Chapter Twenty-Three
chapter twenty-three
PAIGE
“Where’s the birthday girl?” I jokingly pretend to look everywhere but at Violet, who laughs.
“I’m right here, Auntie Paige.”
Violet waves her hand in the air to get my attention, and I fake gasp.
“Oh, there you are.”
She’s wearing her adorable pink and white polka-dot bathing suit since it’s a pool party and her hair is up in two high pigtails.
“I heard you’re six, but you look at least twenty-one.”
Violet rolls her blue eyes that are identical to her mom’s, and I wonder if my baby will have whiskey-colored eyes like Nate or green eyes like me. The thought tugs at my heart because Nate and I created a baby. A little miracle who is growing inside of me and is half me and half him.
“I’m not six for five more days,” Violet says, snapping me out of my thoughts. “We’re just celebrating today. ”
“Oh, gotcha. Then, I guess this is for…” I trail off because I spot Nate out of the corner of my eye.
At first, I think I’m seeing shit because I was just thinking about him and his beautiful eyes, and why would he be at Ryder and Kira’s house? But then I see my best friend looking at me with guilt etched in her features, and it all makes sense.
“For you,” I finish, handing Violet her gift.
“Thank you! I love the wrapping paper,” she gushes. “Pink is my favorite color. I’m gonna put it on the table. Mommy said I can’t open anything till later.”
I force a smile, keeping it in place until Violet’s gone, and then I make a beeline straight for the only person—besides Nate himself—who is sure to have answers.
“I didn’t do it,” Ana says, raising her hands in surrender.
“Didn’t do what? Invite my baby daddy to Violet’s birthday party, knowing I’m trying like hell to avoid him?”
“I did,” Julian says, wrapping his arm around his wife. “Guy was desperate, and I threw him a line.”
“A line that wasn’t yours to throw.” I glare.
“Maybe not.” Julian shrugs. “But I’ve been where he is. I know what it’s like to be in love with the woman you want to make yours and she’s too damn stubborn to give in.”
“I’m not Ana,” I mutter. “I’m not…” My words trail off because Nate is now walking over, looking beyond de licious in a pair of red-white-and-blue board shorts, a white collared shirt, and flip-flops.
Maybe it’s because I rarely see him dressed like this or because he looks like he should be in a vacation magazine, but as he strolls over, I can’t help the way my body warms and my lady parts tingle. I blame these damn baby hormones. They’re making me act crazy.
“Hey, baby mama,” Nate says, leaning over and kissing my temple. “How are you feeling?”
“Confused,” I blurt out, then glare at Julian. “Betrayed.”
Julian doesn’t even bother to look the least bit guilty when he shrugs and then pulls his wife away, leaving Nate and me alone in the living room.
“Don’t be too mad at them,” Nate says. “I was desperate.”
“So he said. But I just don’t get what you’re doing here. I made it clear how I feel.”
“That you’re scared?” Nate quirks a brow. “Yeah, I heard you loud and clear.”
“That’s not what I said.”
“It’s what you meant though.” He entwines our fingers and pulls me over to the couch.
Since the party is outside, we’re alone in here.
“Did you fly all the way here for the birthday party?”
“I never left,” he says, shocking me.
It’s been almost a week since we finalized the deal, so he has no reason to be here, especially since I made it clear where I stand.
My stomach roils at the thought of him leaving, but I push my feelings aside. This is for the best…for both of us.
“The baby isn’t coming for another five months,” I point out.
“But you’re here,” he says with a soft smile. “I’m not going anywhere, Princess. If you’re here, this is where I’m going to be.”
My heart picks up speed at his words as flashes of my past flit through my memory. Me begging my mom not to give up, crying to my dad not to move us away from London. Pleading with John to choose us over his job. None of them chose me, yet Nate is here, begging me to choose us.
He didn’t leave.
He wants to be with me.
He’s choosing us.
But then my thoughts go back to the conversation I overheard in his parents’ kitchen…
“He’s worked so hard.” Valerie.
“He’s busted his ass to make this company what it is.” Dustin.
“He must be devastated. I hate this for him.” Valerie.
This is what I wanted. For someone to choose me, yet the thought of him doing so has me feeling sick because is it really a choice when he’s being forced? Either move away from everything you love to be active in your baby’s life or stay in Dallas and live long-distance from your baby. My hand goes to my belly. I hate all of this and don’t know what the right answer is.
“Hey,” Nate says, shaking me out of my intrusive thoughts. “What are?—”
His phone rings, cutting him off. After he glances at it, he puts it back in his pocket.
“What—”
His phone rings again, and when he pulls it back out, his brow furrows. “Can you give me a second?” He looks at me nervously. “It’s my dad, and he never calls twice in a row.”
