Page 35 of Remember That Time

I could see that Gianni was wrestling with something. His brow was furrowed and his eyes kept darting from me to the sunset and then back to me.

"What is it?" I finally asked. "Whatever it is, you can just say it or ask it. I'll answer you honestly if I can."

"What if this is your kid?" Gianni asked. "What then?"

"Well, I would definitely want to be a part of the child's life. This could be my son or daughter we're talking about. I don't have any other kids or any plans for others kids. Besides my grandmother and my sister, I don't really have anyone in my life."

That was kind of sad when stated like that, but it was true.

"So, you'd want a shared custody type of deal?"

That didn't sit right with me, but I wasn't sure how to explain it to Gianni. I wanted full custody, but I wanted to share that custody with Gianni.

"I think I'd prefer if we just got married and gave the child a real family. I don't like the idea of him or her bouncing between homes, never feeling secure in either of them."

Gianni's lips parted, his eyes growing round. "You want us to get married?"

Why did he have to say it like it was an alien concept?

I gestured between the two of us with my hand. "You do get that I've been trying to date you, right?"

Gianni's flush was instant. "Yes, but—"

"I know why you said we could only be friends, and if friends is all we can ever be then I accept that, but I hope us dating isn't totally out of the realm of possibilities."

A small smirk curved up the corner of Gianni's mouth. "If I wasn't pregnant, I'd be all over you like white on rice."

I swallowed tightly. "Really?"

I could only hope.

"I've always found you attractive," Gianni replied. "That was never the problem." He waved his hand toward his abdomen. "This is. I don't know if this is your kid or not. Until tonight, that thought never even entered my mind."

"And now that it has?"

Gianni shook his head. "It's just wishful thinking."

"It doesn't have to be," I insisted.

"Janos, this might not even be your child."

"That's true. We won't know until the test results come back, but that doesn't change the fact that it will still need a family."

Gianni's dark eyebrows drew together. "What are you saying here?"

I wasn't sure.

"I'm saying don't give up on the idea of us just because you're pregnant." It was the best way I could explain what was going through my head. "I realize that anything that might happen between us means you come as a package deal, but so do I."

"What do you mean?"

"If this kid isn't mine, then there is still someone out there pregnant with my child. I would still want to be a part of that child's life. I'm assuming, if you ever discovered who the father is, he'd want to be a part of your child's life as well. That's the deal. I have baggage and you have baggage, and guess what, it's kind of the same baggage just different manufacturers."

"So, we both might have a child with someone we don't know or we could be sharing a child..." Gianni's eyes narrowed. "But that shouldn't stop us from dating?"

Sort of?

"We like each other. We're attracted to each other. Under normal circumstances, we'd both want to date each other. Why let a little thing like a baby or two stop us from getting to know each other and deciding if we're a good fit?"

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