But Michael was still holding back, refusing to fully acknowledge whatever was growing between us. And that hurt more than i wanted to admit.
"I don't know," he finally said, his voice low, almost apologetic. "This wasn't supposed to be complicated."
I let out a humorless laugh, shaking my head. "Nothing about this has been simple, Michael."
He ran a hand over his face, clearly frustrated with himself. "I'm just trying to protect you, Isabella. Protect you and the baby. That's all I've wanted from the beginning."
My heart softened at his words. I knew he meant it—Michael was nothing if not protective. But i also knew that he was using that as an excuse to avoid dealing with his own feelings. "I don't need protection, Michael," i said gently. "What I need is honesty."
