Easton kept her head bent as she walked into the lab late that night, choosing to pretend to be deeply concentrated on the stitching of her three-inch black patent Louboutin's then risk having anyone make small talk with her. She knew Nick had gone home after he'd bailed following the whole incident at her appointment , so she didn't have to worry about feigning anything social with him, but she hadn't been to visit Greg at the lab since her pregnancy had been announced, so she knew the team was itching to layer her with congrats.
She nearly ran into Henry as he came bustling out of the lab, result sheets flapping in his hand. "Easton! Aren't you a pleasant sight!" His cheeks always flushed when he was talking to her, and they burned even brighter as he took in her changing shape. "I guess now that he got you pregnant there's no chance of you leaving Greg and running away with me, now is there?"
"Sorry, Henry," she apologized, not slowing down so that he would get the hint she wasn't in the mood for chit-chat. She ducked into Greg's office, narrowly avoiding Ray Langston who had just spotted her and had begun taking steps toward her.
"East, baby, hey." Greg looked up at her from behind his desk and she was appreciative she'd caught him here and not out in the field.
She just stood there, not definite what exactly to say, but she knew he deserved the veracity of what was really going on.
"Easton? What's wrong?"
"The baby might not be yours." The words plunged from her tongue before she lost the audacity to say them .
Greg gaped at her, his lips moving, but no words coming out. He wasn't a crier like Nick was, but Easton swore she saw tears glistening in his eyes, those amazing chocolate coloured, puppy-dog eyes she so loved to lose herself in. Her heart dropped down into her feet and she felt her teeth puncture the bottom lip she never realized she was chewing, the metallic taste of blood washing over the tip of her tongue.
"Say something, please." She hadn't wanted to do this, she hadn't wanted to hurt him like this.
"Who?" his voice was barely above a whisper.
"Nick." She shook her head and stared down at her feet. Greg couldn't help but notice how tired she looked, but he wasn't about to let himself feel sorry for her. She was the one who'd screwed up, not him.
"Just go away," Greg whispered. "I don't want to see you." He knew she could barely hear him, but he didn't have the energy to say it louder. He squeezed his eyes shut tight, but it was no use. He couldn't shake the image of Nick and Easton together, intimately, when she was allegedly his. "Oh man," he muttered, wishing he could just disappear.
Opening his eyes again, Easton still stood there, distraught, the bright lights of the lab looking surreal in contrast with her clenched fists and his dark mood.
"Greg," she said quietly. Her intense blue eyes scanned him up and down, causing Greg to shiver despite the heat of the day.
She even looks good when I hate her, he thought, noticing the tensed muscles along her neck and shoulders, making her look even sexier.
"Are you OK?" she asked, all concern.
Greg snorted. "Oh yeah, I'm fine, Having a great night, you?"
Easton rolled her eyes, the tension crossing her face. "It was a one time thing. We can work this out."
"Work it out?" Greg exclaimed, widening his eyes. "That's funny. You go and sleep with one of my best friends and get knocked up and you want to work it out?" Easton opened her mouth, but Greg cut her off. "Wait, let me guess, you're still in love with him, aren't you?"
"You're blowing this out of proportion, Greg," she said.
"Really?' Greg crossed his arms in front of his chest. " Then answer the question, East. Are you still in love with Nick?"
Sighing heavily, Easton looked directly into his eyes. "I don't know,' she said.
Greg's heart jumped. Somewhere in the back of his mind there was a glimmer of hope, but he was too scared to trust it. "Really?"
Easton blinked once and dropped her gaze, staring down at the floor, and immediately Greg felt like he'd been shot through the heart. He brought his hand to his stomach, unable to breathe.
"I think I am," Easton said quietly before raising her eyes to his once again. " But I still love you too."
Her blue eyes were pleading with him and Greg heard the conviction in her voice, but it didn't matter. I think I am was echoing in his mind too fast for anything else to get in. It was too much to handle.
With one pointed finger she was out of his office and he slammed the door in her face.
"Greg!" Easton yelled, but Greg could barely hear her.
She thinks she loves him, he thought, pressing his back to the door and slowly sinking to the floor. And she has the nerve to say she still loves me too?
Well, that wasn't enough.
