Chapter Thirty-Two
Taking a deep breath, I try to push the conversation from the car out of my mind. Going over Dom's words right now isn't the smartest idea.
We haven't really talked about that part of our breakup since the last time, when he basically, though not really, put some of it on me. I mean, I was pissed about it.
Right up until he told me he loved me.
And then... well.
I kind of shoved it into a mental box and sat on the lid.
Don't judge me until your first love, the one you didn't even realize you still had feelings for, is standing in front of you asking for a second chance. Besides, despite how his words came out, I know where Dom's heart was.
Groaning, I come to a stop outside Brad's hotel room. The asshole texted me the room number and then completely ignored every single one of my "meet us in the lobby" messages.
I was fully prepared to make him come downstairs anyway, but Dom pointed out that introducing the two of them was probably better done in private.
"We're not even inside yet," Dom murmurs.
His hand appears beside me and knocks on the door before quickly stepping back.
Ass.
I mouth the word at him, tightening my grip on Sophie's stroller.
He pretends not to notice, studying the hallway like it’s not a replica of every other hotel’s in Austin.
The door finally opens just as Sophie lets out the loudest wail I've ever heard. I don't think it's because she saw the asshole who's supposed to be her father, but I'm not exactly going to argue against the point either.
"Took you long enough," I snap, immediately pushing the stroller forward.
Brad jumps out of the way to avoid getting run over.
"Sorry," he says before trailing off.
His eyes land on Dom.
Narrowing them slightly, he steps forward and extends a hand.
"Bradley Robinson."
Dom takes it.
"Dominic Mitchell."
"Oh."
The single word says entirely too much.
Brad sneers at me. "Well. That didn't take long."
I don't engage. Instead, I focus on my screaming daughter.
Sophie's diaper is dry. She ate before we left my parents' house. Nothing appears to be wrong.
Yet she's crying like the world is ending.
I lift her from the stroller and start bouncing her gently against my shoulder.
Nothing.
Brad just stands there watching.
When the crying doesn't stop, I look helplessly toward Dom.
Without a word, he steps forward and takes her. She goes willingly.
The crying doesn't stop immediately, but within a minute he's got her giggling by tickling her tummy and pretending she's an airplane.
Brad, who'd spent the last sixty seconds standing there like a decorative lamp, finally seems to snap out of it.
"I'll take her."
Before Dom can react, Brad reaches out and lifts Sophie from his arms. Technically, snatches might be a better word.
I know Dom could've dodged him. Probably could've done a lot more than dodge him.
But he didn't. For that, I'm grateful.
Mostly.
Sophie settles in Brad's arms and immediately stares at him with wide eyes, like she's trying to figure out where she's seen him before.
"Hi, my darling," Brad says softly, rubbing his nose against hers.
To my complete astonishment, Sophie lets out a delighted giggle and smacks him in the face with both tiny fists.
Dom's hand comes around my back grounding me as I watch father and daughter reunite like no time has passed at all.
A flush echoes from the closed bathroom.
Brad freezes.
Sophie is halfway over his head when he clears his throat.
"That was..."
I wait.
Mostly because I'm curious who he's about to throw under the bus.
His mother. His father. One of his brothers.
None of whom have met Sophie yet because apparently Albany to Austin is just too long a plane ride.
Perfectly manageable for a baby though.
"...Teresa."
Wow.
I mouth the word, staring at the sweat beading on his forehead.
Leaning back against Dom just to prove a point, I smile.
"Nice. She came to support you."
"Actually..." Brad pulls Sophie closer against his chest. "That's why I wanted you to come here."
The bathroom door opening steals my attention.
I look over just in time to see a younger red-haired woman step out.
She's saying something, but I don't catch a word of it. Not when my eyes immediately drop to her stomach.
Her very pregnant stomach.
"...babe, when are they-" Her eyes meet mine. "Oh." She smiles like we’re old friends. "Hi."
Then she walks over and takes her place beside Brad.
Like she belongs there.
