Chapter 33
Chapter Thirty-Three
Kinsley
“Mr. Calloway, can I talk to you for a minute?” I asked as I stepped inside his office.
“Of course, Kinsley. What can I do for you?”
I took in a deep breath as I sat down in the chair across from his desk.
“I don’t know how to say this,” I softly spoke.
“You’re not quitting, are you?” he asked.
“No. I’m pregnant.”
He set down his pen and leaned back in his chair.
“Oh. I’m going to assume this wasn’t planned.”
“No, it wasn’t.”
“I didn’t know you were seeing anyone.”
“I’m not.” I looked down in embarrassment.
“May I ask who the father is?” he spoke with the fear that I would name Chase.
“I had a one-night stand with a guy I met. I’m embarrassed and ashamed.”
“Please tell me that one-night stand wasn’t my son.”
“No. It wasn’t Chase.”
“Whew, you had me worried there for a minute. Well, thank you for telling me, and if there’s anything you need, just ask me. I will support you in any way I can.”
“Thank you, Mr. Calloway.” I got up from my seat and headed towards the door.
“Kinsley?”
“Yes?” I turned around.
“Don’t be ashamed. Accidents happen.”
I gave him a small smile and walked out of his office. I could no longer hide the news from Lexi. She was my best friend, and I felt like shit not telling her when I found out. But I couldn’t. I wasn’t ready for anyone to know.
It was lunchtime, so I walked over to Lexi’s desk.
“Are you ready?” I asked.
“Give me one second.” She typed away at her computer.
“Kinsley.” Chase nodded as he emerged from his office.
“Hi.” I looked away as quickly as I could.
“Are the two of you going to lunch?” he asked.
“Yeah. We’re heading over to the Chinese restaurant. Kinsley is craving their wonton soup.” She smiled.
Chase glanced at me, and a small smile crossed his lips.
“Hey, why don’t you join us?” Lexi asked him.
Shit.
“Nah. It’s okay. You two go and have girl talk.”
“Kinsley doesn’t mind. Do you, Kinsley?” she looked at me.
What the hell was I supposed to say? Yes, I do mind because I didn’t want to be around him?
“No. Not at all,” I lied.
“Are you sure?” he asked me.
“Why not? The more, the merrier.”
Little did he know that I was going to tell Lexi I was pregnant.
When we arrived at the restaurant, we were seated in a booth, which made it extremely awkward because I didn’t know whom Chase would sit next to.
I tried to make it so I was the last one in the booth, and I’d sit next to Lexi, but Chase had to go and be a gentleman and motioned for me to slide into the seat first before he sat down next to me.
Shit. We placed our order, and as soon as our food was ready, I figured now was as good a time as any to tell Lexi.
“I’m pregnant,” I blurted out as I picked up my spoon.
“What?!” Lexi exclaimed as she dropped her fork. She glanced at Chase and then back at me. “Is—”
“No.” I shook my head.
“Did you know about this?” she asked Chase.
“No. I’m just as shocked as you are,” he replied.
“Kinsley, who’s the father?” Lexi asked.
“I had a one-night stand with some guy I met while running on the beach. We talked, went out for a couple of drinks, and it just happened.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about this guy?” she asked disappointedly.
“Because I was ashamed and didn’t want you to think any less of me. It happened one time. He was from out of state. I didn’t even get his last name.”
God, I hated lying to her. It was killing me, but I had no choice.
“Did you know about this guy?” She cocked her head at Chase.
“No. Kinsley, I must say I’m a little shocked.” Chase glanced over at me.
“What are you going to do?” Lexi asked.
“I’m having the baby, and I’ll raise him or her alone. I can do it.” I smiled.
“Wow. I don’t know what to say. Congratulations. You know I’ll be here to help you every step of the way, and I’m sure Chase will be too. Right, Chase?”
“Yeah. Sure,” he spoke with a panicked voice. “Anything you need.” He swallowed hard.
“Did you tell Mr. Calloway?” Lexi asked.
“I told him this morning.”
“What did he say?” Chase asked.
“Not much. He told me if I needed anything to let him know.”
Chase
“What happened between you and Kinsley?” Lexi asked as she followed me into my office when we returned from lunch.
“We aren’t having sex anymore,” I replied.
“Why?”
“She overheard us that day talking.”
“Which day?”
“The one where I said we were getting too close, and I was going to let things fade.”
“Oh my God, why didn’t you tell me?”
“I don’t know.” I shook my head. “I guess I didn’t want to talk about it. She said some pretty nasty things to me.”
“So that’s why the two of you haven’t really been talking here at the office. I knew something was going on. I got really scared there for a minute. I thought you were the father of her baby.”
“Me? No way. No way in hell.”
“Yeah. That would be pretty bad if you were. I mean, you, of all people, shouldn’t be a dad.” She laughed.
“Excuse me?” I arched my brow. “Why not?”
“Because you’re selfish, and you can only love yourself.”
I narrowed my eye at her.
“What?” she asked. “Aren’t you the one who goes around telling people that you’re incapable of love?”
“Is the Edwards file ready yet?”
“Almost,” she replied.
“Then get back to your desk and finish it!”
“Yes, sir. I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know.” She walked out of my office.
After I left the office and drove home, I poured myself a drink, took the envelope with the papers in it, and sat out on the patio.
I had just gotten them back from my attorney, who said everything looked good, and I had nothing to worry about.
As I pulled out the documents and read them over, my phone beeped with a text message from Kinsley.
“Hey, sorry to bother you, but I want to know if you signed the papers yet? I have to get them back to my attorney so we can finalize this.”
“Not yet. I’ve been really busy with a new project. I’ll sign them and give them back to you.”
“Thanks.”
“And for the record, you’re not bothering me.”
I set my phone down and placed my face in my hands.
Kinsley was an incredible woman, and I knew damn well what my feelings for her indicated.
She was the first woman I’d ever met that somehow broke through the defensive wall I built around me, and I didn’t know how she did it.
I picked up my phone and called a buddy of mine, Darius Cole.
“Darius, it’s Chase Calloway.”
“Chase, my man. How are you?”
“I’m good. Thanks. I need a favor from you, buddy.”
“Of course. Anything.”
“I need you to dig up some information on a woman named Kinsley Davis from Berkshire, Indiana. I need an address, friends, where she worked, etc.”
“Sure. Let me see what I can find.”
“Thanks,” I spoke as I ended the call.