2. It Definitely Let In A Child
Chapter 2
It Definitely Let In A Child
Tatum || July
“I ’m pregnant, Tatum, and the baby is yours.”
Those eight words did not just leave Darcy’s mouth. My world is spinning on its axis right now. These words, which I never expected to hear from any woman, came out of Darcy Whitestone’s mouth—a woman who’s invaded my daydreams since I first met her at Maverick and Kodi’s. I thought we were just scratching an itch but it would appear that I was scratching so hard that I didn’t use a condom. I always make sure to use a condom for this very reason. I’m a fucking idiot.
“Tatum, say something.” Darcy’s light voice saves me from the depths of my mind. “Please say something.”
“Are you sure? The baby is definitely mine?”
“Five positive pregnancy tests sure seems pretty definitive.” Shit, Jerry Springer couldn’t deny five positive pregnancy tests. “I haven’t been with anyone since you, and the timeline adds up so, yes. Definitely yours.”
“So what do we do now?”
It takes her a moment to answer, biting on her lip as she thinks through her next words. “I don’t know, honestly. I haven’t thought past telling you I was pregnant.”
“Well, do you want to keep the baby? Or did you want to look into your other options like adoption or abortion? I’ll support you—whatever you want to do, Darcy.”
“I think I want to keep the baby. Tate, we both messed up. I know how you feel about kids. I won’t force this on you, but if you choose to be a part of this, I won’t ask you to be anything but a father to the kid, and a co-parent to me.”
Those last words feel like a punch to the gut. She is offering me an out which is what I thought I was wishing for. But seeing her here, exhausted and on edge, I don’t want her to have to do this on her own. I won’t.
“No,” I state firmly before I’ve even figured out what to say next. I never thought I wanted to have kids, but something is fluttering deep within me over the idea of raising a child. Over raising my child.
“No?” She asks with her brows drawn together, and confusion painted across her face.
“No. I want to be a part of this. Sure, this is not a situation I expected to be in, but I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to take care of you, both of you if you’ll let me.” I feel so desperate asking her to let me help but I don’t understand why. I am literally shaking in my boots. Maybe Darcy just gives off an aura of fierce independence and the thought of failing to plead my case terrifies me.
“Tatum. I’m serious, you don’t have to.”
“I’m going to, Darcy,” I reassert. “From now until forever, our child is just as much my responsibility as it is yours. What do we do next?”
“To start with, I need to make an appointment to make sure everything is good. Long term I have to start looking for somewhere with space for a nursery, or at least a crib when they make their arrival.” She yawns, and only now do I notice purple bags under her eyes and her unbrushed hair.
“Darcy, you need to rest. Can I do anything for you, should we pick this back up in a little bit?” I feel compelled to offer up my home, but I’m afraid of stressing her out when she’s already this exhausted.
“If your demon spawn will let me rest, I will take a nap after you leave. I’ve barely been eating or sleeping. It’s been rough so far. I want to get this all figured out before you leave.” She smiles at me, but it doesn’t quite reach her oval-shaped, coffee-colored eyes.
“Well, we can take one thing off your plate right now. You don’t need to hunt for a new apartment, I have plenty of space in my condo. You and the baby can have your rooms and still be close to me in case either of you needs anything. A break, sleep, ten minutes alone?”
Darcy’s eyes drop to her lap immediately. I can feel her rebuttal on the tip of her tongue, so I continue gently. “Come on, Darcy. Let me do this one thing for you both. Those rooms don’t do anything right now but collect dust, anyway. It would be nice to have a use for them.”
“I don’t want to invade your space or cramp your style, Tate. I’m sure you have company regularly.” I balk at what she’s implying as it couldn’t be further from the truth. I haven’t been with anyone for a long while before Darcy, and there hasn’t been anyone since that night, either.
“Trust me, the only company I have are the guys, and Bella if Mav and Kodi are coming. Just move in, if you hate it, I will help you find a safe space for the baby. If you need some personal space, I have a beach house where you can go if you need to get away from me.”
“Okay, you’re probably right. It will be easier if we are all under the same roof, and my lease is ending soon, anyway. Hold on, did you say you have a beach house?” She asks, her eyes lighting up—the first time this whole conversation that dread hasn’t been written on her beautiful face.
“I did. You can walk right onto the beach from the back door.”
“The beach is my favorite place, my sanctuary. Thank you, Tate, seriously. I would have figured this out on my own, but I’m grateful for your willingness to help and be involved.” She smiles at me, genuinely this time, and I feel the urge to pull her into me, but I keep my arms firmly planted by my sides.
“How long do you have left on your lease?”
“I was supposed to sign my renewal next week but if I’m moving out I just need to be out come the first of the month. Maybe we can get the guys together, feed them, and ask for their help with boxes?” She questions as if our friends won’t drop everything to help us get her moved in.
“Yes, of course.”
“Listen, Tate, I’m really glad you stopped by and we got to talk through everything, but I desperately need to sleep.”
“I don't blame you, I should probably get a little more work done anyway. You’ll let me know when the first appointment is right?” I stand, and she accompanies me to the front door.
