Page 17 of On Thin Ice

I held back my sigh. They were relationship goals with how much fun they had with each other and how smitten they were. I wanted to feel loved and cherished, and now I was a million months pregnant, and who the hell knew if I was ever going to find that. Not that I was looking for that any time soon.

I glanced down at the stream of texts again. My belly fluttered, and so did my heart.

My stupid, stupid heart. Ugh, my emotions were all mixed up, and my hormones had taken over my rational brain. I didn’t want all of this to end in frustration for me and heartache for my daughter if he screwed up and decided he didn’t want to be in her life after all. But maybe I was overanalyzing his simple texts and just assuming he was doing what he thought he had to do by pretending to care or be interested in his child.

Ugh.

Get it together, brain.

He hadn’t reached out in almost an entire week, then a few texts showed up, and my brain got all wishy-washy or some shit.

Stupid hormones.

“You okay?” Darcy’s voice cut through the nonsense rolling around in my head. I was usually the confident one, and I just felt like I was floundering ever since I’d talked to him.

No, that was wrong. I’d been feeling that way since my doctor had confirmed my pregnancy. Part of me was still reeling from the fact that I was going to be a mother in a few months.

“What? Oh yeah, I’m fine. I just don’t know what I really want from him.”

“From who?”

I jumped at Jake’s voice.

“Shit. I thought you’d left,” I said.

He crossed his arms over his chest. “Clearly. You know, you’ve been very silent about the father, and it’s your right to keep that from everyone, but just know that if you need me to kick his ass, say the word.”

Darcy reached out, patting his chest. “Yes, you big, strong man.”

Jake narrowed his gaze toward my friend, but she laughed him off, and his lips pulled up in a tiny smirk.

“You know Ally could kick his ass if she chose,” Darcy said.

I gestured to my belly. “Probably not in my current state.”

Darcy scoffed. “You totally could because you’re a badass.”

“Thanks, bestie,” I said, grinning.

Jake shook his head at both of us. “It’s irritating as fuck that Darcy knows who it is and won’t tell me. Girl code or whatever. But, even if you won’t tell me, the ass-kicking offer still stands. And now, since I can’t get any more gossip out of the two of you, I’ll leave you be.”

“Thank you, Pookie,” Darcy said, teasing him with the nickname she’d given him when they were fake dating that, unfortunately for Jake, had stuck. I didn’t miss the little shudder she did when Jake leaned down and whispered something in her ear.

“Shit, that was close,” I said when the door finally shut behind him.

Darcy scooted next to me and grabbed my phone again. “Now, what does the asshat have to say. Oh, now he wants to be involved? A week later?”

I loved how irate she was for me. I would be exactly the same way if needed, but Jake would never be an asshole to her.

“At least he’s apologizing for being a dick,” she muttered.

“What do I say to him?”

“Glad you know you’re a dick.”

I snorted.

“I know, it’s childish. So, what do you want from him?” she asked.

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