Page 16 of Exposed

My parents would kill me if they knew I got pregnant out of wedlock. When you and I hooked up, I told you I was twenty, but I was really 18. I’m sorry I lied, but I can’t be a mom. I’m a freshman in college and never planned on any of this, but I had to give our baby life.

Since it was winter, I hid my pregnancy with baggy clothes and coats. I isolated myself the last couple of months and told my parents I had the flu really bad when I went to the hospital to have the baby. Other than myroommate, no one knows. Hiding him isn’t an option anymore, so I’m bringing him to you.

The birth certificate has you as the father. I wasn’t with anyone else at the time, so he’s definitely your son. His name on the birth certificate is Baby Galloway, because I want you to name him. I need time. Right now, I don’t want you to know who I am. I’ll contact you in the future with the hospital name where he was born so you can access the birth certificate and legally change his name.

I was on birth control, just like I promised you. I don’t know what happened.

Please love him and give him the life I can’t. I took him to a pediatrician for his two week check up. The doctor said to keep feeding him so he gains weight. He’s 4 weeks old today. I left a can of formula that the doctor said is the best for him.

Thank you, Matt. You treated me that night like I was special. You’ll be the best dad.

Sincerely,

Your one-night stand

That did not get better.

“What the fuck?” I whisper so I don’t scare the baby snuggling into my chest.

“Wow,” Pepper agrees. I didn’t realize it, but she sat down next to me and read over my shoulder while I was reading.

“Nosy much?” I ask.

“I am, yes. You sure know how to pick girls to sleep with. First, a teenager who leaves you a baby, then a homeless girl who’s got a dumpster fire for a life. Gold star for you,” she wise-cracks.

“She told me she was twenty.”

“You’re gullible,” she notes.

“She looked older than you,” I fire back.

“All I’m hearing is that you like younger girls.”

“I’m a dad,” I say in complete shock.

“Daddy Matt.”

“Pepper,” I groan, snapping out of my shocked state.

“Own it, dude. You like younger girls.”

“You’re impossible,” I grumble, then focus on the baby.Mybaby.

Looking down at this little person who’s half me, tears fill my eyes. This is not how I imagined becoming a father. Thinking back to the last one night stand I had about ten months ago, the timing is accurate.

“Looks like I’m your dad, little guy,” I tell him. Damn, I feel like I’m in the Twilight Zone. “Can the mom leave him with me like this?”

“You’re the dad. Why can’t she?”

I shake my head in disbelief. “Shit like this doesn’t happen in real life.”

“That’s been my motto for the last few months,” Pepper nods. “I really need to leave now. There’s no way I can stay here.”

“You don’t like babies?” I ask.

“It’s not that. I don’t want to bring danger to your doorstep, especially when you’ve got this little guy.”

“You want to unpack that with me, go ahead. If not, tell me how much you know about babies.”

---