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Horny doesn’t begin to explain how needy I was that weekend.

How was I supposed to say no when he offered his dick up on a silver platter?

I was sober, with no alcohol or drugs in my system, but by the end of the night, I was drunk and high on orgasms. He fucked me for hours, and I came enough times to where I nearly blacked out, but he didn’t stop fucking me.

I wanted it.

Desperately.

Almost as desperately as I’ve been wanting a baby.

But that night, I’d been feeling low after having just had my period recently. I knew my body had failed at its job once again. So, I went for it and just tried to enjoy the night along with my friends.

But this wasn’t the plan.

The possibility that my dreams have come true because of a one-night stand?

That doesn’t sound like a dream. It sounds like a nightmare.

Because now there’s a second parent involved. One who hasn’t signed away rights to the child growing in my womb.

Which is a problem I’m not ready to deal with.

I’m wringing my hands, trying to cling to the last shred of sanity that remains, when the doctor’s voice shakes me from my panic. “How about we schedule you to come back next week to discuss things more? In the meantime, here are some resources for you to look over.”

Before she leaves, she hands me a stack of papers and pamphlets, but I only give them a quick glance before tossing them to the side.

Then I reach for my phone. I scroll back through my photos before the doctor even closes the door to the room.

“Where are they?” I ask, my heart racing a million miles a minute. “Fuck!”

“Fuck!” I repeat under my breath when I still can’t find them after a few minutes, and the nurse knocks on the door to check on me, signaling I should leave soon.

I drop back onto the examination table and stare at the ceiling until my vision crosses. My hand comes to rest on my stomach, and underneath the mounting panic, a small flutter of excitement forms in my chest.

I’m having a baby.

My baby.

No matter the other half of the DNA, this child is mine.

Chapter 2

Elsie

March 6 — 9 Weeks 4 Days, Kumquat

Driving home from the Medical District happens on autopilot, my heart pounding for the full 30 minutes it takes to get back to River Oaks and park in the garage before taking the elevator up to my penthouse apartment.

When I reach the top floor, my shoulders sag, and I let out a breath I did not realize I was holding.

My apartment is the one place in the world where I have complete control. It’s my safe haven from the world.

When you enter through the front door from the elevator bay, you walk into the large open floor plan. To the left is the kitchen with white cabinets and marble countertops. The layout flows seamlessly into the living room, with an entire wall of bookshelves around the television.

It is decorated in a minimalist, modern style, and I keep the space immaculately clean and organized. The entire place is in various shades of white, cream, and gray, with accents throughout of my favorite color, rich emerald green.

Turning to the right from the front door takes you down a hallway that leads to the primary bedroom, my office, and a guest bedroom that I planned to convert into a nursery when the time comes. In the opposite direction is the den and two more bedrooms, one of which I’ve converted into a yoga studio that overlooks the city.

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