“Absolutely, I want you there.” She looks like she wants to say something more, but instead, she just steps forward, wrapping her arms around me as I eagerly return the gesture. The contact helps to soothe some of my inner turmoil about what I’ve gotten myself into. My dad has always been a great role model for what a father should be and do, but I’ve never pictured myself in that position. Dad has always done whatever he can to keep our family happy, healthy, and safe. We may not have had all the fancy cars or experiences growing up but we had supportive and loving parents and that’s what I hope that I can provide.
“Darcy, I’m here for you,” I stress, closing my eyes and lowering my forehead to rest gently on hers. “You need anything at all, make me your first call okay?” I breathe in her scent, just the faintest smell of vanilla remaining from her shower. Unwilling to keep her from resting any longer, I break from our embrace and head out.
Once I’m down to my car, I heave a deep breath and pull out my phone.
Me
911 guys meeting. Now. My place.
Maverick
No can do boss man. Bella just went down for her nap and Kodi is out with Sin. Everyone can come over here though.
Dom
Who did you get pregnant?
Oh, Dom buddy are you in for a surprise. I thought it would be him getting someone pregnant unintentionally.
Nik
Finishing up at the gym, be there soon.
Collins
Harley and I were supposed to grab coffee but I’ll reschedule.
Since when does Collins hang out with Harley by himself? Whatever, I can't manage that circus right now.
Me
Thanks, see y'all soon.
* * *
Pulling into Maverick’s neighborhood, I’m attempting to rehearse what I will tell the guys, but as soon as I step out of my car and see Maverick’s guilt-ridden face, I know that he knows.
“Dude, what the fuck! She told you?” My voice is just above its normal tone so I don’t wake up my pseudo-niece as we walk down the hall to the theater room where I know the other guys are waiting.
“Sorry man! It comes with marriage. Any news in the group gets shared between the two of us. I haven’t said anything to anyone else, though, so just be prepared.” He warns, shrugging sheepishly.
“You’re so lucky I’m going to need your help navigating this, otherwise I’d be more pissed.”
“It wasn’t even me, bro! It was Kodi!”
“Well, I am not going to yell at your wife, man, so you get to take the brunt of it.”
As soon as we enter his theater room, all three guys' heads whip up and they are sitting on the edge of their seats. I’m not harboring some international secret—just a small one that is going to change the course of the rest of Darcy’s and my lives.
“So who is she?” Dom blurts immediately, and I feel my cheeks redden, a dead giveaway that he’s closer than I want to admit.
“You’re fucking with us,” Collins says.
“Bro, did you not learn from Mav? Always use protection with puck bunnies.” Nik chimes in, followed swiftly by a pillow chucked at his head. He’s got at least four inches on me, and multiple pounds of muscle, but I suddenly want to punch Nik in the face after his comment. The insinuation that Darcy’s a puck bunny has me seeing red.
“First of all, Niklaus,” I start, spitting out his full name, “She isn’t a bunny. Secondly, you will not talk about the mother of my child like that if you want to keep those precious teeth you’re lucky to have left as a goalie. ”
“Sheesh, man. I’m sorry,” he remits, backing down. Nik isn’t one to apologize easily so he must see the anger written across my features.
“Then who is it?” Interjects Dom.
He’s so impatient, but I can’t shield her from them forever—she’s their friend, too. I finally sit with them beside Maverick, who is currently the most level-headed of the group. It’s time to rip the bandaid off.
“Darcy,” I announce to the room.
“Like Kodi’s best friend Darcy?” Collins asks, eyebrows raised.
“Yes, that Darcy.”
“Dude, how did this happen? You are always so careful about using protection.” Chimes in Maverick, who evidently must not have gotten all the details from Kodi.
“There’s always been some flirtation between us. At the wedding drinks were flowing, we shared an Uber home, and now here we are.” I explain, choosing not to share the details of my night with Darcy with these vultures; they’re as bad as the old women at Baptist churches sometimes.
“So what are y'all going to do?” Nik asks, the combination of his Russian accent and the word y’all stick out like a sore thumb.
“In a couple of weeks, I need all hands on deck to get her moved into my condo. We aren’t together, but we will both feel better once we are under a single roof. I’m committed to doing this whole dad thing.”
“Wow, okay, another kid in the family. I hope it’s a boy.” Dom says excitedly. He is such a golden retriever. Ignoring the important details, yet wagging his tail at the prospect of a new pack member.
At that moment, my phone chimes with a text from the Mother of my future child.
Darcy
Appointment is set for the 21st at 2 PM. Figured two weeks would give you time to figure out your schedule. *smiley face emoji*
Me
Yeah that works perfectly, thanks for letting me know.
I pause, briefly, before double-texting.
Me
Please text me if you need anything at all or just want to talk.
Darcy doesn’t respond, simply thumbs-upping my message, which stings more than I’d care to admit.
“She send you an update?” Collins asks from across the room.
“Yeah, our first appointment is in two weeks.”
“How are you feeling about all of this, man?” Nik asks.
“Honestly, I’m doing okay. Like I don’t know if I’m ready to be a dad, by any means, but I don’t feel like I’m having a crisis.” I sigh. I think weirdly enough, knowing that it’s Darcy who I’ll be tied to for, at minimum, the next eighteen years soothes some of my anxiety.