Chapter 30: Chapter Thirty

Aria stilled on the couch, her palm still curved around her protruding belly, an ear shattering silence filtered through the room. Joan stood with her palm on the doorknob of the opened door, her mouth slack in shock.

So long to keeping her pregnancy a secret from Landen.

He hadn't moved from the doorway, his wide eyes glued to Aria's stomach, as if it may grow legs and run at him. She didn't know what to do. He'd already noticed it, and by the look on his face, he assumed it was his baby, which only complicated everything.

She knew he assumed it because Landen was too full of himself to think Aria would move on so quickly. In the back of his mind, even though she'd told him it was over, he thought he had a chance.

That was the reason he wouldn't let it go. It explained all of his texts, phone calls and unannounced visits. Landen thought this baby was his, and Aria couldn’t get her mouth to move to say anything to him.

They all stood there like mimes, silent with overexaggerated facial expressions.

Joan cleared her throat, breaking the ice crystallizing in the air, and shut the door loudly. "Landen, what an unexpected surprise," she said, folding her arms across her chest. "Aria, did you know Landen was stopping by?"

Aria frowned, her mouth drier than Death Valley, and swept her feet from the couch to the floor. "No," she said. "Landen has been great at showing up unannounced lately."

Landen chuckled slightly underneath his breath and then louder the second time. "Seriously Aria?" he asked, gesturing toward her stomach. "What … I don't even know what to say. You're pregnant? Weren’t you going to tell me? Is this some sick joke?"

Joan stood behind him but rolled her eyes dramatically.

Aria stared blankly at him. "A joke? This isn't my idea of a joke, Landen."

"I think you should leave. We're expecting our food soon," Joan interrupted, sensing the tension building in the air.

Landen turned on his heel. "You want me to leave when I just found out my girlfriend is pregnant!"

Aria shook her finger. "No. No. I'm not your girlfriend. I'm your ex-girlfriend, and since you didn't get a call about it, you shouldn't worry with it."

Aria walked over toward the kitchen, fishing out a bottle of much needed water from the fridge, and guzzling it down. Landen's heavy footsteps drew closer, and she knew she wasn't getting out of this easily.

But telling Landen it wasn't his baby wouldn’t be any good. Landen would want to track down the father, and that would lead to Ethan. Aria knew she couldn’t let Ethan find out through Landen or have Landen asking questions at Devry Media before she handled maternity leave and telling the business herself.

"Aria, I am worried about it. I have a kid on the way, and you didn't tell me anything about it? We need to get a room ready, let our parents know, get a crib … the list is endless. Have you even thought about any of that?"

She kept her back to him, trying to hide the lie on her face. Had she thought about it? Of course, she'd thought about it. It was on her list to search the local thrift shops and flea markets for used baby furniture. Did he think she was an idiot?

Obviously, if he kept showing up after she turned him down.

Landen gripped her elbow and turned her around to face him. His handsome face looked sad, but it did little for Aria's pity for him.

Her pity died that day in the bathroom, along with Landen's dignity.

"What did you want me to say, Landen? Call you while you're with your little girlfriend—"

Landen shifted in the kitchen. "I told you: Bri and I broke up weeks ago."

Aria lifted up her palm to silence him. "Regardless, I do not owe you anything anymore. If I want to raise my baby alone, so be it."

He frowned, shoving his fingers into the length of his red hair. "It's my right to see my child. Have you been taking care of yourself? Taking your pills and making sure to eat?"

Now he cares.

Joan gave her a knowing look from the dining table where she'd sat to watch the show. Aria ignored her, pinching the bridge of her nose and taking a deep breath. "Like I said before. It's none of your concern. I've been taking care of myself and going to the doctor. That's all you need to know—"

"Wait. How far along are you? You must have known since I left …about six months ago. Gosh, Aria. You're six months along and haven't told anyone?"

Joan raised her hand from the table. "She told me!"

Landen eyed her over his shoulder before turning back and staring at Aria's belly. "I can hardly tell with that dress on," he said. "Have you been keeping it a secret at work?"

Aria tucked a brown curl behind her ear, willing Landen to get sick and leave her apartment at once. She didn't want to lie, and she didn't want him to keep asking questions about her job.

"Landen, what does it matter? And why did you come over here? Did you need something?"

Landen swallowed slowly and scratched the back of his neck. "I came to see if I had any mail."

Aria sighed heavily and walked toward the kitchen cabinet where her pile of mail sat. She swiped through it and pulled out two pieces of Landen's mail. "Here. Now you can go."

Landen grabbed the mail but didn't look at it. His gaze lowered to Aria's stomach, emotion dancing over his face. "I always wanted to be a dad."

Joan cringed behind him, and Aria felt herself swallowing that same reaction. When Aria didn't reply, Landen reached out and placed his palm on her stomach.

Double cringe.

"Landen, listen, do you think I want my son to be raised by a cheater?"

Landen frowned, but a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "It's a boy?" he said quietly. "I wonder if he'll get my red hair."

Joan snickered. "Don't bank on it," she mumbled.

Landen furrowed his brow and gave her a disgusted look. "Are you taking the position of the annoying friend that talks Aria into stupid things?"

She titled her head to the side, a telltale sign that she was about to let him have it, so Aria shut them both down. "Well, at least she isn't the can't seem to move on ex-boyfriend that shows up unannounced and tries to force his way back into my life, guy."

Landen ground his teeth in annoyance, something she hated, but it never deterred him from doing so. "You're just hurting right now. You're hormonal because of the pregnancy; you have this mentality that you can do this alone," he said, stepping forward and bracing his palms against her shoulders. "But you can't. You need help, Aria. Let me help you."

Aria felt her eye begin to twitch in exasperation. How had she spent years with Landen? Had he always been this annoying? "Landen," she said, slapping his arms away. "I don't need your help. You've done enough to me. I don't need any more of your so-called help, okay?"

He sighed deeply and bravely reached forward to rub Aria's stomach once more. "I'll see you both soon," he said, turning to leave the apartment. He lifted his chin at Joan on the way out but stopped in the doorway. "I hope you know, just because I cheated on you, doesn't give you the right to keep my child from me. I will be a part of his life, and you won't stop me."

He turned around and ran into the pizza guy, who jumped to get out of his way. Aria listened to Landen's heavy footsteps on his way down the stairs and huffed when she didn't hear him stumble.

"That went well," Joan mumbled.

Aria glanced over at the pizza deliveryman who looked severely uncomfortable. "Umm. Am I at the right apartment?"

Aria sighed. "Unfortunately."