Hooking - Kristine Allen Page 0,79
my patience with everyone and everything.
“It doesn’t matter where I heard it. I’m worried about you and the baby. Have you gotten the paternity results back yet?”
“If I did, I’m sure you would’ve heard that too,” I replied with snark.
“Alex,” she warned. I snorted.
“I’m doing the best I can, and I’m figuring it out.”
“But this is your long stretch of home games. What happens when you go out of town on Friday?”
I was a little shocked she knew my schedule. “I’ll figure it out,” I repeated. She sighed.
“Do you need me to come down there to help you? I will if you need me.” Was it my imagination, or did she sound hopeful that I’d say yes, I needed her?
“I’m okay for now. You’re always welcome, but you don’t have to go out of your way because of this.”
We discussed Christmas, and I extended the offer for her to stay with me. To my surprise, she accepted. I made a mental note to give Dad a heads-up.
When I went to bed that night, I tried not to let it bother me that Sydney hadn’t made any more effort to spend time with me. Because though I understood, it sucked.
The next morning, I received a call that ended up being both a relief and a devastation.
“This Is How A Heart Breaks”—Rob Thomas
Monday morning, I trudged into work feeling like I hadn’t slept a wink. It was the story of my life since everything had happened on Tuesday. It was hard to believe it had only been a week since some woman from Alex’s past showed up with a baby. It seemed more like a year with the way I missed him.
It shouldn’t bother me that he didn’t invite me over again after my last refusal. On one hand, I was thankful. If I was telling the truth, I didn’t want to get attached to a baby that might not be his. The other side to that coin was that if it was his, I’d been able to put aside the hurt that it was with someone else. Yet, he hadn’t shown any interest in having me over, and I was too stubborn to ask or to simply show up.
Flopping into my chair, I let my bag hit the floor and slouched with my head against the back of the chair and my eyes closed. Katie was out sick, and I hoped I wasn’t getting whatever she had. With as run-down as I was due to poor sleep, it would be easy for me to get sick.
Her being out was going to put me further behind. We’d been ridiculously busy, and I’d gotten a little backed up on some tasks. Getting a huge coffee from the break room, I sat down to reply to several emails.
Time got away from me until there was a knock on my door. A quick glance at my phone told me it was damn near lunchtime already.
“Come in!” I called. I’d closed the door to minimize interruptions while I worked.
When the door opened to reveal the man I’d been obsessing over, I sat up straighter. “Alex,” I murmured in surprise.
“Hey. Is it okay if I come in?” He looked over his shoulder, then back to me.
“Um, sure.” He came in and shut the door behind him. I’d forgotten how small he made my office seem. After some hesitation, he sprawled in the chair across from me but didn’t say anything. I waited expectantly.
“He’s not mine.”
At first, I was confused. I wasn’t tracking what he was talking about, and I waited for him to continue or elaborate.
“Hank Isaac. He’s not mine.” It wasn’t apparent how he was taking this news, as his face gave away nothing.
“Oh. Um, how do you feel about that?” I had to ask, because I wasn’t sure if he needed condolences or congratulations.
He shrugged and turned his head slightly as he stared at the wall. “It’s for the best. A relief, you know. The last thing I need in my life’s a kid. Never wanted one anyway, so I guess it all worked out.”
“Now what?”
Again, he shrugged, then met my gaze with eyes that seems colder than I’d ever seen them.
“He’s gone. Avery, one of the ol’ ladies with my brother’s club, had been helping me out with the situation, and turns out one of the guys who plays for Pittsburgh is the father. She’d hit him up with a paternity test before me but dropped him with me because I’m in Texas and