Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
One Week Later
Chase
Kinsley had been in a mood all week, and I was sick of it. Besides her damn attitude towards me, we hadn’t had sex. Every time I suggested it, she turned me down. What the hell was going on with her?
“Lexi, in my office,” I shouted from behind my desk.
“You don’t have to shout.”
“Shut the door and have a seat.”
She stood there with her hands on her hips, and her head cocked.
“Please,” I spoke. “Do you know what the hell is going on with Kinsley?”
“What do you mean?”
“She hasn’t had sex with me in over a week. She’s been telling me no, and her attitude sucks.”
“Maybe she doesn’t want to have sex with you anymore,” she spoke.
“Impossible.” I threw my pen across the desk. “Is she seeing someone, and you’re not telling me?” I narrowed my eye at her.
“Not that I know of. If she was, I’m pretty sure she’d tell me. We went to yoga class last night, and she was fine.”
“None of this makes sense. I didn’t do anything.”
“Maybe she’s letting your relationship of convenience fade.” She arched her brow. “And why is this bothering you? You were going to do the same damn thing to her. So you should be happy she’s behaving like this. It lets you off the douchebag hook. Why don’t you just ask her?”
“I guess I’ll have to, and she will tell me the truth.”
“Be careful, Chase. You might not want to hear the truth.”
I finished the program I was working on and didn’t leave the office until eight p.m. I hadn’t spoken to Kinsley because I didn’t want to deal with her attitude at the office. But now I was ready, so I showed up at her apartment unannounced.
“What are you doing here, Chase?” she asked as she opened the door.
“We need to talk, and you’re going to tell me what the hell your problem is,” I spoke in a stern voice as I stepped inside her apartment.
Kinsley
I spent the last week trying to figure out how to tell him about the baby, but I couldn’t.
A part of me was scared, but I knew he had the right to know.
I’d done a lot of soul-searching during the last few days and accepted the fact that this was real, and I was going to be a mom.
Strength had to become my best friend, for I would not be the kind of mother mine was to me.
“What are you talking about?” I sighed.
“You have been unbearable. You don’t want to see me, you won’t have sex with me, and whenever I try to talk to you, you act like you hate me. What the fuck did I do to you? Because if I did something, I sure as hell have no clue what it was.”
“I just think it’s best that we don’t see each other anymore outside of work.”
“And why not?”
“Because.”
“Damn it, Kinsley. ‘Because’ isn’t an answer!” he shouted so loud that I flinched and lost control.
“Isn’t this exactly what you wanted?” I shouted back.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“I overheard your conversation with Lexi in your office. The one about us getting too close and how you were going to let things fade between us.”
“You heard that?”
“Yes, I did.”
“You knew I couldn’t be anything more than just a sexual partner with you. I told you that from the start!” He pointed at me. “And you agreed. You said you weren’t looking for anything else.”
“Oh no.” I shook my finger at him. “You aren’t putting the blame on me. I never once hinted to you that I wanted anything more.”
“I’m not going to stand here and argue about this with you,” he sternly spoke.
“Of course, you’re not because you’re the one with the issues.
So anti-relationship. Scared to death to get involved with someone for one reason or another.
Have to sleep with every woman you lay eyes on and don’t give a damn how bad you hurt them.
You walk around L.A. like you’re God’s greatest gift to the world, but you’re just a scared little boy trapped inside a man’s body hiding behind all your mommy issues! ” I shouted.
He stood there and stared at me as anger overtook him.
“You don’t know a damn thing about my mother, and how dare you say that to me. I’m done with you!” he yelled as he pointed his finger at me. “Done!” He headed towards the door and placed his hand on the doorknob.
“I’m pregnant!” I shouted.
He froze and slightly turned his head.
“What did you just say?”
“I’m pregnant.”
“Is it mine?” he asked, refusing to look at me.
“Of course, it’s yours. You’re the only man I slept with.”
He turned around and faced me. My heart was rapidly beating, and I felt sick to my stomach. So sick that I felt like I was going to pass out, so I sat down on the couch.
“When did you find out?” he asked in an authoritative tone.
“Last week when I went to the doctor.”
“You told me he said it was a virus.”
“I was in shock and trying to figure out a way to tell you.”
“Are you keeping it?”
“Yes. I’m keeping it.”
“I don’t want to be a father, Kinsley. Not now, not ever. Fuck! How did this happen? You took the morning-after pill.”
“Apparently, I had already ovulated.”
“I can’t believe this is happening.” He placed his hands on his head.
“Me either. But it is. I’ve thought a lot the past week, and nobody will ever know you’re the father. So, you don’t have to worry about your precious reputation. I’m going to raise this baby alone, and I’ll have papers drawn up relinquishing you of your parental rights.”
“You’d do that?” he calmly asked.
“Yes.”
“And what are you going to tell people when they ask who the father is?”
“I’ll tell them I had a one-night stand with someone.”
“I can give you a lump sum of money. You won’t have to worry about not being able to support it.”
“I don’t want anything from you, Chase, and I certainly don’t want your money. I’m going to raise this baby by myself and make it work like I’ve done my whole life.”
“Are you sure this is what you want?” he asked.
“Yes. This baby didn’t ask to be created, and I sure as hell am not turning my back on him or her.”
“I hope you understand that I can’t be a part of this.”
“I do understand, and I don’t want you to be a part of this.”
“Okay. As long as we’re in agreement. I have to go.” He walked out the door.