"It wouldn''t be toote, my ride''s on the way," I lied, the words tasting bitter on my tongue.


    "You''ve been outside for over five minutes now," he pointed out. "How long is this ride going to take?" He asked, raising his eyebrows when he said ''ride",Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    "A minute. Two?" I shrugged, trying to appear nonchnt. "It will be here soon."


    "Dammit! Ana, get in the damn car! I don''t know what emergency you have but for you to have rushed out like that, it''s obviously very important." His voice rose slightly.


    I grounded my teeth and my hold on my phone tightened.


    "Fine!" I gritted out and ran around the car to get into the front passenger seat.


    "Where are we driving to?" He asked, his gaze straight ahead, hands gripping the steering wheel.


    I frowned. Why did he have to say ''we"?


    "I am going to Drey''s Clinicals," I replied while I ensured that the ''I'' was clear enough to send the right


    message.


    I saw his lips twitch and I waited for the question orment but he said nothing. He just entered the hospital''s name in his map and we headed there. The silence that continued with us afterwards was broken only by the asional directions from the GPS,


    As we drove there, my heart was beating so fast that I was slightly worried that Aiden might hear it.


    I kept hoping that when we get there, he would just drop me and drive off. Atleast, he shouldn''t see Amie. At the same time, I was dead worried about Amie. What terrible fever? She was perfectly fine before I left home. I checked her temperature and it was okay. When she hugged me vibrantly, she didn''t look like she would suddenly develop a terrible fever.


    Oh God. I hope my baby is fine.


    On his GPS, I could see that we just had about a couple miles left to get to the hospital.


    I cleared my throat. "You can just drop me here," I said with a syrupy smile that felt forced even to me.


    He briefly nced my way, a frown drawing itself over his brows, "Why would I do that?


    "I''d just walk from here. It''s a very short distance, really I tried to keep my voice light, casual.


    His nce moved quickly from the road to my face and back on the road, "Why would you want to do that?" He asked as if he had never heard such a request in his life.


    I gritted my teeth, thinking of the perfect excuse that would make him step on the brakes but I came up empty.


    "The hospital-is just right there. I''d just drive up to the front," he said in a definite tone then muttered under his breath, "No need to pull over or whatever."


    I chewed on the inside of my mouth. I couldn''t quiteprehend my fear of him seeing Amie. I mean it wasn''t like it''s boldly engraved on Amie''s forehead that Aiden''s her father.


    I tried t


    calm myself down. There was nothing to worry about. He wouldn''t find out unless he''s told. So


    rx, Ana,


    He had barely pulled over when I pushed the car''s door open and jumped out. My feet hit the pavement with a thud.


    "Easy there," I heard him call out as I ran toward the entrance of the hospital. His voice faded behind me as I raced towards the building.


    "Ana!"


    I came to a dead stop when I heard the familiar voice call my name. I turned around to see ra beside her car that just pulled over right behind Aiden''s. The sight of her car, so close to Aiden''s, made my heart skip a beat.


    Oh no.


    My eyes flicked from Aiden''s car to ra.


    I didn''t think ra had noticed him. Her focus was entirely on me.


    Even if Amie didn''t have it on her forehead, I didn''t want him to know anything about her. He shouldn''t. even catch a whiff that she was mine.


    "Why are you standing over there?" ra frowned,


    "Come over here and help me get her out so I can park the car properly."


    Yep! She definitely hasn''t seen Aiden.


    I ran back toward them, speed walked right past Aiden and straight to ra. My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears.


    "It''s Aiden," I told her in a very low voice that I doubted she heard me but she did.


    Her eyes widened and she mouthed, "Where?"


    I subtly nodded behind her. And God bless ra, she didn''t turn but the size of her already widened eyes doubled as she whisper-yelled, "what!" Her reaction would have beenical if the situation wasn''t


    SO


    tense.


    "Take Amie inside quickly. I''d park the car and make him leave."


    ra nodded in understanding and handed me the car''s key then she went around and carried Amie out of the car.


    My heart saddened as I watched my baby, with her eyelids drooped, weakly draped on ra''s arms. Her head was on her right shoulder and her face was turned my way.


    My heart mmed in my chest when her eyes slowly opened. I was quick to turn but it was toote. Time seemed to slow down as I realized what was about to happen. Just as I came face to face with Aiden who was now directly before me, Amie croaked out, "mommy."