Chapter 4
CHAPTER
FOUR
ADELINE
“Yes.” My shoulders sag, and I brace myself for his reaction, my stomach tightening.
Damon blows out a breath, his large hands flexing over the steering wheel until his knuckles turn white, then he spreads them wide open. The man has beautiful hands. Long, lean fingers and perfectly trimmed nails.
“Really?” I open my mouth to answer, but he shakes his head before I can. “Don’t answer that.”
I’ve had six months to get comfortable with the fact that I’m going to have a baby out of wedlock with a man who picks up a different woman every night of the week.
At first, I thought, why couldn’t I get knocked up by a guy like Miles Cavanaugh or Cooper Rice if it had to be a football player?
But only Damon is the one who causes my heart to beat uncontrollably every time I see him.
Even after our one-night stand, every time I saw him on TV or pulled up an image on the computer, I had the same physical reaction.
Sitting next to him now, I feel the same way.
I wait and give him time to wrap his head around the news.
“To hear it… it makes it real, you know?” His normally upbeat and playful voice is low and rough.
“Funny, the kicking made it real for me.” I give him a wan smile.
He stares at my stomach protruding from my open jacket. I place my hand over the swell as if I’m protecting our little bean.
His lips thin, and he inhales a deep breath. “Hopefully you won’t fault me for wanting a paternity test.”
I shake my head. “Of course not. I have a doctor’s appointment next week. I’ll gladly ask how we go about getting one.” I knew the day he found out, a paternity test would be a priority. I’m sure I’m not the first woman to tell him he’s going to be a father.
“It’s not that I don’t think… I mean, you don’t seem like the type… or at least you didn’t seem to be.”
“Someone who would lie about something like that?” I arch an eyebrow.
He can’t really say I’m not the type of woman to sleep with a virtual stranger because that’s exactly what I did. Even if it was the first and last time.
“Yeah.” He nods.
Silence descends on us once again, and I decide that I need to break it and explain myself. I’m the only one in the world who knows he is definitely the father of this baby, unless there’s such a thing as immaculate conception.
I turn in my seat to face him, although he’s looking out his windshield toward the woods.
“I should have tried harder to tell you, and I’m sorry for that.
I’ve had all this time to prepare for the baby, and you haven’t.
That’s not fair. Early on, I went to your apartment.
Took the train down and an Uber over there, but when my car pulled up to the curb across from your building, you were outside with Miles and Cooper and a couple other women.
I recognized the one from the day we met.
I was hoping to approach you alone, but I didn’t have a choice.
While I was gathering my courage, another car double-parked, and you went over to open the door.
This woman with an amazing body in a small bikini and a see-through cover-up practically jumped into your arms. Your hands were…
” I shake my head, not needing to discuss all the insecurities in my head at the moment.
Especially since I was nauseated and felt like a slob from all the changes my body was going through.
His head rocks back as if he remembers exactly who and when I mean. I’m surprised, honestly. The rumors about him suggest she’d be one of a long line of girls to grace his bed.
“Anyway, you guys filed into the SUV and took off. I told myself I’d come back another day, but the Grizzlies kept getting closer to the championship.
You were playing so great. I didn’t want to mess with your head and have you blame this little one for ruining your chance to win the championship.
I promised myself I’d wait until the season was over, then tell you.
” I press my lips together, nervous for his reaction.
His forehead wrinkles. “But you didn’t send the text?”
“No. I mean, I watched the championship, saw you and the other captains accepting the trophy, Miles’s declaration to Bryce on stage, but I would never have told you over a text.
So when you started texting me out of the blue, asking me questions, and giving away that you knew about the pregnancy, I didn’t understand. I was scared.”
I thought Damon was the type of guy who doesn’t think about his words, just spits them out as soon as the thoughts form, but again, the vehicle is quiet while he seems to assess everything I said. Guess now it’s my turn to stare at the woods.
“Thank you.”
I look at him from the corner of my eye. Why the heck is he thanking me? “Sorry?”
“You’re right. My season would’ve gone to shit.
I’m not sure I love that you kept it from me, but my head would’ve been all over the place.
” His gaze goes to my stomach. “I want you to know if the baby is mine, I take care of my responsibilities. I’m not going to just leave you or send you a check. I’ll help you raise the baby.”
I didn’t know how he was going to feel about this. Whether he’d try to throw cash at me to keep me quiet and make me go away. The more the baby grew in my stomach, the more I hoped that he would step up. I want my baby to have a father in his or her life.
“Well, first things first. Let’s get the paternity test, then we can go from there,” I say.
He gets a sour look on his face. “I don’t think you’re lying, but my dad will kill me if I don’t get one done. Once we get the paternity test back, we’ll need to talk about a few things.”
“I don’t want anything from you, Damon.”
His fair eyebrows rise to his hairline. “You want to raise the baby by yourself?”
His jaw clenches, and if I’m honest, his reaction to this entire situation surprises me. Of course the funny good-time guy isn’t here, but he so quickly seems… invested. Maybe I should have expected it, but I didn’t.
“I just meant I won’t be looking for money or anything.”
He starts the vehicle and puts his seat belt on, eyeing me to do the same.
“We’re done?” I ask.
“We can’t really have this conversation until after we find out about the paternity. Then we can make some arrangements.”
“Is there something I should be concerned about?” I’m not sure what he means by arrangements.
