Page 26 of Accidental Baby Daddy

I rolled my eyes. “Gross,” I said as I chewed my French dip slowly and then popped a fry into my mouth.

He grinned at me. “Romantic. Hopeful. Sweet. Those are the words you should have used.”

I rolled my eyes again, but then I said, “So that’s your advice? Talk to her?”

“Come clean about your cabin, at least.”

“Absolutely not,” I said, and Peter snorted out a laugh.

“Whatever you say, boss.”

I left the cafe feeling a lot better about things, and that was all that mattered. Peter had served as my friend, not my assistant, and it felt good to get things off my chest.

It was probably for the best that Lexie had left the morning after we hooked up. I didn’t want to get wrapped back up in her again. I couldn’t for so many reasons, not least of which my child, who didn’t deserve to have women coming and going from his life just like his own mother had done.

I thought about the day that he would ask about Suzanne and I grimaced. There were no easy ways to tell a child that his mother had simply dropped him off like the stork on his father’s doorstep and then left forever.

“You’re bad at women, man,” I said to myself. “Really, really bad.”

Chapter 9

Lexie

Gillian invited me over for a dinner party on Friday, and all week, I told myself I wasn’t going to go. When Friday rolled around, however, I put on my little black dress and a pair of low heels I had borrowed from my sister, and got into Gillian’s car.

“You look great,” Gillian gushed.

I smiled. “Thank you.”

Gillian really was sweet, even if she didn’t understand how much she’d been favored for her whole life. She could have grown up to be a real brat but she wasn’t. She was kind and gentle-hearted.

I guess maybe I should give her more of a chance to get close to me, but I don’t want her to be disappointed when I leave town, which I am planning to do as soon as humanly possible. My first paycheck will need to be devoted to essentials… like clothing, but after that, I’m saving up to just move on with my life.

Her friends were already there, sitting at the table, when we arrived. Gillian must have let them in before coming to pick me up.

I smiled as I introduced myself to everyone. There was Ciara, Gillian’s best friend from high school. I’d met her before but hadn’t seen her since she was about thirteen. She still looked young, with her curly blonde hair and grey eyes. I also met Ciara’s boyfriend, Joshua, who was so shy he could barely look at me when I spoke to him.

Then there was Gray, who Gillian was “kind of dating”, at least in her words. He was handsome, tall, and lanky with sandy hair that fell to his shoulders and hazel eyes.

I was the fifth wheel. Great.

“So you’re the famous sister she keeps talking about,” Gray said, smiling, causing Gillian to blush. I noticed he had a dimple in one cheek.

“That’s me,” I said. “I’m four years older.”

“You don’t look it,” Joshua piped up, and I smiled brightly at him. He flushed a deep red and looked away, his girlfriend frowning at him.

“You have a crush on her,” she accused.

I burst out laughing. “I’m sure no one has a crush on me,” I assured her. Although I was a little flattered, Joshua was too young for me, and besides, I didn’t make a habit of going after my little sister’s friends.

Ciara smiled a little, but I could tell she was peeved, and I made a point to include her in every question I asked Joshua. It worked because he didn’t talk much, anyway.

“I heard you were a runaway bride,” Gray said, Gillian kicking his shin under the table, making him yelp.

“It’s okay,” I replied, even though it really wasn’t. I was annoyed that Gillian had told her boyfriend my personal history.

“I’m sorry,” Gillian whispered, leaning over, and I patted her knee to let her know I wasn’t too mad.

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