Page 78 of Mister President

“Well…I’ll um…head out so you can call her. I really am sorry, Elias.”

“You don’t have to apologize,” I assured her, softening my voice. I gave her a smile, but I was sure it didn’t reach my eyes. Was I happy about the baby? Of course, and I’d take care of them just like I did EJ, but I wouldn’t lie and say I was happy Fiona was carrying my child. We weren’t together anymore, I didn’t trust her, and I wasn’t looking forward to being around her family.

Declan’s slick ass mouth was likely to get him kicked in it, and I would hate for things to come to that. I could hear him now talking shit about her being pregnant with a black man’s baby, and he’d receive no grace when it came to disrespecting my child. That baby would grow up without two grandfathers before I allowed that.

When she was out of my office, I cursed silently as I stood and began to pace. It took great strength to keep from knocking shit off my desk and punching the wall. How could I be grateful for the baby I wanted with them coming this way? I wanted to blame myself and say this wouldn’t be my situation if I wasn’t fucking Fiona, but damn. A nigga used condoms and still got caught up. Maybe this baby was fate.

Once I’d calmed down some, I called Amanda. She answered with a smile in her voice, and that shit made my heart ache.

“I don’t know how to really say this, bae,” I said.

“Then just say it.”

“Fiona is up here. She said she’s pregnant and wants me to go to the appointment with her this afternoon to confirm.”

The silence. I held my breath, waiting in the silence. It felt like it would never end. When a sound came, it wasn’t words. It was a shaky, hard breath.

“I guess congratulations are in order. You got the baby you wanted.”

My eyes closed as I clutched my chest. It felt like my heart was constricting. Even if I was happy about the baby, I would never want my child to cause her pain.

“We used condoms,” I felt the need to say. “I wasn’t trying to get her pregnant.” She scoffed. “I know I said I wanted a baby, and that was the whole reason for me dating, but I was still being careful about it.”

“It doesn’t matter now, Elias.” Though her voice was calm, I heard the irritation lacing it. “Just…go to the appointment. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Are you upset?” My eyes squeezed shut, and I pinched the bridge of my nose. Of course she was upset.

“Yes,” she admitted, voice quivering. “I know how much you wanted a baby. Even with us getting back together, I still have to watch another woman give him or her to you.”

Leaning against my desk, I looked out into the dreary sky. “Regardless, you’re my first, and you’ll be my last. The first and last mother of my children and my one and only wife. I know that doesn’t erase this, but I hope you know it doesn’t change you and EJ’s place in my heart, life, and priority.”

“I know, baby,” she mumbled. “But I needed to hear you say that.”

“I’ll tell you every day if I have to. We’re gonna make this work, okay? And I promise, neither you nor our son will feel a lack because of this.”

“Alright,” she agreed sadly. “I’ll talk to you later, E.”

“Aig—”

Before I could even finish, she hung up, and I couldn’t even blame her.

“Fuck!” I roared before charging out of the office.

When I walkedinto the house, it was eerily quiet. I found EJ in his bedroom taking a nap, which didn’t surprise me. The last several days had been more active for him, which was why he wanted to stay home instead of going to either of his grandparents’ houses.

Amanda wasn’t in the bedroom or the room she used to dance and work out in. I checked the office, and she wasn’t there either. Something told me to go back outside, and I saw her in the back of her SUV. Clenching my jaw, I shook my head as I walked over and opened the door. She was smoking and listening to BigXthaPlug.

“Hey.” I spoke, not wanting to get in immediately.

“Hey.” When she patted the seat, I got inside. “How’d it go?”

“She’s not pregnant.” Her eyes widened as she turned slightly to face me. “Apparently, she has thyroids, or some hormonal shit, and the imbalance made her have a false positive. She was so adamant about making sure I believed she wasn’t lying to me again that she took another home test while we were there, which came out positive, even though the one her doctor did was negative.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard of that. The female body is truly a wonder.”

My head bobbed once as I accepted the blunt. “How do you feel?”

“You first.”

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