Page 29 of Don't You Want Me, Baby?

His eyes tracked her from the second she re-entered the lounge.

‘I am a grown-ass woman, Tyler. I know what I want.’

‘Says the hungover woman with a wet patch on her trousers. You can’t even eat a meal without making a mess. This is just a reaction to last night. Cancel it. It’s not too late.’

‘So, I can’t have a baby, right?’

‘What?’ His brows crashed together. ‘No… of course not… but you can’t do it like this! Ordering baby batter to your door, I mean who freaking does that? You were drunk, upset about your birthday. Pissed off. Confused, even. I get it. Turning thirty has always been a big thing for you. I know you’ve been beating yourself up about the Arms. This isn’t the answer, Amber. Take a breath. You don’t need to jump into everything right away.’ His eyes fell to the business plan. ‘Go for the Arms; the rest can wait.’

‘Are you telling me that or guessing? Because I didn’t just google having a baby, Ty. I have had that bookmark a while. Actually, I have been looking into having a baby on my own for ages. I had my eggs checked months ago, and it’s time! With or without a man, I want a family!’ She grabbed the business plan, thrusting it into his hands like she was handing him the answer. ‘I also did this. I finished my business proposal; you’re not kicking off about that!’

He barely glanced at the papers in front of him, shaking his head like some kind of buffering robot. ‘The two things are a bit different, and you know it. This is not the way you start a family, Amber. You have better options.’

She seized on his word. ‘Exactly. Options. I have options, and this is one of them. That site was bookmarked for a reason. I can do this, and maybe I don’t need to answer to anyone. I keep telling you, I’m fine on my own. I might not have done this quite so quick, sure. I was upset, and pissed, but this was not me ordering five pairs of shoes while on tequila.’

‘And what did you do with those shoes, eh?’ He countered, moving closer. ‘You cancelled the order the minute you realised, sothink about it. Just for a minute, and then consider whether you might just have buyer’s remorse.’

Ben’s voice rose up from the staircase. ‘Er, Tyler? Getting pretty busy down here, mate.’

‘I’m coming,’ he roared back. ‘I’ve got to go.’

‘Don’t let me stop you.’ She scowled.

‘I’ll come up later, once my shift’s finished.’

She went to the door, holding it open in a way that would give him the message. ‘Don’t bother.’ She thumbed towards the stairs. ‘And before you overstep again, don’t forget that, while you are at work, I’m the boss. I don’t and have never needed an assistant to run my life. Stick to the kitchen from now on, and butt out.’

His jaw tensed so hard, she half expected his teeth to crack into pieces.

‘We are more than that, and you know it. One day, you might just stop trying to bend to everyone else’s will and see that.’

‘See what, Tyler? We fancy each other, sure. I can admit that much. And you’re right, I am sick of bending over backwards for people.’

‘I’ve never asked you to do that, not once. I don’t want to change you!’

‘Don’t you get it, Ty? That’s what would happen. I’m sick of it. Trying to please everyone. You, me – us? It wouldn’t work. You will leave one day, and I’ll be alone again. We want different things.’

‘It’s not that simple,’ he protested, reaching for her.

She stepped out of his orbit. ‘It is, Tyler. I can’t afford to waste any more time, and I can’t lose any more people. I just can’t.’

‘You won’t.’ He took a step towards her, but she moved closer to the door. ‘Not the right people.’

‘You don’t know that. And it’s too late, it’s done. Ben needs you,’ she pushed out, wanting him to go and stop looking at her like she was going to smash into a million pieces. She’d done it. She’dordered it. Even in her shock, she couldn’t bring herself to feel the shock Tyler did. Maybe it was right. Drunk her had pulled the trigger, but they were her plans. She dimly remembered doing it, now the fog was clearing. She wanted this.

‘Can we at least talk about this?’

He looked so upset, standing there, but she remembered his reaction to her news last night. Her dreams didn’t align with his. She couldn’t let anything start between them, not if she was going to be a mum. Remembering her dream last night confirmed it. This way, Tyler would still be in her life. A good friend, someone she could trust. Without all the hurt and worry. Dragging Tyler along for the ride would only end one way. Badly. For both of them.

‘I’m tired,’ she muttered with a shake of her head. ‘I know what I’m doing, Ty. I don’t need anyone changing my mind.’

‘Fine,’ he growled. ‘Message received, Amber.’

Slamming the door behind him, she heard him slam the bottom door leading to the bar and stamped her foot in frustration. Heading back to her seat, she picked up the lukewarm burger and started to eat. She finished the food, and promptly burst into tears.

A couple of days later, she finally told her friend.

‘You didn’t!’ Sharon, usually not one to shock easily, looked positively, well, shaken.

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