Series Starter Firsts in Series Collection - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,112

of this town. Small town life is not for me. I’ve been saving. We’ve talked about this.”

She’s right; we have. I think that’s a big part of why she was never the one. I love being on the farm, living in Kentucky. This is my home. Misty has always been honest about her plans to move on. Her parents are both big shot business moguls, who never paid any real attention to her. To hear her tell it, she was never good enough for them.

Running my fingers through my hair, I take a deep breath. “Please don’t do this.” My voice cracks on my plea.

“I just…I don’t want to be a mother.” She cries harder.

“How long have you known? Give it a few weeks to sink in. It’s a shock for sure, but that’s our baby.”

“I found out four weeks ago. I’m two months along. I’ve thought about this, Evan, and it’s always the same answer. I don’t want this.”

“I do,” I say with conviction. That baby is a part of me. My mind races for a solution and before I know what’s happening, words are falling from my lips. “Sign over rights to me.”

“What?” She’s looking at me like I’ve lost my mind.

“Have the baby, then sign the rights over to me. I’ll never ask you for anything. You don’t have to be a part of his or her life, just…please, Misty.”

Silence grows between us. The only sound is her soft cries and the rapid beat of my heart against my chest. I know she needs to process what I’ve just said, so I bite my tongue, giving her time.

“You really want this that badly? We’ve never talked about having kids.”

“Yes, and I know we haven’t, but that doesn’t change the fact you are now carrying a part of me and I want that, more than I ever thought possible. Please don’t do this.”

“So, how would this work? You’d just take the baby and what? Go on with your life?” she asks.

“Yes. I’ll make sure you have whatever you need during the pregnancy. We can go to a lawyer and have it written up. You sign over all rights to me and that’s it. You can leave and go wherever you want. I won’t ask you for anything else. Please, Misty.” My voice is soft and pleading. I want to scream at her and demand she not do this, but I can’t. That’s only going to piss her off. Misty has a mind of her own. I need for her to come to the conclusion that this is the best option.

“My parents agree with me; I’m not cut out for motherhood.”

What the fuck? I’ve only met her parents once. They live in Tennessee. Misty moved here to stay with her cousin, Heather, while attending college. She dropped out, but never moved back home. The one and only time I met them, they made sure to tell their daughter what a disappointment she is, as they snubbed their noses at the both of us.

I don’t comment. If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it at all. “Please, I can call the lawyer now, get the process started. I’ll make sure you have anything you need.”

“Evan, there will be medical bills, clothes, things for the baby. My parents, they won’t help.”

“I know and I got it---all of it.” I hold her gaze as I say the words, willing her to keep my baby.

“If I agree to this, I’m leaving as soon as I can. I don’t want this life, Evan.”

I nod. “I know, and I won’t stop you. As long as you’ve signed all the papers, you are free to go and live your life. You won’t hear from me again.” I wipe my sweaty palms against my thighs. She’s considering it, but I have no idea which way she’ll go.

“It needs to be clear in the papers that I want nothing to do with the baby. I know it sounds harsh, but I just…can’t.”

“Whatever you want. We can go to the attorney together.”

She paces to the window and stares out at the green pasture, arms crossed over her chest. “Okay,” she whispers.

I exhale the breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. She said okay. “Thank you, Misty. I’ll call him now and get it set up. Have you been to the doctor? When is your next appointment? I want to be there for all of it.”

“Yeah, I went. I’m supposed to go monthly for check-ups and then