Chapter Two
Maggie
“I’m going to have a baby.”
He spits his entire drink all over me.
“What?” He’s coughing and sputtering. I pick up his napkin and hand it to him and then I pick up my napkin and start wiping up the bourbon all over my arms and chest.
“Are you pregnant?” He asks once he stops coughing. His eyes dart over to my nearly empty wine glass.
“No...no. I should have made that clear. I want to have a baby. I’m going to try to have a baby.”
His eyes narrow on me. “And you haven’t met someone?”
“No. I’m doing this alone. Completely alone.”
He clears his throat. “So will you be doing the whole sperm donor thing?”
I hesitate.
“Oh.” He loosens his tie nervously. “That’s why we’re here?”
I nod.
He points to himself. “You want...my sperm?”
I smile. “Yes, Dex. I want to have your baby.”
There’s a flash of emotion across his face that I would have sworn almost looks like pain. He swallows slowly, and I watch his Adam’s apple bob up and down.
“This isn’t a rash decision. I’ve put a lot of thought into this.”
“Jesus Christ,” he mutters and rubs the back of his neck.
I frown at him. Honestly, his reaction is completely flummoxing me.
I thought I’d bring it up, and he’d say yes without taking a beat.
Declan is the most laid back person I know.
I didn’t think this would be a big deal to him. He’s outright panicking in front of me.
“So you’re doing IVF or whatever?” he says.
“Well...”
Both his eyebrows shoot up and his face flushes. He leans forward and whispers, “You’re not asking for my sperm. You’re asking me to get you pregnant.”
I lick my lips and rub them together before I answer. “Yes.”
"Why not do IVF? Why not do the normal sperm donor thing?”
I sigh heavily. “It’s just so invasive and the success rate isn’t great for all you have to put yourself through. It just seems so clinical and expensive. If I don’t have to go that route, I’d rather avoid it.”
He leans back and crosses his arms. Our eyes are locked. “Why me?”
I cough. “What? Seriously?”
He picks up his drink and takes a long sip. “Yes. I’m serious. Why me?”
I lean forward and rest my arms on the table. His eyes drift down to my cleavage for just a moment and then jerk back up to my face. “Why do you think, Declan? We already fuck each other. We’d just need to stop using birth control.”
He exhales dramatically.
I lean just a little more. “And I trust you.”
His face softens a little. I continue, “Also, I think you probably have amazing sperm.”
He laughs and then drags his hand over his mouth and chin.
I reach over and grab his hand. “I didn’t mean to freak you out. I didn’t think this would be a big deal for you.”
His eyes bug out of his head. “You didn’t think this would be a big deal? Maggie, we’re talking about a person.”
I squeeze his hand. “I know. Think about it. Take a few days. I don’t expect an answer immediately.”
“Good.” He pulls his hand back.
“Would this be a secret too?” he asks.
I stare him right in the eyes. “Yes.”
He holds his face completely still. The server approaches the table, and Declan looks up at him, “I think we’re ready for our check.”
Well, this hasn’t gone as expected. I’ve taken the most carefree, sanguine person I know and turn him into a grumpy ball of nerves.
We both reach for the check when the server sets it down.
“I’ve got it. I invited you here,” I say.
“No,” he snatches it away from me. “I’ve got it.”
How Declan has money is a great mystery to me. He doesn’t appear to work, but he seems to have a mysterious revenue stream. His family is rich, but I doubt they are just bankrolling his lifestyle. I’ve never asked.
He pulls out his wallet.
“Declan...”
“Maggie, you’re celebrating, remember? Let me help you celebrate.” Everything he’s saying is nice, but his tone is cold.
I shiver a little. My heart feels like it’s dropped into my stomach.
“You cold?” There’s a line between his brows now. He jumps up and whips his jacket around my shoulders.
“Thanks,” I whisper.
After he pays, we walk out of the restaurant in silence. We’re standing awkwardly, just staring at each other. Honestly, I can’t ever remember having an awkward moment with Declan before.
He breathes in deeply.
“Listen.” I reach out and touch his bicep. His body tenses as soon as my fingers make contact with him. “Please don’t be weird about this. If you aren’t interested, just say so and we’ll move on and never speak of it again. Declan, I can’t lose you as a friend over this.”
He scowls down at me. “Lose me as a friend? What the hell are you talking about?”
“Just promise me, okay? I can’t lose you.”
“Fuck, Mags.” He pulls me in for a hug. “Of course you aren’t going to lose me.”
I lean my head against his chest. “I know I’m asking a lot.”
“You really are,” he replies.
I take a step back. The last thing we need is a picture of the two of us embracing outside a fancy restaurant splashed across the Internet.
“I’m guessing I killed the mood, huh?” I say.
He laughs loudly. “Maggie, I didn’t think it was possible, but I’m going to turn you down. I have some thinking to do.”
Well, I won’t lie. I’m disappointed.
He leans forward and gives me a little kiss on the cheek. “Love you, Mags. I’ll be in touch.”
I want so badly to lean in for a real kiss, but I hold still.
“Okay, take your time.”