Alan's mind kept replaying Alexa's soft, trembling voice from that afternoon. She had touched her stomach gently. Her eyes had been a little glossy, her tone almost guilty, and that was what made her words stick so deeply inside him.
"Bella is innocent… she's a sweet woman," Alexa had said, stroking her tummy slowly. "I know I hurt her in the past. I know what I did was awful. But Alan… as your friend, I want to tell you something honestly."
He had looked at her quietly, unsure where she was going.
She sighed. "Leo was always emotionless. Cold. He doesn't know how to love. You saw it too, didn't you? I loved him for years… desperately, pathetically. And he never once acknowledged it." Her voice broke a little, and she wiped the corner of her eye. "You know how painful that was, Alan. You know how it feels when your feelings mean nothing to the person you love."
Alan's heart tightened when he remembered her expressions, regretful, tired, almost gentle.
