She runs her nails lightly down my jaw, scraping the light facial hair she loves. “Get through today, and I promise to tell you. But I want you to know, I love you, too. With all my heart.”
“That’s all I can ask for.”
I lay my head on her chest to feel her racing heart. Her loving me is all that should matter, but I need more. So much more.
I shift to the side and situate her close. “I wish you would reconsider. Come with me today.”
“I can’t, Shaw. This isn’t my battle. She’s likely to go crazy, and I want this to be between the two of you.”
“She may flip out, but it doesn’t change anything. It’s time she knows.”
“Why have you waited so long to tell her about us?”
Bizzy’s question floods me with guilt; she obviously thinks I’ve been hiding her.
I roll to my side and lift her chin. Her innocence in this kills me.
“Because I’m an idiot. It was purely for protection, but that was stupid. After today, she’ll know. I’ve never wanted to hide you, but all this shit got in the way.”
“I understand.” Her eyes find mine, full of sympathy.
“Tonight, we will discuss what’s on your mind, what you’ve been hiding.”
She burrows in my chest and nods. There’s a rumble that comes out something like, “MDN.”
“Did you say MDN?”
She nods again.
“With my brothers?”
Another nod.
“What the fuck?” I scoot back and down at the same time, seeing her face pale.
“I need to tell you all together. It’s about my work, and I’m going to need support.”
My mind goes into overdrive, pissed that she wants a group, but excited she trusts my family. Then my mind jumps to the conclusion she is leaving the Pediatric Oncology Group.
Fucking finally.
I try to hide my excitement by kissing her deeply and easing out of the bed, only breaking away when I have to step back. She covers herself with the rumpled sheet, watching me disappear into the closet.
Mission accomplished. I’m absolutely covered in everything Bizzy.
“Hey,” I say breezily, walking into Caldwell’s conference room.
Sasha sits straighter, eyeing me wearily, as her lawyer gives me a slight wave. Caldwell chuckles, knowing my mood is light because I called him on the way here, explaining the way I wanted to handle this meeting.
I sit and pour a glass of water, pushing the folder in front of me to the side.
“How are you today, Sasha?”
She gives me a grin and sits up, offering a glass to me to fill. “Great.”
“Awesome. I’ve asked you here to iron out some details and to be sure we are on the same page with the baby.”
She sits back, waiting.
“I know there was an unfortunate altercation with my brother and Bizzy last week. I will not apologize. I understand you caught them off-guard, and in their defense, they just learned of a death of a young patient they were close to. He died of childhood leukemia.”
The room goes still, and she has the decency to look shocked.
“However, with that being said, my brother made you uncomfortable, and that will not happen again.”
“I think I can overlook his bad manners during a rough time, Ren. He’s a huge football star with a lot on his mind. I’ll accept his apology.” She sits back, making a point to hold her stomach, and looks at me smugly. “This is his niece or nephew.”
“He’s not going to apologize, Sasha. Not to you and not to me. He will love this child… but he’s never going to accept you.”
“Why the hell not?”
“Let’s move on.” I ignore her questioning glare, opening the folder and pretending to read. Bizzy and Gail’s words from a few weeks ago ring in my ears, and I shut the folder, locking eyes with Sasha. “A few weeks ago in my office, I asked you what you wanted from me, but I think emotions were too high and the conversation escalated out of control. So, I’m ready to listen. Really listen. Tell me how you see this going. What would you like to see happen over the next few months, and even after the baby is born? I assume we both agree this baby is the most important person in this relationship, and I’d like your input”
Boom! She wanted respect; that’s about as respectful as it gets.
She stares at me, her face spreading in a wide smile. She looks at her lawyer, and he nods. “First of all, I’d like to stop having most of our meetings