He finishes backing out of the spot and puts his hand over my clasped ones in my lap. “Of course not. When did you say your doctor’s appointment is?”
“Next Tuesday,” I answer.
“Where should I pick you up?” He removes his hand, and I miss the feel of them immediately.
“I can drive myself.”
He thinks about it for a second while driving back to the school. “Fine.”
Once we reach the school, I give him the doctor’s address and the time of my appointment. He thanks me. Now this entire exchange feels more awkward and weird than when it started.
“Is there anything you need before Tuesday?” he asks as I place my hand on the door handle to get out.
“No, I’m fine.” I open the door but stop from exiting and turn to him. “Please know, I’m not your worry, just baby.”
He scrunches up his forehead. “The baby is inside of you, so as of right now, you’re both my worry. Call me if you need anything.”
“I will. Thank you, Damon. Thanks for understanding. Some men would have been upset with me for waiting so long.” Even though I didn’t actually instigate this meeting. Note to self: find out who sent that text.
“We’re in this together.” He smiles for the first time all day, and it causes my stomach to flutter. Damn him and his charm.
I nod and exit the car. He waits for me to get into my car and doesn’t pull out until I do. He’s taking this whole protective thing a little too seriously, but damn if it doesn’t give me a warm feeling in my chest.
I pull into my parents’ driveway and walk into their house. The house smells like chili, and my mouth waters even though I just had that Reuben sandwich. “Mom? Dad?”
My mom comes out of the kitchen archway, wiping her hands on a dish towel.
She was the first person I told about the pregnancy.
It wasn’t like she could get angry. I’m twenty-nine years old, with a job and a house of my own.
Her worry has been mostly contained to who the father is and what that might mean for the baby and myself.
“Just in time, the cornbread is out of the oven.” She hugs me and places her hand on my stomach. “How are my two girls?”
“You have no idea if it’s a girl,” I say, following her into the kitchen.
“Sure, I do. It’s the way you’re carrying her. A mother knows these things.” She taps her temple.
“Because you had so many kids of your own?” I take a piece of the cornbread she’s cutting and quirk an eyebrow at her since I’m an only child.
She points at me. “You just wait and see.”
I’m not sure when to drop the bomb about Damon visiting me at school. It’ll probably freak her out.
My dad walks in and leans in to kiss my cheek. “Look who’s here. How’s my grandbaby?”
I run my hand down my belly. “He or she is good. Kicking like crazy and making me eat about five thousand calories a day. Have you been to Ira’s Deli before?”
My dad nods because he’s been everywhere. The minute a new restaurant opens, he’s the first one in line. Maybe I’m just a foodie like him, and it’s not the baby at all.
“The Reuben is so good.” I lick my lips for emphasis.
“Since when do you eat Reubens?” My mom looks up from spooning the chili into our bowls on the counter.
“Since this little one.” I pat my swollen belly.
“Speaking of which, Isla and Sami messaged to ask if we’re having a baby shower.
I didn’t want to tell them you were adamant we don’t tell any family members.
I just said I’d discuss it with you. You know Aunt Claudia and Grandma Hilda will be upset when they find out we’ve hidden it from them all these months. ”
I sigh. “Well, that might change now.” I pick at my piece of cornbread. “Damon stopped by the school today. Apparently he received a text about my… situation.”
“Siska?” my dad practically shouts.
“Do we know another Damon?” I ask.
He laughs. “Well, technically, I don’t know a Siska.” He shrugs, putting cheese and sour cream into his chili and taking it to the table.
“You will. You both will.”
My mom’s smile vanishes, and she concentrates on cutting the rest of the cornbread. She’s worried about what all this will mean when it’s public knowledge that Damon is having a baby.
“Mom,” I say, placing my hand on her arm.
“I know he’s the father and should be involved. I just don’t want you to be dragged through the mud in those damn gossip blogs and magazines. You know people will say you trapped him or something.”
My mom has always been the one to speak my fears out loud. I’m not sure if it’s because we’re close or if she’s just so communicative, but she always knows what’s running through my head.
“We’ll see. He wants a paternity test,” I admit before chomping down on the piece of cornbread, grabbing my bowl of chili, and going to the table.
“We knew he would,” my dad says.
“That fool thinks it’s not his? Who does he think my daughter is?” Mom shakes her head.
Dad looks up from his chili, smirking. That’s my mom, always protective over us.
“Darling, he’s a professional football player. Do you know how many women have probably accused him of fathering their babies?” He winks at me.
“Because he’s a manwhore. How about he keeps it in his pants, and maybe then not so many women can accuse him?” She’s getting worked up.
“Mom, just come over and eat.”
She brings her bowl of chili and a plate of cornbread to the table. “You can’t trust him. I’ve been Googling him,” she says, whispering the word Google.
I searched him too. Most of what came up was a million pictures of him with different women he’s dated or slept with, from celebrities to influencers to doctors to regular women. How is it that me, a regular middle school teacher, gets gifted with his baby?
“Let’s just see what happens, okay? And you have to be on your best behavior because he’s going to be at the doctor’s appointment on Tuesday.” I point my spoon at her for emphasis.
“Oh man, I hope the doctor hides all her sharp instruments.” My dad shakes his head, laughing at his own joke.
“Mom?” I ask with my eyebrows raised.
She holds up her hands. “I’m a grown woman. I can handle my temper.”
Dad buries his head in his meal because we both know my mom is unable to hide her mama bear instincts when it comes to protecting her cub.