Chapter 9
“This is literally insane,” Layton said, coming down the hallway of Emersyn’s apartment. Her daughter was finally sleeping on the bed in the guestroom, her schedule completely out of whack because of the time change. Thankfully, Em had gotten some more furniture over the past few weeks, and there was now a bed and dresser in there. “Seriously, I can’t even believe this is my life right now. Hudson’s going to think I’m moving to Oahu because of the baby. He’s going to think I’m some crazed stalker or something.”
“Well, he is the father,” Emersyn pointed out. “It’s not unreasonable that you’d come here, given he can’t exactly up and move. Unless of course he doesn’t want to be involved in any way,” she added with a worried look.
Layton met Emersyn’s gaze, and tears filled her eyes as she sank down on the sofa. She crossed her legs, grabbing a pillow to hold onto, and sucked in a deep breath. “We both heard him today, Em. He said he didn’t want kids. I wasn’t going to blurt out everything at that exact moment, but damn. Once he said that, it was like I couldn’t hold it together anymore. I had to get out of there.”
“I know,” Emersyn told her, worrying her lip.
“Now he’ll definitely think I’m nuts. I barely spoke to him and rushed off as fast as I could. What am I supposed to say the next time we talk? Surprise! You’re going to be a father?” She swiped at the tears spilling down her cheeks.
“He’ll understand—I hope. How did this even happen?”
“Well, the sperm meets the egg—”
“Layton! I mean how did you two hook up? When? Aaron came over here the night before they deployed. I know they left first thing the next day.”
“I snuck out,” Layton said with a sad laugh. “I even joked with Hudson about it. We were going to grab a drink, but he brought a six-pack with him, and we headed to the beach instead. It was a perfect Hawaiian night. Moonlight. The sound of the ocean. We each had a beer—and trust me, we were both completely aware of what we were doing. We used a condom,” she stressed. “I know they’re not completely, one-hundred-percent effective, but wow. I hadn’t even been with a guy since Tiny Dick. Then I sleep with one man and bam! Knocked up.”
Emersyn snorted. “And did it, ah, meet your expectations?”
Layton smiled through her watery eyes. She was a mess of emotions and hastily swiped at the wetness on her cheeks again. “It was amazing. Like—seriously amazing. I know this sounds cliché, but damn. Hudson was absolutely the best sex I’ve ever had. He was sweet and considerate but also sort of aggressive in a good way. The man knew what he was doing,” she emphasized. “I’d have totally made plans to see him again if I lived here.”
“But you will live here,” Emersyn said encouragingly.
“Yeah, but I’m pregnant now. It’s not the same. I can’t just be casually dating Hudson, not that I even think he’d want to date. And I’m not just going to jump into bed again with him now. I’ve got to worry about finding a place to live here and having this baby. He didn’t even know about Caroline,” she added, her voice trembling. “I barely told him a thing about me.”
Emersyn pressed her lips together, not saying anything.
Layton gestured to her. “See? Even you can’t find a thing to say about that. He looked shocked to discover that I had a young daughter. And when I tell him I’m pregnant?” She shook her head. “Hudson probably won’t want anything to do with me or the baby. He was raised in foster care. You heard him—he doesn’t even want kids. I’m not what he wants in his life.”
“You don’t know that,” Emersyn told her. “You haven’t even told him you’re pregnant yet. Did you guys stay in touch when you went back to Virginia?”
“Nope. I have his number, but—”
“Text him,” Emersyn encouraged. “He’s got to be confused by your showing up and then splitting. At least just reach out. Then make plans to meet up this week.”
“I will. I mean, obviously I’ll have to tell him about the baby. I just need to gather my nerves. We used protection and—my God. It was only one time.”
“He must have some super swimmers,” Emersyn joked. Layton shot her an exasperated look. “I know, I know. But you and Tiny Dick tried for years, right? It almost feels like in a weird, roundabout way, this was meant to be.”
Layton huffed out a sigh. Her sister wasn’t wrong. It had taken a very long time for her to get pregnant with Caroline. That didn’t mean she’d planned to get knocked up by a Navy SEAL she’d met on vacation though.
