Chapter 73

Lily found Barnett at his apartment. She had to knock a few times before he finally came to the door, a slight scowl on his face.

“So, you’re back,” she said.

He stepped aside to let her in. She closed the apartment door behind her and trailed him into the room. “How was Egypt?”

“It was fine. Saw the pyramids.” He looked interested, but she wasn’t there to talk about Egypt. “Have you been online recently?”

He shook his head. “I’ve been with my father, you know that. He was really sick.”

She mentally kicked herself. “Right, how Grandpa?”

Barnett sighed and sat down on the couch. She took the seat across from him. “He’s doing better, but still not his usual self.”

“He finally got tired of your company?”

He huffed out a dry laugh. “Pretty much.”

She bit her lip. A part of her didn’t want to bring it up, but she had to. Both Barnett and Anna were too stubborn to admit how they felt for each other, and now everything was falling apart. It bothered Lily too much for her to ignore it. She just wanted them to stop being so stupid. They obviously felt the same about each other.

“There’s something you need to see,” she said.

He sighed. “I don’t know. I’ve already had a pretty bad day.”

She handed him her phone, cutting him off. “Press play.”

He started the video, and she leaned over the back of the couch to watch it with him. “Why am I watching this?” he asked. On screen, Arthur was giving a description of the hike he was about to do. Then he introduced his guest.

She couldn’t see his face, but she noticed his shoulders tense when Anna appeared on the screen. She was noticeably pregnant.

“She’s…” he trailed off.

“Yup.”

“I wouldn’t want something to happen to the woman I love,” Arthur was saying. The camera panned to Anna, her hand on her stomach and a smile on her face. “And if Anna wants, I’d like to marry her and be the father of her children.” Again, a shot of Anna smiling at Arthur.

Barnett stopped the video and stared down at the still frame. Anna stood there, her hand on her belly.

“So, she’s pregnant with his kid,” he said, his voice low. “Good for them.”

Lily frowned and took her phone back. She returned to her chair. “It’s not that simple and you know it.”

Barnett’s face was slightly red. He cleared his throat and stood up. “I’m happy for them,” he said, but his voice sounded off.

“No, you’re not,” she argued.

“I have some work I need to do. Stay as long as you want.”

He turned and walked away, his muscles visibly tight. She got up and followed him, grabbing his arm to stop him. “You need to reach out to her. Make things right.”

He sighed and pulled his arm free. “She’s clearly happy. I will not ruin that for her.”

“But you love her.”

He shook his head and refused to look at her. “It doesn’t matter.”

This time, she let him go. He walked into his bedroom and shut his door with a loud bang. The sound made her jump. That went way worse than she thought it would. She knew he’d be upset, but she thought that at least he’d do something about it. There was no way the baby was Arthur’s. She knew Anna, and Anna had feelings for Barnett. She wouldn’t just go date Arthur, pregnant or not. She just didn’t see him that way.

She pulled out her phone and tried to call Anna, but it went straight to voicemail.

She let out a frustrated groan and stomped out of Barnett’s apartment. This whole mess could have been avoided if the two of them just listened to her in the first place.

It was a few days before I could get up the nerve to bring up what Arthur said. I still couldn’t believe he told the entire world he wanted to be the father to my children without even talking about it with me. He knew how I felt about him, that we were just friends. Why would he do something like that and then just pretend nothing happened?

It finally bothered me so much that I couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Can we talk for a minute?” I said, pulling Arthur aside.

“Sure,” he said. He put his arm around my shoulders and together we walked to my room. When we were safely inside, I ducked out from under his arm and perched on the edge of my bed. He sat down in the desk chair across from me.

We were in a new location now, this time staying at a quaint bed-and-breakfast. Tomorrow Arthur was doing a segment on rock climbing. A professional rock climber was coming on to teach him, and I was supposed to style him for it in the morning.

“We need to talk about what you said the other day.”

His face fell slightly at my tone. “Oh.”

“Why did you say all that? And on air, too? You know the entire world’s going to think we’re a couple now if they didn’t before.”

“And that’s such a bad thing?”

“I thought we had this conversation,” I said. “I thought you were okay, just being friends.”

He sighed and rubbed at his forehead. “I thought I was okay with it too but being on the road with you all this time…I don't know. I can’t just turn it off. We’d be so good together, Anna.” He gave me a pleading look. “Just think about it.”

“Arthur, I love you, but I can’t change how I feel. I’m going to be a mother. I can’t afford to get anything wrong right now.”

“But it wouldn’t be wrong.”

“Arthur.” I gave him a pleading look, but he couldn’t seem to meet my gaze. “It just wouldn’t work. Can’t we go back to the way things were before?”

He sighed. “I don’t think I can do this,” he said. “I need space. I thought maybe if we had this time together, you’d change your mind, but it’s just making it harder for me to move on.”

“Look, moving around this much has been exhausting. I need to get ready to be a mother. Maybe I should just go home.”

He was silent for a moment, then he nodded. “Maybe you should.”

I stood up, a tear slipping loose and falling down my cheek. “I’m sorry Arthur.”

He stood up too, then pulled me into a sudden hug. We held each other close for a moment, both of us with tears on our cheeks. When he pulled away, I started crying harder.

He wiped my tears away. “Don’t worry, I’ll see you when I get back.” He forced a smile. “We’re still friends Anna, nothing has changed. I just need some space.”

I nodded. “I understand. I think I need that, too.”

We hugged again, then separated. He looked back at me once, then left, the heavy door swinging shut behind him.

I got started on packing. A part of me was relieved to be leaving. I already filmed every segment I signed on for, and even though there was some talk of me doing more, I was happy with everything I accomplished. My social media following was bigger than ever thanks to the show, and I had an amazing time.

But it was time for me to go home and figure out my life. I needed somewhere to live, and I needed to get a nursery ready. There was so much to do before I gave birth, and I really didn’t want to do it all on the road.

This was the best choice. I had my adventure. Now it was time to prepare for the next one.