Page 25 of Mistletoe and Mischief

Three messages of confirmed signatures. Two text messages, one from Cole and one from Blake.

Blake:Hell yeah, Babygirl’s having a baby! We’re in this together. Whatever you need, we’ve got you.

Cole:Looking forward to this journey with you.

My chest tightens. Their words are so sweet, so genuine. It’s almost too much.

But wait. No Landon?

I double-check. He signed, just no message. No “oh, shit” or playful jab.

He signed. That’s what matters. But a nagging voice whispers:What if he’s having second thoughts? He has that free spirit and need for adventure like I do. Is this too much?

Not wanting to read anything into it, I call him.

He picks up instantly.

“Hey, what’s up?” He sounds excited. Good.

But why would he ask “what’s up” if he just found out I’m pregnant?

He continues when I can’t muster a response. “You there? I’m up in the helicopter. May not have good reception.”

“I’m here.” My voice is weak.

“I wish you were here with us.” He laughs.

That’s disappointingly generic. His demeanor doesn’t seem right. They signed so fast, before I could finish a glass of water. Too fast?

I can’t stop myself from testing him. “And if I was, what would you do?”

“I’d fuck you—” His words stop abruptly by muffled voices that I think belong to Cole and Blake interrupt him. There’s a rustling sound, like he’s covering the microphone.

He doesn’t know.

My chest aches and my fingers tighten around the phone. “You signed a legal document without reading it?”

“Oh fuck! You’re pregnant?” None of his excitement makes it to my heart.

It’s too late. The damage is done. My throat tightens as the gravity of what just happened settles. If he signed without reading, has he taken anything I’ve said seriously?

I hang up. Slinking into a chair, I pull up our full contract and read the termination clause, reminding myself of the simplicity.

Carefully typing ‘Contract Terminated’, I invoke the clause that will sever all contact. Not that they’ll care.

In a separate message I let them know that I’ll request DNA samples once I’ve talked to my doctor. Once we establish paternity, I’ll issue a new contract that will be agreed to in front of a lawyer.

And then I cry.

Sixteen

Landon

I stare at my phone, my soul becoming a void.

Jasmine:Contract Terminated

I’m in a freefall through the void as I attempt to process the events of the last minute. The word ‘terminated’ adds fear to my descent, coming in seconds after finding out Jasmine’s pregnant.

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