Chapter 49 Bryce
As my dad said those words, I could sense Jada stiffen on my right. My own blood ran cold at the no-nonsense, disappointed tone in his voice. I had to remind myself that I was a grown man, not a kid getting scolded for misbehaving.
Before I could ask what he’d like to talk about, he waved his hand toward the house and turned back to go up the sidewalk to the front door. When I glanced at Jada, she gave me a nervous look. “Did someone tell him we were fooling around?”
“We’re not teenagers to be scolded,” I reminded both of us, despite the heat in my ears. “Let me find out what this is about.”
Her eyebrows drew together. “I can come in with you,” she offered.
I looked toward the house. The front door was closed, and I could only imagine what was waiting inside. “I think it’s just Dad and Aggie here—no one should bother you while you wait, and I don’t want you walking into a landmine.”
She nodded slowly. “Does he know about the arrangement?”
I clenched my jaw. “He does, but now wouldn’t be the time to bring it up if he wanted to lecture us.”
“Okay... Good luck?”
My lips twitched, and I leaned across the seat to kiss her. “I’ll be right back,” I promised.
Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Okay.”
I got out of the truck, and suddenly, it seemed a lot colder than earlier. I pulled my flannel jacket tighter around me and walked up the sidewalk, wondering what could possibly possess my dad to greet my new girlfriend and me in that way.
As I passed through the weatherworn front door, I had to wonder if confiding in my dad about the marriage was a big fat mistake.
But there wasn’t too much time to wonder because Aggie was sitting next to Dad on a couch in the living room, and she got up to give me a big hug.
The kind where she held on tight and made you feel like the most special person in the world.
The relief it brought was quickly abated by the sight of Dad waiting impatiently on the couch. When the three of us were seated, he said, “Where’s Jada?”
I didn’t like the way he said her name. “She’s waiting in the truck while I figure out what bug crawled up your ass. What’s going on, Dad?”
That’s when he dropped a thick manilla folder on the coffee table, right over a coffee ring that had been there for years. “Jude sent me this.”
My head whipped back as surely as I’d been hit. Because I had. It was one thing for Jude to violate Jada’s privacy and another altogether for him to involve my family without my permission.
Aggie put her hand on my dad’s like she could offer him some calm, because he had none of his own. His jaw ticked before he said, “Jude’s note said, and I quote, ‘If Bryce isn’t going to read this, you should.’ Bryce, why wouldn’t you read this? You’re going to marry a stranger.”
Dad got up, pacing on his side of the coffee table. But his legs were so long that he could only make it two steps before getting stopped by a chair and having to turn around. It might have been funny if anger wasn’t flaring my nostrils and forcing my heart to a thunderous beat.
I spread my hands. “Dad, that report was obtained illegally. We have no right to—”
“Did you know she was pregnant?” he asked me. “Is it even yours?”
I narrowed my gaze at him. “Are you kidding me right now? Mr. Everyone Is Welcome in This Family?”
“This isn’t on me. A month ago, you sat me down in a restaurant and said you needed to get married to save your business. I told you it was a terrible idea, an insult to the institution of marriage, not how I raised my son to treat the union.”
God, I felt small. How could I still be in my thirties and feel so small?
Dad continued, “Don’t insult me by pretending this is anything but a scheme to save yourself money.
You and Jada may have agreed to this, but it’s not the two of you.
” He paused, looking down his nose at me.
“There’s a child involved. Your family is involved.
Your family who cares about you and is going to give Jada an honest chance as someone they think you love.
Your nieces and nephews look up to you and will adore Jada too.
Think about that before letting them get attached to someone who would use you as a gravy train. ”
My jaw clenched, and I rose to my feet, fists balled at my sides. “First of all, you of all people should know that it doesn’t matter to me who the father is. DNA is a stupid fucking reason not to love a baby.”
He remained tense despite the softening in his eyes. “Second?”
“I can choose to marry whoever I want for whatever reason I want. And I can choose to let my family be involved in my life or not. For the record, I love Jada and my family. So I’d like to stay here and enjoy the weekend with you, but only if you treat Jada like she deserves.
As a welcome guest, as the mother of my child, not with skepticism and judgment.
It’s up to you if we stay or go.” I watched him carefully, hoping he’d make the right decision.
He was quiet for a moment, and it felt like we were all holding our breath for an answer.
“You love her?” Dad breathed.
I nodded, annoyed. “I wouldn’t bring her here if not.”
Dad’s lips spread in a slow smile. “I’m gonna be a grandpa?”
“You’re already a grandpa,” I grunted.
Aggie giggled.
“You know what I meant,” Dad groused. Then he looked at me, surprise lighting up his eyes. “You’re going to be a dad?”
My lips spread into a smile. “I mean, it’s still early, but I’m all in, Dad. Jada and I both are.”
He dragged me into a hug, taking a shaky breath. “I was real worried there for a bit.”
“And I was ready to go to Fletcher’s house and bitch about what a dick you were all weekend. Looks like we both got off easy.”
Dad gave a shaky laugh. “I’m still nervous about all this; don’t get me wrong.”
“Me too,” I admitted before giving him a final clap on the back and pulling away.
And then Aggie was standing up and hugging me. “I’m happy for you if you’re happy. Is Jada okay with us knowing?” she asked.
My stomach sank. “We hadn’t discussed telling everyone yet. She hasn’t known very long. We were hoping she could meet everyone before we announce that we’re engaged first before talking about the baby.”
Dad nodded, understanding. “I’ll go get her. You wait here.”
My eyebrows drew together. “I don’t know, Dad, I—”
“Please?” he asked. “I came off like a real shit. I just read that report and got scared.”
I nodded and stood by Aggie as I watched him walk outside. Aggie came over, rubbing my back. “Give him some credit—it’s a lot to take in.”
I tilted my head. “That man’s not the dad I grew up with. Him admitting he’s scared? Never would have happened before he married you.”
She smiled, the wrinkles around her eyes deepening. “That’s not me; it’s therapy. Guess it does work—even on big, bad cowboys.”
I chuckled despite the nerves in my stomach. I hoped Dad’s conversation with Jada was going well.