Didn't Expect You (Against All Odds #2) - Claudia Burgoa Page 0,31

If she got pregnant, her dreamy boyfriend would step in. If I end up knocked up… What am I supposed to do?

Do I want to raise a child with Edward Bryant? I don’t think so. I should’ve thought about the consequences before we slept together. I mean, working with him after what happened has been easy. Neither one of us has acted awkward because we’re two mature adults. But a kid will change everything.

“Repeat after me,” Persy says. “My parents aren’t doctors, and I’ll be fine.”

“Miss you.”

“See you soon, okay. Nate, if you’re there, take care of my sister, please.”

“I will,” he assures her before I hang up.

He stares at me tenderly and suggests, “Why don’t we take Brock for a walk and then we can come back and have dinner? I made some chicken soup.”

“That sounds good.” Much better than going home and worrying myself sick about what is happening to me.

It’s just a twenty-four-hour bug. Nothing major, Nyx. Chill. Maybe everyone is right, and you need to slow down. You’re stressing yourself for nothing.

Twelve

Nate

These past couple of days haven’t worked out the way I planned. When I boarded the plane from New York to Denver I thought to myself, maybe you can get lucky this weekend.

We’ll be away from Ford and Persy. No one will be there to play third wheel. Nyx seems like a woman who knows what she wants and likes to have fun—when she allows herself to have it.

On Friday night while we had dinner at her place, I planned my next move. By Saturday night I’d have her in bed. It’s just a matter of loosening her up a little.

It was foolish to predict what would happen between us when it seems like everything is working against us.

She spent most of the day in my bed, but not in the way I had in mind.

Whatever bug she has not only had her puking, but she spent all day napping after we came back from her parents’ house. I spent the rest of my afternoon and part of the evening working and watching over her.

When I realized that my dinner plans had changed from a fancy table for two at Frasca to Ford’s kitchen, I started making chicken noodle soup. That’s one thing I remember about my mother. When we were sick, she’d prepare soup for us.

Before dinner, we walked Brock who had stayed with her almost all day, and then ate dinner. I’m positive that she doesn’t feel well since she didn’t hesitate to stay with me. She went to her sister’s house to grab a pair of pajamas and we stayed in my bed watching old movies.

Well, that was the intention. We picked out five movies for the evening. It hadn’t been ten minutes after the first movie started when she was already asleep. I stayed until the movie ended before I turned off the television. I should’ve moved to Ford’s bedroom, but Nyx’s head rested on top of my chest, and I didn’t have the heart to move her away from me.

As planned, I slept with Nyx Brassard. There wasn’t any sex involved, but one of the goals was achieved, right?

It's kind of ironic to wake up to my thirty-fifth birthday next to a beautiful woman with whom I haven’t shared anything but stolen caresses and a few scenes I’d love to erase from my mind.

She might be gorgeous, but no one looks good while vomiting.

I should be running away. More like drop her at home and fly to Seattle without looking back—ever. If she has the flu or a bug, I’ll get sick. If she’s pregnant…God bless her heart. It sounds like the father is a loser. The thought of being around an expectant mother makes me angry. It reminds me of Wyatt, Bronwyn, and the family she snatched from me.

If he was mine, I’d be picking him up from his mother’s place today and spending the day with my kid. Sometimes I wonder if he’s okay, if the other guy is a good father to him. Not sure if it’s my brain or my heart that can’t understand that he’s not mine to worry about. But how can I stop loving him when I haven’t forgotten his mother either.

What a fucked up life I live!

Nobody, not even Ford knows that I’m still pining for my ex. Which is why I should just move from this bed, leave this state, and forget Nyx Brassard. Whatever it is that keeps pulling me