Hannah could not believe they’d just had sex in his limo. While it was moving. And even more, she couldn’t believe how amazing it had been. He’d always been a good lover—it’s how she ended up pregnant in the first place. He couldn’t keep his hands off her and she couldn’t resist him. It’d been a long time for her, and the sex she’d had a few years back was nothing like what it was with Anton.

Thinking about those times and what’d he said a short time ago brought a question to her mind. “Can I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

“You said you were sorry for leaving. But why did you leave?”

“I had to move. You know that. My parents died and my grandfather lived the next state over.”

“No, I know that. I know why you physically left, but why did you leave me? Why did you end things if you loved me so much?”

“I don’t know. I guess at the time it made the most sense.”

She waited for him to elaborate and when he didn’t, she said, “That’s it? It made sense?”

“It was a long time ago, Hannah. I don’t remember my thought process, but I do know it was a mistake.”

“You never even called. You could have called.”

“I know.”

She sat up and found her panties on the floor. As she pulled them back on and fixed her skirt, she knew what she had to do. “Tonight was really great. But I can’t keep seeing you.”

His expression and demeanor changed instantly. “Why?”

“I should have told you this before, but I have a daughter. I can’t be out late, having sex in limos. I need to be there for her.”

“I already knew you were a mom.”

“You did?” How was that possible? Did he also know Melody was his?

“When I left, I didn’t call. But one time, I came back. It was a few months later. My grandfather had taken me to my parent’s house to get some things before the house was sold. I saw you. Pregnant. With another guy. I was shocked you’d move on so fast, and took it to mean you were over me. Obviously, you were serious about him since you were having his baby.”

She swallowed hard. So he didn’t know.

“I guess it’s just as well,” he said. “We had one night together. I don’t know if I’m ready to do the stepfather thing anyhow. Maybe it’s better this way.”

The prick of tears stung her eyes. She hadn’t wanted this to be true. All night, she’d been thinking of ways to tell him. She wanted him to know and she wanted Melody to meet her father. But he’d just admitted it. He was clearly trying to downplay his hurt at her not wanting to continue seeing him, but admitting he wasn’t ready to be a father felt like the truth. She couldn’t tell him. Not now. It would be stupid to willingly bring Melody’s father into her life when he wasn’t ready for it. It would only end up hurting Melody in the long run.

The limo stopped and Hannah saw that they were outside her apartment building. She couldn’t bring herself to meet Anton’s eyes.

“Thanks again for tonight,” she said. “It was nice to get out, and… well, that was nice, too.”

“I’d say it was more than nice.”

She nodded and put her hand on the door’s handle. “I don’t think we should see each other again. It would be too hard to make this a casual thing, and I can’t be in a relationship.”

“I understand,” he said.

“I’m sorry.” She looked at him, but now he wouldn’t meet her eyes. “You’ll make some woman very happy one day.”

She opened the car door and stepped one foot out.

“Hannah, wait.”

She braved a look at him and wasn’t sure what his expression revealed. He looked somewhat pained as he spoke.

He opened his mouth but seemed to reconsider his words. “If you ever need anything, or if you happen to change your mind…”

She pressed her lips together. “I have your number.”

With that, she stepped out of the limo and closed the door behind her, letting Anton drive out of her life. Again.

She held back tears as she entered the building. It was too late to get Melody from the neighbor’s. They’d all be asleep. She went inside her apartment and got into her pajamas.

As she hugged her pillow, feeling very alone, she wished things could be different. The tears came as she recalled him saying he wasn’t ready to be a father. Maybe her daughter would never know her father. She didn’t want that for Melody, but having no father was better than a father who showed up, then vanished when he couldn’t handle it.

Hannah thought of the pain he caused when he left her, and the pain he caused now. Tears leaked silently from her eyes as she drifted off to sleep.