Page 97 of Selfless

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“When I refused to leave and went back to see her, your friend wouldn’t let me enter the apartment. He told me that you loved her and that you just needed time to come around.” Jaycent said that about me? “She believed it too. She fell so hard for all your bullshit. Then I met one who sees through all your lies. Vicki told me all about you and how you use women. How you need them to make you feel superior. How she’s your true love, and you always run back to her … And how you were going to marry her …”

I throw my head back, letting out a laugh I can’t keep in. “I’ve heard enough,” I say, still laughing as his brown eyes shoot daggers at me. I slap him on the shoulder, and his body tenses. “I just wanted to say thanks for making me a dad with the woman who I plan on marrying.”

“You son of a bitch!” he shouts.

I walk over to the door and open it. A brunette stands there with her right hand up as if she was about to knock on the door. “Vicki,” I say with a smirk.

“Ryder?” She gasps. “What are you …?”

I look over my shoulder at Bradley, and he still holds his glass in his right hand, eyes narrowed on me and nostrils flared. “Karma is a bitch, man,” I say, referring to Vicki. He has no idea what he has gotten in to with that woman. Then I walk out, unable to contain my laughter.

ASHLYN

“You’re kidding?” Becca gasps.

“No,” I say with a giddy laugh. “We’re having a baby.” God, that sounds so crazy to say. I still can’t believe it.

She jumps up from the couch and runs toward me, hugging me tightly.

Ryder and I spent all night last night going back and forth on whether we should tell anyone about the baby. I did some research on pregnancy while we laid in bed, and it said most miscarriages happen within the first twelve weeks. I told Ryder we should wait until we crossed that point just in case. He shut the laptop on me and said I had read enough. And then he brought up another good point. Vicki already knew, which meant his mom probably knew. And we had told his father yesterday when he came in and found me a bawling mess. And I wanted to be the one to tell Becca. She is my best friend, after all. So, not wanting to chance someone else beating me to it, we called them over tonight after Ryder got home and told them the good news.

“Congratulations, man,” Jaycent says, hugging his friend and slapping him on the back.

Ryder pulls away smiling, and I can’t help but stare at the way his green eyes light up. I think back to the way he danced with the little girl at the wedding and how natural he looked. He’s gonna be a great father. He looks so proud. “I hope you plan on selling baby clothes in your store, Becca,” Ryder tells her.

“Store?” I ask confused.

She bites her bottom lip nervously. “I’m opening up a store here in Manhattan.”

I smile. “That’s awesome.”

Jaycent throws his arm over her shoulder and has that same smile Ryder wears. “She’s being modest.” He kisses her on the cheek. “For every article sold, she is going to donate one to a homeless shelter,” he beams.

Tears come to my eyes, and my throat tightens. Becca’s face falls. “I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you …”

I shake my head. “It’s not that.” Trying to finish, I take a deep breath, but the tears just come faster.

Ryder pulls me to his chest, and I can feel it vibrate against mine as he tries to hold in his laughter before he says, “Pregnancy hormones.”

They all laugh, and I slap his arm. He just laughs harder and then kisses me on the head. “I think this is a good time,” Ryder says excitedly.

I pull away, unable to contain my laughter. “I agree, babe.”

Jaycent and Becca look at one another and then back at us. “Something else you guys wanna tell us?”

Ryder claps his hand and says, “We have a surprise for you.”

“Go get it,” I say, pushing on his arm. I’m so giddy.

Ryder leaves our living room, and they look at each other nervously. And I say, “You’re gonna love it.”

“Love what?” Becca asks just as Ryder reenters the living room.

He holds a big cage in his hands covered with a pink blanket. “What the hell is that?” Jaycent asks.

Ryder sets it down on the floor and takes a step back. “Well, open it.”

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