Page 67 of Surprise Baby for Daddy's Best Friend

The two of them stood, staring at one another for what felt like an eternity. Slowly, they turned their eyes to me, and my dad realized what was going on at the same time as I did.

"So, Jared's the father," his voice was curt. "You didn't think to tell me you knew?"

I shrank in my seat, "I was going to tell you..."

He didn't say anything. Instead, he walked up to the table, placed the cake in the middle, and stared hard at Jared.

"The man at the wedding..."

"That's right," Jared answered, looking a little shamefaced.

"And all this time you didn't tell me when we met up."

"Correct. I didn't think it was worth noting."

"Worth noting?!" his voice rose to a thunderous boom. "That's my daughter! I should have you thrown out in the street for touching her!"

Jared slammed his hands on the table, "I didn't know she was your daughter when I met her."

"But you kept seeing her even after you knew!" my dad sucked in a deep breath and closed his eyes. "I trusted you."

"Dad!" I snapped. "This is why we didn't want to tell you." I glared over at Amanda. "Seriously?"

She recoiled, "I thought it would be a good surprise and everyone would be ok with full stomachs."

I didn't want to argue with her. She had our best interests in mind. I just needed to figure out the best way to avoid any further conflict.

Carl walked over to dad and turned him around, "Look, dad, I get it. But Kim's her own person. They didn't know you knew each other. They liked each other. He's here to take responsibility. Isn't that enough?"

The anger subsided from my dad, and he let out a sigh, "Maybe you're right, but this doesn't feel right."

"It doesn't matter what you feel, dad. This is between Jared and me," I stood in front of him and stared him in the eyes. I wasn't going to back down, "This isn't up for debate, dad."

"Jared," He looked away from the two of us as if we didn't exist. "We need to talk. Just the two of us."

22

JARED

Ifollowed Maurice out of the apartment and into the hallway. The paint was peeling badly, and I could see signs of mold underneath. This was not a good place to raise a child. Especially my child. I needed to convince Kim to move out of here whether it was moving in with me, or letting me help her find a better place.

"Jared," Maurice growled, and curled his hands into a fist, looking like he was ready to punch my lights out.

I turned my attention back to my best friend. The darkness around him was like a newly formed fire that hadn't sparked in years. Not even my anger could be fueled to those heights.

"Maurice, you really need to calm down."

"I am calm!" he snapped.

I raised my brow and crossed my arms, "Are you? Because right now it sounds like I'm talking to an NCO on a power trip and not an equal."

Maurice ran his fingers through what little hair he had left, and let out an exasperated sigh.

"Just answer me this. Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

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