She looks at Sophie in his arms and her smile softens.
"Hi, Sophie." Her hand reaches out and gently holds my daughter's. "Hello," she coos.
Brad's guilty eyes meet my betrayed ones.
And suddenly I understand exactly why he wanted this meeting in private.
"What the fuck?" I snap.
Brad visibly winces. "Please, let me explain."
"Explain?" I take a step forward forgetting the other people in the room. "Explain how she's already this pregnant? Like Laila was when you fucked her? Jeez, do you have a fetish or something?"
"Wyn-"
"It's not like that," Teresa says, acting like she has any say here.
I snarl at her. "Excuse me. I'm talking to the father of my child. Soon to be yours too if that little bundle of joy is really his."
Brad closes his eyes. "It was after we decided to divorce, alright?"
"We used protection," Teresa blurts, placing a hand over her stomach. "It just happened once."
Her hand rubs her belly.
My chest tightens.
Somehow her need to emphasize her fertile womb doesn't feel like an accident.
"Can you, like, disappear for a second?" I snap at her.
"Hey," Brad says, seemingly finding his spine. "I didn't tell him to leave." He points at Dom.
"Well I didn't cheat on you with him, now did I?" I ask sarcastically.
Brad visibly flinches.
Teresa shifts awkwardly. "I can take the baby outside," she offers, already stepping toward my daughter.
"Don't," I snap immediately. "Do not touch my daughter."
She freezes.
"Bronwyn, you're making a big deal out of this," Brad says. "We're divorced."
"Yes." I let out a breath. "Yes, we are."
Something in my voice must change because Dom immediately straightens beside me.
"Babe," he says cautiously.
He's not buying the sudden calm.
Smart man.
I look directly at Brad.
"We are divorced. You're right." I nod slowly. "Which means who you sleep with is none of my business anymore."
Brad relaxes slightly.
Mistake.
"But Sophie is."
His shoulders tense again.
"Now you can screw all the interns you like. Hell, knock them up too. Frankly, I don't care anymore. But I will not allow you to use her as a nanny for my daughter."
Teresa opens her mouth.
I whirl toward her before any words can escape.
"No offence, sweetheart, but keep your job. Because in ten years, when he finds his dick wandering again, you're gonna need it."
"He loves me," she says bravely, lifting her chin.
"Really?" I raise a brow. "Did he love you two months ago when he was begging me for a second chance… well third, but who’s counting?"
The color drains from her face.
"I'm guessing he already knew about this when he told me you were nothing more than a rebound." I fake wince.
Teresa slowly turns toward Brad who avoids her eyes completely.
Instead, he glares at me.
I smile sweetly.
Now it's his turn to deal with the fallout.
"I'm hungry," I announce. "And it's her nap time."
Before either of them can respond, I lift Sophie from Brad's arms.
Without looking back, I carry Sophie out of the room, leaving Dom to follow with the stroller.
My pulse is still pounding as we walk down the hallway. I don't trust myself to speak. If I do, there's a good chance I'll start ranting about Brad, Teresa, or both.
The elevator is still on the lobby level when we reach it.
I jab the button harder than necessary.
Dom wisely says nothing.
A few seconds later I bend over and start clipping Sophie into the stroller. She's completely unbothered by the chaos we just left behind, more interested in trying to chew on one of her toys.
"Jeez."
I glance up.
Dom visibly shudders.
"What?"
"I need a shower after that."
I snort. "Why? You're not my pregnant mistress."
"No, but did you see her face? She looked heartbroken when you dropped that bomb."
"Hey, I told you," I remind him.
"Thank fuck for that," he says with a smile.
I finish tightening Sophie's straps before straightening.
"Don't thank fuck yet."
Dom's smile immediately disappears. He eyes me warily.
"We still have to talk," I say sweetly.
The stroller nearly slips from his hand.
For a second he just stares at me like he's trying to figure out how fast he can make a run for it.
"Fuck me," he groans when he realizes I’ll totally tackle him to the floor.