19. Stefan
19
STEFAN
“All done,” my lawyer states after Alicia finally signs the NDA. He’s pushing for a DNA test but I want to speak with the doctor to make sure it won’t harm the baby. I’ve googled it and it’s pretty invasive and can be harmful to the baby, and that’s the last thing I want to do to a child, mine or not.
Alicia was hesitant to sign at first but after my lawyer laid down the law—go Sebastian—realized she had no choice. Hell, even I signed quickly when he passed me the document. Sebastian is good at what he does and he can get anyone to sign anything. Hell, I’m pretty sure he could convince the sluttiest of sluts to join a convent.
Sebastian goes through all the paperwork and now that the I’s are dotted and the T’s are crossed, it’s all done.
Tyrone didn’t come with her and Sebastian has asked, well demanded, that he come in and sign one too. Alicia tried to argue he doesn’t need to as is this between her and me, but Sebastian reminded her that if she wants anything from me, he will sign the NDA. His isn’t as stringent as hers but it’s still watertight.
With the paperwork and agreement finalized, Alicia and I exit the Nobel and Hayes offices. While we’re waiting for the elevator to arrive, an uncomfortable silence envelops us. The only sound is the snapping of her gum as she chews loudly like a cow.
“You wanna grab lunch?” I ask her out of nowhere.
“Ohh, I’m, I can’t. I have a scan to get to.”
“Can I come?” The words pass through my lips before I have a chance to even think about it.
“You wanna come?”
“Yes, I do. I meant it when I said I want to be a part of my son’s life. I’m not a total asshole.”
She looks at me and just as the elevator arrives, she nods and mumbles, “Okay.”
Nodding, we step in and I press the button for the garage and the car whisks us down to the underground lot. Escorting Alicia over to my car, I rest my hand on her lower back and I think of when I did this with Wren the other day. The heat and connection I felt with Wren, but now with Alicia, the mother of my unborn child, there’s nothing.
We climb into my car and I reverse out of my spot. Round and round we drive till we appear on the street again. “Where to?” I ask.
She rattles off the address and I enter it into the navigation system. We leave downtown and head into Hollywood. With each mile that passes, the buildings become more and more derelict and the number of homeless people increases. An audible gasp leaves my lips when we pull into the parking lot of the doctor’s office. The building before me looks like it’s about to fall down. The once white exterior is covered in graffiti. The windows have bars on them and the path leading to the entrance is cracked with weeds growing between them.
“We aren’t all millionaire hockey players,” Alicia hisses when she sees the expression on my face.
“I ... I’m sorry,” I stammer. Looking over at her, I take her in and she really is an attractive woman, not Wren attractive, but still attractive nonetheless. I can see why I hooked up with her. “I mean no offense, it’s just, is this a safe area?”
She laughs. “Stefan, it’s Hollywood not Skid Row. I’ve grown up here, this is home and it’s where I’m going to raise my baby. If you don’t like it, leave, I don’t need you.”
“I’m not turning my back on my child,” I snap at her. “But seriously, does this doctor actually know what he’s doing? This isn’t some back alley thing, is it?”
“Oh My God, your privilege is showing, Stefan. And, yes, Dr. Sanchez knows what he’s doing. His mom delivered me and he learned all he knows from her.”
“So why isn’t she looking after you?”
“Dr. S. was killed during a break-in. Some junkies looking for drugs attacked her when she was leaving one night. She put up a fight but one of the little punks stabbed her and she bled out.”
“So safe,” I deadpan, earning myself an eye roll from her.
A silence fills my car but it’s broken when Alicia says, “Shall we?”
“Mmmhmpf,” I reply, but I’m still not one-hundred-percent sure about any of this. Alicia climbs out and I follow suit. Meeting her by the hood, I pull on my cap and I tag along behind her into the building before us.
Thankfully, the inside is much nicer than the outside.