“Of course.”
My God, am I such a bitch that he’s scared to answer a call from his own family when he’s around me? Of course he is because when I’m not pushing him away, I’m forcing him to choose between being here with his baby and being in Dallas with his family. This whole situation sucks.
“Thanks,” Nate says. “I’ll just be a minute.”
He answers and turns his attention to his dad.
I don’t know what they’re talking about since I can only hear one side of the conversation, but from what I can gather, something has happened with a property they bought with the intention of building another hotel, and Nate’s dad needs him to go there to handle it.
Nate argues back and forth with his dad, and my stomach sinks at the thought that he’s arguing with him because of me. He doesn’t want to leave because of me. Once again, he’s being pulled in another direction because of me and our baby. And it’s always going to be like this if I can’t convince him to stay in Dallas.
Or you could move to Dallas?
Right…give up my house, my job, my friends…and then when he’s had enough of me—because let’s face it, everyone in my life eventually does—I’ll be stuck there, all alone.
Ugh, cue the woe is me pity party for one. Why can’t I just throw all my inhibitions out the window and jump in headfirst?
“Hey,” Nate says when he hangs up, cupping the side of my face. “What’s going through that beautiful head of yours? And please don’t lie.”
“I’ve never had anyone fight to stay with me,” I admit, my voice shaky with emotion. “Everyone in my life has always chosen to walk away. But you actually fight to stay. I’m just not sure what’s worse—them choosing to walk away or you being forced to stay here.”
“Let’s get one thing clear,” he says, moving his hand to my jaw and tipping it so I have no choice but to look into his eyes. “ Nobody forces me to do anything. I’m right where I want to be. With you and our baby.”
“And what if there was no baby?” I blurt out.
“What?” He glances down at my stomach in confusion.
“I mean, what if I weren’t pregnant? Would you still be here? Choosing me over your job? Over the only home you’ve ever known? Over your family that you’re close to?”
I hate that my insecurities are driving me to ask these types of questions, but I need to know because nothing between us happened the way it was supposed to, and I can’t help but fear that he’s making his choices because of the baby and not because of me.
“When I took over the Kingston-Bradford partnership, I had no idea that you were pregnant,” he says. “All I knew was that I had been missing you like crazy for two months and I needed to see you.” His eyes bore into mine, and my heart clenches in my chest. “I tried like hell to respect your wishes, but I couldn’t do it. I came to Rosemary to see you.”
“And you’re staying because I’m pregnant.”
“No,” he corrects. “I’m staying because I fell in love with you . Do I want to be home with my family? I would be lying if I said I didn’t. I love my family and my job. But I love you too, Paige. And in life, we have to make decisions?—”
“You mean sacrifices.”
“No,” he says, “ choices , and I’m choosing you. I can visit my family anytime. I can get a new job. I can live with you, or we can buy a new house. But if I stay in Dallas, I don’t get you, and you’re everything I want, with or without the baby.”
I choke out a sob, and he pulls me into his arms.
“I love you, and I’m not going anywhere.”
He’s not going anywhere.
He wants to stay with me.
He’s choosing me.
But what about his family? By him staying here, his family is left without their future CEO. Bradford Hotels runs the risk of no longer being family-owned and-operated. And all because of my selfishness.
“Hey,” he says softly, wiping away a tear I didn’t realize had fallen. “What’s going on?”
I open my mouth to tell him what I overheard, but before I can get the words out, his phone buzzes in his pocket.
“It’s okay,” I tell him, forcing a smile. It’s bad enough he’s going to be leaving his family’s company for me. The least I can do is be understanding when they need him. “Answer that. Your family needs you.”
“My dad needs me to go to Vegas,” he says. “He’d go, but he hasn’t handled anything regarding this property, so he wouldn’t know where to start, and they’re not telling him much over the phone, except they were digging at the site and something happened, causing the county to issue a cease and desist. I’m going to meet our attorney there to get it all sorted. If I could send someone else, I would, but…”
“It’s okay,” I insist. “It’s part of the job.”
“I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he promises. “But while I’m gone, can I call you?”
The pleading in his tone has me saying, “Of course.”
I’m so confused about where we stand, but one thing I know is that I need to stop avoiding him. No matter what happens, he’s the father of my baby, and we’re going to be in each other’s life for a long time.
And then a thought hits me. “Will you be back for my twenty-week appointment?”
“That’s not for over a week.” He scoffs. “There’s no way I’ll be gone that long. From what my dad said, there’s a snag with the county. Probably a permit that wasn’t filed correctly. If all goes well, I should be back in a few days at most.” He leans in and presses a kiss to my temple. “And when I get back, we’re going to talk about us, Paige.”