Chapter 7

It had been two days since Ana had discovered that she was carrying another life in her. She had freaked out after her calm episode.

It had actually occured to her that she was pregnant when she was in bed that same night. She had cried and screamed. She didn't know why. But it had been extremely emotional. And it had left her with swollen eyes the next day.

Ana had decided she was going to tell Landon about the pregnancy that day. And she was kind of dreading it. Landon was a father figure in her life, as strange as that sounded. He was extremely overprotective. Ana knew for a fact that he was going to remind her of how he had tried to stop her from going out that night.

She took in a deep breath and put her hands on her tummy. It was still flat. To imagine that there was a tiny human in there was baffling.

Ana had thought of many things in all the three days she had known. She had thought of terminating the pregnancy. She had thought of adoption. But at the end of the day, she wasn't going to be able to. It had been a short while but she was already attached to this baby. And she had already started speaking to them the previous day.

A knock resounded on the door and Ana lifted her head. It was Landon. A few seconds later, he was in front of her with his usual comforting smile. But today, it had no effect on her. She was too stressed to pay attention to it.

“Ana? Any problem?" Landon asked when he didn't get any reaction from her.

Ana put down her head and tucked her legs under her body. It was the signal that she was feeling bad so Landon dropped his bag and sat next to her.

He was still in his uniform and Ana kind of felt bad that she was depriving him of his clearly needed rest. But there was no one else she could talk to.

He held her in his arms and she climbed into his laps like a kid. She didn't cry. She didn't say anything. Just lay in his arms and he stroked her hair.

"Are you going to tell me what's wrong now?" Landon asked, and Ana said something but it was muffled by the fact that she was in his arms.

"I didn't hear you."

"Not right away," was all Ana said and stuck her head back in the comfort of Landon's chest.

This position was giving Landon mixed feelings. He knew all Ana considered him as was a really good friend. But when she got like this, all clingy and affectionate, his mind started making the most out of it.

They stayed that way from a moment then Ana disentangled herself from him. They were sitting next to each other and her arms were wrapped around his waist with his around her shoulders.

"So? Are you going to tell me what happened?" Landon asked.

Ana was silent for a while. As Landon was about to ask the question again, she said something that shocked him out of his wits. "I'm pregnant"

Landon was quiet. He thought for a moment he had misheard. "What?"

"I'm pregnant Landon," Ana repeated, searching Landon's face anxiously. He pulled away from her gently and stared at her incredulously.

"What do you mean you're pregnant, Ana?" he asked, shaking his head.

Ana instantly felt like a failure and a shame. To have her best friend disappointed in her was stressful. "Landon–"

"It was that night right? That damned night I told you not to go out with me, right?" he asked, standing up suddenly.

"Landon–" Ana tried again but Landon wasn't done yet. He was going to say everything he had to. And Ana was not going to stop him.

"You hung up on me Ana. If we had gone together, I would have stopped you from going with whichever low life is the father of that baby!"

Ana grew offended. She had told him and yes, she had expected a reaction. But this was extreme. He was being deliberately offensive.

"Stop it Landon. One, he's not a low life," Ana started. She didn't know why she defended a man she didn't even know, but it just felt right. "Two, do you think I don't know all this? I told you so you could comfort me. Yes, I want the truth. But not like this! And definitely not while I'm so vulnerable! Please, Landon. I need you"

Ana's tears moved Landon. He walked to her and took her into his arms. And she started sobbing. He sighed, then patted her back gently. Finally her cries subsided. And they could talk.

"Why didn't you use protection?" Landon asked, after Ana had calmed down.

"He did. Anyways I think he did. We were bother wasted. And none of us was thinking straight. I don't even remember all that happened. All I remember was–"

"Wait," Landon interrupted, definitely not in the mood to listen to Ana talk about her time with another man. He was patient and calm but that was another level. "You were drunk when you left with him? What if he turned out to be some serial killer?"

Ana shrugged and Landon widened his eyes. She loved thinking she was some kind of prude. But she was anything but. She just preferred to concentrate on her priorities.

"Ana, how could you be so–" he started the stopped when he say the pitiful face she was putting on. He sighed and hugged her again. At least she was safe. And standing right here in front of him.

They stayed silent for another while. Both of them were deep in thought. Ana thinking about the future of her kid. And Landon thinking about how to let go of this girl. He knew she was not aware of his feelings. And she was not aware that she was hurting him. And that was what was endearing but also so damned annoying with her.

"Have you told Veronica yet?" Landon asked.

"Landon, that's the most stupid question I have ever heard you ask. I hadn't even told you an hour ago. How do I tell Veronica?"

Landon blushed a bit and pulled Ana a little bit closer to himself again. If Ana noticed, or was against her, she didn't say anything.

"And the father?"

"I don't know.. I don't even know him. All I know is what he looks like and that he lives in a really expensive neighborhood," Ana explained, making Landon sigh.

"So how are you going to tell him?"

"I must not tell him though," Ana said and Landon frowned at her in disapproval. She stuck her tongue out at him. And it took all in Landon not to stick that tongue into his mouth.

Landon frowned for a second, something dawning upon him. "Wait, Ana, where did you say you met him?"

"The Tavern. Why?" Ana asked, a bit worried. Landon had tons of ideas in his head and there was no telling what he wanted to do.

"And how does he look?" he continued, making Ana's delicate brows draw into a frown.

"Tall. Black hair. Green eyes. And a small mouth," Ana explained and the crews started turning in Landon's head.

"When did you meet?"

"Um, Landon, I don't look like one of those little delinquents you take info custody. So why all the questions?"

"Just answer," Landon said impatiently, and Ana raised her brows. "Please," he added and a self satisfied smile appeared on her lips.

"It was about a month ago. Give and take," she said and he pursed his lips. Ana looked at him, worried. Why was he getting into all type of states for a guy they were never going to find? It just wasn't worth it.

"Why are you asking all these questions?" Ana asked, looking at Landon intently.

"I thought he was someone I knew. Turns out he's not," Landon said and his chest burned a bit.

"All right," Ana replied with pursed lips then rested her head on his strong arms.

Landon felt bad. He knew that the person Ana was talking about was definitely the same person as his client. The details were too similar for it to be two different people.

But he was sorry. He was going to have to keep this to himself. He loved Ana more than she could imagine. And he knew if you loved someone their happiness mattered, but Landon knew for a fact that all Jack Knight wanted was some rounds of sex so as to get Ana out of his head.

So according to him, he was actually doing her a favor. Even though she was not going to see it that way.

"Landon?" Ana called out softly and he swallowed.

"Yes?"

"I love you."

"I love you too."

And she couldn't imagine just how much he actually loved her…