Warner's POV
She mutters under her breath, wrapping her arms around herself protectively. "I'm never going to be able to leave this place. I should never have come back here."
Her words slice through me like a blade.
Arlene settles onto the couch, her hands instinctively moving to cradle her stomach. She's not wrong, though her reasoning is completely off. Truth is, I'm hoping she won't want to leave at all. I take the seat beside her, close enough to feel her warmth.
"Arlene, before I explain everything, I need you to know this was never supposed to happen," I begin carefully.
"I understand," she whispers, her voice barely audible. "Neither of us planned this. It shouldn't have been possible. I had an implant when we first met, but here we are now." She shifts to face me directly, and I lean back to make sure she can see the gravity in my expression.
"Just tell me straight, Warner. Don't sugarcoat it. I can handle whatever you're about to say."
