Page 21 of On Thin Ice

Dom: Fuck. I’m not trying to be a dick.

Ally: Then don’t be one.

Ally: And you wonder why I waited to tell you.

Dom: I’m trying here.

And failing miserably because I didn’t know what the fuck to do.

Ally: This isn’t easy for me, either. I didn’t plan to get pregnant, especially by a man I’m not even in a relationship with. I mean, we’re barely friends, Dom. There isn’t anything easy about this.

Dom: We’re friends. Well, friendly sometimes.

Ally: That’s not what I mean, and you know it.

My fingers stabbed into my hair again, and I pushed down my irritation. I wouldn’t be surprised if she just said, “Never mind” and cut me out.

I tapped on her name to call her.

“Why are you calling?” she asked, her annoyance clear.

“I thought actually talking might be better than texting?” I said lamely.

She scoffed. “We’ll see.”

“Ally, I’m sorry. I know I’m being an asshole; I just have no clue what I’m doing.”

Her sigh was audible. “And you think I do? I’m just figuring it out each day, Dom. I know I’ve had longer to think about it, but this baby is coming, and I don’t want you to show up in her life just because you feel obligated. You had a right to know that you’re going to have a kid out in the world, that’s all.”

“You keep giving me an out. And honestly, part of me thinks I should take it.” I surprised myself by letting that last part slip out, but we had to be honest with each other.

“Then take it.”

My body clenched at the irritation in her voice.

“I don’t want to,” I said, the words settling into my chest.I don’t want to.As messed up as all of this was, as fucked up as my childhood was, the only thing I was sure of was that I couldn’t walk away.

“Then I guess we have to figure it out, okay?” she said.

I hated that she hesitated, but I understood. After how I’d acted when she told me and then hadn’t reached out in over a week? I’d fucking hesitate too.

“Training camp starts tomorrow, or I’d fly to San Francisco,” I offered.

She blew out a breath. “It’s fine. And it’s probably better that we’re not face-to-face yet.”

I tried not to bristle at her comment, but damn, it stung.

“I get it. Maybe we could keep talking or texting?” I asked.

“Uh, sure. If we’re really going to do this—I mean, co-parent—we should probably become friends,” she said.

“Ally, we’ve known each other for years,” I said.

“Yeah, but you know as well as I do that it was just for fun and hooking up. Maybe I want to get to know the father of my child more,” she said.

“I’d like that,” I said, feeling the weight shift slightly off my chest. I wanted to get to know Ally more, too. “What’s your favorite movie?”

She laughed. “We’re playing Twenty Questions?”

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