Contract 2

Rowan settled into the car, the weight of the day's events lingering heavily in her thoughts. James, despite his demanding schedule, had insisted on accompanying her to the appointment. It was a thoughtful gesture, considering she usually took her days off on her prenatal appointment days.

"How was it?" James asked, casting a fleeting glance her way as he ignited the engine.

"It was fine," she replied, her words barely scratching the surface of the emotional turmoil within. The complexities of her feelings for David and her bond with James left her unsure of what to reveal.

Sharing feelings with someone who regards you as a close friend can be a labyrinth of emotions, Rowan contemplated. Protecting James from unnecessary pain held her back from opening up, yet silence carried its own weight.

"Drop me at the next bus stop; I'll take a cab home," Rowan suggested, careful not to betray her true destination.

"Why? I'll take you home myself," James insisted, his concern evident in the sin