Baby Daddies - Tara Brown Page 0,83

need to book the next appointment.” I wipe my face and try to hide my swollen eyes from the patients in the waiting room.

“Okay, well we like to do every four weeks at this stage. So how is the second of October?”

“Can we do early?” Lori asks. “The season will be going and I’ll have games in the evenings.”

“Of course. How is ten in the morning?”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” I mutter, not bothering to say that I’ll have to book off work for it. Like I did this appointment, though Friday afternoons aren’t hard to sneak out. Half the office is normally gone anyway.

She sends me a notification via email for the appointment and writes it down on a card which she passes to Lori. He flashes a winning smile and she blushes. “You guys have a great weekend.”

“We will.” He slides his fingers into mine and we walk to the door.

Outside, the air is heavy and stinky. It makes me wrinkle my nose and wonder if the city has always smelled this bad or if it’s just the morning sickness lingering. “How is this possible?” I stop and stare at my stomach. “There has to be a mistake. We can’t do this.”

I’m panicking.

“Come on, crazy. Some vegetarian sushi will make you feel better.” He kisses the side of my head and I stop walking, jerking his hand and making him stop too. He turns, moving in front of me. “You okay? You gonna puke again?”

“No.” I take a deep breath as reality beats the ever-loving hell out of me. “I can’t move out.” I can’t believe I’m saying it but two babies changes everything. It and the throwing up until three in the afternoon every single day. There’s no way I can do this alone. I’m not the ultimate woman. I’m scared, weak, and pathetic. I’m not as strong as I think and knowing I have Lori to lean on makes me want to lean. For the first time in my life I don’t want to do something by myself.

“Good, because if you thought you could move out and I wasn’t going to follow you, you’re nuts.” He kisses my forehead. “If I have to sleep in that condemned building every single night, I will. But me and you are together. We’re not seeing each other. We’re not dating. We’re it.” He pulls back and stares into my eyes. “I’ve made my decision. I love you. And twins is cool. And if you want to freak out and act like this is the end of the world, that’s okay. Because I got you, I’ll take care of you.”

“Fine, but you have to take my name off everything. I don’t want your money.”

“Nope. No deal. It’s our money now. Just like those are our babies. So you accept the money and you stay with me in our lavish lifestyle, and you promise me no more talk of moving out or me being twenty-three or a stupid puck.” He lifts my chin and kisses me before I can argue. “And you have to be extra nice to me on nights where we lose a game. You haven’t seen it yet but I get emotional.”

“Lori, I’m being serious.”

“Oh me too, Red. Very serious.” He steps closer, cupping my face. “I had zero drama before you came along with all your bad luck. I met you and my world got twisted and turned upside down.” He gives me the grin. The one I hate. “But now that I’ve been on this weird ride with you, I like it. You’re crazy and emotional and crying and puking, and now there’s two babies and your dad hates us and your brother’s talking about giving up smoking for the babies and mine’s in rehab. Every week something else insane happens and it’s keeping me on my toes. This is never going to get old or boring.”

“I hate you right now,” I say with my own version of that grin.

“No, you don’t.” He kisses me again. “You love me, the same way I love you. And it’s cool you don’t say it. You don’t talk about getting married or any of those things normal pregnant girls do. But you’re an assassin. So I expect that some things will be different.” He says this all casually, nonchalant and lacking emotion.

“I do love you, Lori,” I say. “More than I can explain without starting the pregnancy crying again.”

“Enough to quit your job?” He wiggles his eyebrows.

“No.” I stand