a gorgeous, sassy, confident woman who didn’t take any shit. When we were together, it was the only place I wanted to be, and when we were apart, I just wanted to be with you. But I’ve got nothing to offer, and every night I told myself it would be our last night together. Only I couldn’t stop seeing you. I didn’t want to stop. And when I left town, every fucking minute away from you was torture.”

The anguish and strength in her expression didn’t confirm or deny that they were on the same page. “What happened with Michelle?”

Fuck. Was this it? Was she just gathering facts so she could have closure and be done with him? He rubbed his hands together, his chest constricting. He had to get through this. She deserved to know what happened, and then he could figure out the rest.

“Carrie got pregnant three months later, and she moved in with Kevin. My father turned his back on her, which was really hard on Carrie. I reached out to him, trying to fix it for her, but he wouldn’t talk to me. Anyway, she had me and Kevin, and I thought she’d be okay, but then I started noticing little changes in her. Sometimes she was too quiet, and she’d say she was sad about our father, or she had morning sickness that sometimes lasted all day. She always had an excuse, and they all seemed reasonable. She used to tell me everything, and when she stopped, I asked her about it, and she said I didn’t need to know every detail of her life. Michelle said I had to let Carrie grow up and live her own life, which I’m sure you can appreciate.”

She nodded.