Nine

The hospital's automatic door opened, and Ziah stepped aside to let me enter the hospital first.

Our bodies touched briefly, and I felt a yearning in the deepest part of my soul.

My heart began to beat faster. The brief contact sparked a physical response that I couldn't deny.

Ziah was fucking handsome, captivating, yet also infuriating. I wanted him so badly, but at the same time, I wanted to grow some spine and independence to show him that I could stand on my own and stop acting like a love-sick puppy.

"Come on, hurry,” he said while glancing at his watch. “I don't have all day.”

His words and actions hurt, but what could I do?

"Yeah," I said, pretending to be absent-minded. His face softened, and I felt his raking gaze but ignored him.

Inside, I was struggling. It was hard to let go of the love I still had for him, but we needed to remain civil for the baby's sake.

We would co-parent our child, because I would never, ever prevent him from seeing his child. But I needed to learn