Page 40 of Accidental Baby Daddy

I didn’t want to go down the road of linking his bad treatment with the way that my folks had always minimized me. Today was a day to be happy. I was the owner of a new cell phone after all.

I shoved the bad thoughts and memories away, grinned at myself in the mirror, and started working on my hair and makeup.

I curled my hair so that it flowed down my back and put on a bit of smoky makeup. By the time I was done, I was happy with what I saw in the mirror. It was probably the first time in a long time I felt good about myself, and I had to admit that was partially because of Oliver.

He still wanted me. After all this time.

I took in a deep breath. I couldn’t believe that I’d accepted a job offer from him, especially since I found out I was living on his property, but it was the only opportunity I had to get out of this town and back to my life.

Being in Wagontown was like being in a nostalgic bubble, as if my real life was somewhere else, and I was living in some kind of fantasy. In the fantasy, I hadn’t been damaged by years of poor treatment by those who professed to love me. I was just Lexie, who loved football games, drinking beer with friends, and… sharing kisses and maybe a bit more with her boyfriend in the corner of the bar.

It was all a fantasy, it couldn’t be real, but I wasenjoying leaning into the good times from the past, being the person I used to be.

The fantasy in my head was a dream where Oliver could be mine. Where we could have a family.

Gillian knocked on my door, startling me from my thoughts. I jumped and headed quickly to the peephole. I didn’t know why I was so nervous. It wasn't like Dick had any idea where I was. Yet I kept expecting him to show up.

Gillian frowned as she walked inside, dressed in a pink pastel dress with a matching bag, always stylish. It fit her petite frame well.

“What’s wrong with you? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I shook my head. “Nothing. You ready to go?”

She grinned. “I’m always ready for Bonnie’s Caribbean jerk wings,” she said, licking her lips.

I smiled wanly and got into her car, a weird feeling at the back of my neck. Why was I so afraid Dick would show up? He’d never hurt me, at least not physically.

But his tongue could just be so damn sharp....

“You’re far away today,” Gillian accused.

“Thinking about my ex,” I admitted.

She paused, surprise evident on her face. “You don’t talk much about him. Don’t talk much about anything to do with your life recently, actually.”

“I’m sorry,” I said quietly, and I meant it. I reached over to take her hand and she squeezed it. Maybe I’d been wrong all these years to avoid her. She was my baby sister, after all. We should have a closer relationship.

Gillian gave me a smile. “No worries, sis. We’ve got all the time in the world.”

I went quiet, not wanting to say I was on the next flight out of here as soon as possible.

Bonnie’s was packed for lunch, and we had to wait about fifteen minutes for a table near the window, but Gillian didn’t seem to mind.

She chatted about her friends, her job, everything, while I just nodded and smiled in the right places. She’d always been a talker.

At the table, she ordered her usual and I bit my lip, looking at the flavors on the menu. There was so much to choose from.

“Try the Thai curry,” a voice said behind me, making me jump. “It’s to die for.”

I turned slightly to see Oliver, smiling, standing in the to-go line near our table.

Licking my lips, I nodded at the server to let her know that would be my order.

“Picking up lunch for me and the kiddo,” Oliver said easily, as if we were friends, as if he wasn’t inside me just a couple of weeks ago.

I cleared my throat. “He looks too young for wings.”

“He loves the boneless buffalo,” he said with a chuckle. “Kid loves spice, I don’t get it.”

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