Page 69 of Accidental Baby Daddy

She didn’t argue, she just listlessly walked to the car and got into the passenger seat before I could open the door for her.

What was going on?

“Are you all right?” I asked when we pulled up to the restaurant. She turned to me with a weak smile.

“Just still feeling sick,” she admitted.

“They’ll have soup or something light,” I promised.

We entered the restaurant and sat in a back booth. Lexie ordered a half sandwich and a bowl of broccoli cheddar soup.

She barely ate any of it while Trent chowed down on his double burger. The kid loved meat and couldn’t seem to get enough of it. Growing boy, I supposed.

“That’s a big burger for a little guy,” Lexie pointed out.

“I could eattwoof these,” Trent said proudly, his mouth full, and I nudged him with my shoulder.

“Table manners, Trent.”

“Sorry,” he mumbled, his mouth still full, and Lexie laughed.

“You’re such a good dad,” she commented quietly, and there was something almost sad about the way she said it. Was she thinking the same thing I was? That it should have been the two of us with kids, not just me alone?

I knew it was stupid of me to think that way. That wasn’t how things were, it was simply how Iwishedthings were. Lexie had broken off our recent chance at being together. She didn’t want me and it was starting to grate on me, especially since I was trying so hard to help her through this difficult time.

It wasn’t that I expected anything in return, but I felt I deserved some sort of explanation as to why she had ended things so abruptly.

I breathed in deeply, knowing we couldn’t have this conversation around Trent. Lexie was quiet throughout the rest of the meal, barely touching her food.

She would chat idly with Trent but would basically ignore everything I said.

Anger was starting to roll over me like a tidal wave, and I didn’t like the way it felt. I didn’t want to be angry withher anymore. I’d been angry for too many years, and it was time to let it go.

“Are you sure you’re all right?” I asked again in a low tone while Trent was occupied coloring, and she huffed out a breath.

“I’m fine. I’m sick, Oliver. And you don’t have to worry about me. I’m not your problem. Not anymore.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” I snapped, unable to quell the anger. I’d been trying to help her all day, and she’d been nothing but cold or downright mean.

“It means you don’t have to try so hard,” Lexie hissed. “It means you can just take me home. It means you don’t have to help me.”

“I know that I don’t have to help you. I want to, Lex. I care about you.”

“Do you? That’s news to me.” She stood up. “I’ll walk home.”

Trent looked up at me upon hearing that, his eyes wide. I was angry that Lexie was being difficult, but I was angrier that she’d started this in front of Trent.

“Fine,” I said, motioning for the waitress to bring the bill. We sat in silence until it arrived, and I immediately handed the server cash, telling her to keep it. She looked at me in surprise—I didn’t want to wait for her to bring back the change, so she ended up getting a very nice tip.

Lexie got up from the table first, storming through the restaurant and out the door. I took my time, waiting for Trent to gather his coloring project and snagging one last fry.

When we got out to the parking lot, I secured Trent in the back then slid into the driver’s seat and started the car.

“Daddy,” Trent said quietly from the backseat. “Wecan’t just let her walk home.” His voice was small and worried, only making me angrier at Lexie.

I sighed. “I know.”

I spotted her stalking down the street, and I drove up next to her, rolling the window down.

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