“When did you find out?” Emersyn asked. “Aaron knew something was going on earlier when you abruptly left, but I told him I’d have to explain later. I don’t think it’s fair for Aaron to find out before Hudson,” she added gently.
“I know. I’ll tell Hudson. I only found out just before I left. I mean—I suspected when my period was late. I waited a couple of days, hoping it was just stress….” She sniffled. “I took a test when I was in the middle of packing my suitcase. The box was sitting there on my bathroom counter, but I couldn’t wait any longer.”
Emersyn leaned over and gave her a hug. “You’re an amazing mom, Layton. And I really don’t think Hudson would abandon his child. He’s nothing like Tiny Dick.”
Layton laughed through her tears. “I was married to one man, and he left me. We’d exchanged vows. Made promises. Had a child. I hardly know Hudson at all, and given what he said earlier on the beach, I’m not sure this is what he wants.”
“Maybe he hadn’t planned on it, but it’s happening,” Emersyn said. “He’ll have to man up and take responsibility. Hell, even if he chooses not to be a parent, he’ll have to pay you child support.”
“God. I’m not going after him for his money,” Layton moaned.
Emersyn raised her eyebrows. “It’s his baby, too.”
Layton looked around the living room, not for the first time recalling how different things had been just a month ago. She’d been flirting with Hudson in the kitchen. Batting her eyelashes as they’d talked, imagining his muscled body pressed up against hers. And it had happened. Sparks. Fire. An explosion. Now her life felt like it was in a tailspin.
“Nothing about this feels real,” she said quietly as she looked back at her sister. “First, I got the text from Tiny Dick about his giving up joint custody of Caroline, and then—”
“Wait, wait, wait. Hold up—he sent that in a text?” Emersyn shrieked. Looking aghast, she covered her mouth and glanced to the closed bedroom door where Caroline was currently sleeping.
“Shhh!” Layton said needlessly.
“I’m sorry,” Emersyn whispered. “Just—holy hell. Who even does that?”
Layton pressed her lips together, trying to contain all that she wanted to say. There were hardly words to describe the hatred she currently had for him. “Yes, he absolutely sent me a text about it, basically saying that his lawyer would contact mine. His future wife wanted a fresh start and thought this would be best.”
Emersyn seethed beside her. “You’ve got to be kidding me! Best for who? Certainly not that sweet little girl down the hallway. I knew he was a selfish asshole when he started cheating on you, but this takes the cake.”
Layton sighed. “I don’t even know how to explain it to Caroline. I’m not sure if he’s relinquishing all parental rights or what. Not that seeing her once or twice a year on holidays is any better. As far as she knows, we’re taking a vacation to see you.”
“You’ll figure it out,” Emersyn promised her. “And I know this is bad to think given the circumstances, but I’m so happy you’re moving here.”
Layton reached over and squeezed her sister’s hand. “Yeah, I’d wanted a change after my divorce, a chance to move somewhere new, and Caroline’s father would fight me on it given the joint custody situation. This wasn’t how I expected any of my life to go, but….” She trailed off.
“Well, here you go—a fresh start, a soon to be amazing real estate career in Oahu, a freaking hot baby daddy.”
Layton shot her a look. “Too soon, I know,” Emersyn said, suddenly looking sympathetic. “But I think this will work out.”
“You literally have no way of knowing if that’s true. I’m having a baby, Em. I’ll need an OBGYN, a bunch of baby stuff. Oh my God. I’m going to be doing all of it alone this time.”
“You don’t know that. You’ll tell Hudson that he’s going to be a father, and hopefully he’ll surprise us all.”
“Even if he does want to be a part of the baby’s life, to be a father, he’s not my husband. Not my boyfriend. We literally slept together once, Em. He’s got no obligation to be there for me during the pregnancy.”
Layton’s phone buzzed on the coffee table just then, causing her to jolt in surprise. She stared in shock as Hudson’s name flashed on the screen. Em shot her a triumphant look. “See? What did I tell you? He’s already glad you’re back because he’s texting you.”
“He’s probably just hoping to hook up again like last time—until I drop the bombshell that will change his life forever.”