Page 3 of Her Baby His Gift

“Great.” Dr. Baker looked at Carter. “Can I assume Mr. Owens is going to take you home?”

They both responded at the same time.

“No.” Harlem vigorously shook her head.

“Yes.” Carter was firm.

Dr. Baker smiled inwardly and cleared his throat. “I’ll let you two figure it out.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” Harlem said as she shook his hand.

“You’re very welcome.”

Carter also shook Dr. Baker’s hand and then waited for him to leave. Worried, Carter rubbed the back of his neck. “Are you really okay?”

Harlem’s response was curt. “I’m fine.” She wasn’t but would rather rot in hell than admit it.

His concern came off as angry. “What the hell, Harlem?!”

She ignored him and slid off the bed. Harlem picked up her clothes that sat at the end of it and walked into the bathroom. The closing of the door was loud, and so was the clicking sound of the lock.

Carter glanced heavenward.Is this my fuckin’ karma for all the shit I’ve done?Harlem was the most irritating woman he’d ever met.He was caught between being worried to death and wanting to kill her. Instead of overreacting, Carter tried to calm down before she came out of the bathroom.

After what felt like an eternity, Harlem finally emerged with her cell phone held up to her ear. “Yes. Please have the Uber pull up to the entrance by the emergency room. Thank you.” She disconnected the call.

She had to be out of her mind.Carter was barely keeping it together. “If you think you’re getting in an Uber at almost three-thirty in the morning, you’re crazy.”

Harlem rubbed her forehead in irritation. “It’s late.” She laughed sarcastically to herself. “Actually, it’s early. Anyway, I’m tired, and I’m not in the mood to stand in this hospital and argue with you. I requested an Uber. I’mtakingan Uber.”

That was not happening. If Carter had to pick her five-foot-nine-inch ass up and carry her over his shoulder, he would do precisely that. “What the hell were you doing out this late?”

She was matter-of-fact. “You’re talking as if I owe you an explanation. I don’t.”

“Why must you always be so difficult?! I’m trying to do the right thing and look out for you.”

Harlem stomped over to him and got in his face. “I am not your responsibility!” Her anger was over the top. “If I wanted to go to the store because I have a craving, it’s MY fuckin’ business! You don’t have a say.”

A nurse stepped into their room. She whisper-yelled, “Please! Lower your voices. We have other patients here.”

Harlem was embarrassed. She could not believe she allowed Carter to bait her into acting outside of her body. The man drove her crazy. She didn’t owe him an explanation. Harlem didn’t owe him anything.

Her emotions were all over the place. Harlem guessed her hormones were the reason she was on the verge of crying. It would make sense after being roughed up pretty badly by the carjackers.Would it have been so bad if I lost the baby?The thought popped into her head out of nowhere. Well, it wasn’t exactly out of nowhere. Harlem was still struggling with the idea of being pregnant and what to do about it.

Carter felt like the biggest asshole. Harlem had been through hell and was now staring at him with glassy eyes that were now more green than their typical gold and brown color as she fought back tears. He’d only ever seen her cry twice, and tonight was the second time. Unfortunately, he was responsible for both. This was where he needed to be sensitive. “Listen, if—”

Harlem glanced away because she would not lose it in front of Carter. She did her best to hold it together.

“If you need anything.”

“I don’t.”

“But . . . if you did, or you have a craving any time of the day or night, please call me.”

She glanced down at the floor. “Why would I do that? You have your life, and I have mine.”

He didn’t understand why he couldn’t get through to her. “I’m trying to be here for you.”

“I’ve already told you a million times that it’s not your job. You’re not responsible for me.”

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