It’s your typical sterile waiting room and I see two other pregnant women in various stages of pregnancy. They both eye me with suspicion and considering I’m the only male here, I don’t take offense.
Alicia checks in with the nurse and then we take a seat. No sooner does she sit down and her name is called. Not wanting to overstep, I don’t move. I just sit here and watch her walk toward the nurse. “You coming?” she asks over her shoulder.
The sound of her voice snaps me to attention. I jump up and follow her down the corridor and into the doctor’s office. She walks over to a table and hops up. Resting her hands on the edge of the examination table, she swings her legs back and forth while I lean against the wall and we wait.
A few moments later, a young guy walks in. Is he even old enough to be a doctor?
“Alicia, good to see you again,” he greets her. A huge smile is on his face and he gives me creepy vibes. “How ya doin’, Alicia?”
“I’m good, Dr. Sanchez.”
“How’s the sickness?”
“Sickness?” I ask. “You didn’t tell me you were sick.”
“Morning sickness,” she snaps and then looks back to the doctor and sweetly answers. “It’s starting to settle down now, that medication is helping.”
“Good, good. Well, let’s have a look at your baby.” He hands her a gown and pulls the curtain around the table she’s sitting on and while she changes, he turns his attention to me.
“Good game on the weekend,” he says while Alicia is changing.
“Thank you,” I reply with a smile. After all these years, it’s still so surreal to have strangers say things like that to me.
“And you are?”
“The dad,” I outstretch my hand. He takes it and shakes.
“Nice to meet you.”
“I’m ready,” Alicia calls out.
Dr. Sanchez pulls back the curtain and I see Alicia on the table. She’s got the gown on backward, I go to tell her, but then the doctor pulls the gown open and starts pushing around on her belly.
“Won’t that hurt the baby?” I ask, fear lacing my voice.
“Not at all,” he replies. “I’m just checking to make sure everything is where it’s supposed to be, and it all feels good.” He smiles and I nod. He presses a few buttons on the machine beside him and then he looks back at me. “You ready to see your son?”
Nodding my head, I stand here and watch as he squeezes gel onto Alicia’s bump and then presses the wand thing to her stomach. The screen across from us flickers to life and before me I see a baby.
My baby, well, our baby.
I’ve seen this in movies and TV shows before but seeing it in real life is completely different. My eyes well with tears as I see the lil’ dude kicking about. Without thinking, I reach out and grab Alicia’s hand and squeeze.
“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” she murmurs, her eyes glued to the screen.
“It sure fucking is,” I reply. “Shit, I shouldn’t swear anymore, should I?”
“I think you’ll be fine now but after he’s born, yeah, might wanna curb the swears.”
I chuckle at her words.
My eyes return to the screen and they are glued to the image of my lil’ man, when it goes blank, I let out an audible, “Wow.”
Dr. Sanchez laughs and then he hands me a strip of images. “Your lil’ man,” he says.
He and Alicia chat but I don’t pay them any attention. I’m focused on the images Dr. Sanchez handed me. I already feel a connection with him. I don’t need a test, he’s mine. I feel it. I see movement out of the corner of my eye and when I look up, Alicia is sitting on the edge of the bed topless, the gown screwed up in her hand, and Dr. Sanchez is nowhere to be seen.
Quickly I avert my gaze and she laughs at me. “What are you being so bashful about, Stefan? You had your mouth on my nipples and your dick between my tits when we hooked up. Looking at them shouldn’t be a problem.”
“This is going to sound bad but, I kinda don’t remember that night.”
“Maybe we can recreate it one time?” she offers.
My mouth opens and closes, I’m at a loss over what to say but when she laughs, a deep belly laugh, I furrow my brows in confusion.
“I’m messing with you, Stefan.”
Nodding my head, she pulls her shirt back on and hops off the examination table and heads to the door. Before she exits, she looks over her shoulder and seductively adds, “But anytime you want to suck or fuck them, I’m just a phone call away.”
She exits the examination room, leaving me standing here stunned … and a little aroused.