Page 40 of Waiting on You

She swallows thickly—the first emotion she’s shown since she started talking. “He moved us from place to place, and then one day, he found another womanand started a new family with her…one he actually wanted.”

Up until now, she was doing a good job at holding in her emotions, but when her voice cracks on the last few words, I know she’s more affected by what her dad did than she wants me to believe.

“Paige,” I say, in shock at the turn of events because this isn’t at all how I saw this conversation going.

“Please,” she pleads, “let me get this out. That’s why we’re here—to discuss the baby—and you should know where I stand before you make a decision.”

I sigh in frustration but nod for her to continue. I hate what’s coming out of her mouth, but maybe I need to hear it all so I know where she’s coming from, and then I can assure her that I’m nothing like her dad.

“I only saw my dad a couple of times after I left home, and then, after college, I moved to London, hoping to be closer to my mom. I wanted to feel that magic,” she says, smiling sadly. “But as you know, I couldn’t feel it. I felt like I was alone in this world. My mom had given up, my dad didn’t want me, and John didn’t want to settle down.”

At the mention of her ex, my jaw clenches, but I keep my mouth shut, letting her get this all out.

“I’ve watched my friends fall in love and start families, and I wanted that,” she admits with a watery smile that does shit to my insides because how this woman doesn’t see what I see blows my mind and fuck everyone who made her feel like this.

“All I wanted was to be enough.” She sniffles back a sob, and it takes everything in me not to move to the other side of the table and pull her into my arms. “To be enough for my mom to want to live. For my dad to want to be my dad. For John, who I gave my heart to, and in return, he cheated on me.”

She bursts out with a humorless laugh, and it shatters my heart because while I knew what John had done fucked with her head and heart, I didn’t know how deep her insecurities ran.

“I’ve never been enough,” she says with a shake of her head, “and now, I’m pregnant.”

She takes a sip of her water, her hand trembling, and then places it back down. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot the waiter heading over to take our order, so I shake my head, silently letting him know not yet. With a quick nod, he lets me know he understands and walks in the opposite direction.

“This isn’t how it was supposed to happen,” Paige whispers. “It was supposed to be magical. We were supposed to fall in love and get married, create a home together and then have a baby. I was supposed to be someone’senough.But now, everything’s forced. Just like my mom forced me on my dad, this baby is being forced on you.”

Holy shit.I’d think she was playing a horrible joke on me if I didn’t know how damn serious she was right now.

I’m still trying to wrap my head around everythingPaige has dropped on me when she adds more to the mix.

“And then there’s the issue that you don’t live here, and I can’t—no,” she corrects, “Iwon’tmove to wherever you live because I’ve had to move so many times, and there’s no way I’m giving up everything for someone else again. I have a job I love, a house that’s mine. I have friends who care about me. And for the first time, I’m making myself a priority.”

Her beautiful emerald eyes well up with tears, and I realize, in this moment, that I didn’t come prepared for tonight. I was so lost in my own head, excited to be in the same city as Paige, shocked—in the best way—that she’s pregnant with my baby, that I thought we’d, what…pick up right where we’d left off? Fuck, I was so stupid. I’m a businessman, I know better than to think with my emotions, but with Paige, it was just so easy to turn it all off and let my heart guide me.

“I’m glad you found me,” she says softly, her glassy eyes meeting mine, “because I felt so guilty when I wasn’t able to tell you about the baby. But I need you to know that you are not obligated to be in this baby’s life, and I’d rather you walk away now than hurt him or her later on. I don’t want or need anything from you, and if you decide to sign over your rights, I promise this will stay between us. As you mentioned, you prefer your life to be private, and a baby scandal wouldn’t be good for your reputation.”

When she releases a harsh breath and her shoulderssag and she doesn’t attempt to speak again, I know she’s done. And that’s good because after all that, I have a few things I need to say as well.

“First of all,” I begin, forcing myself to remain calm, “your dad and John and anybody else who didn’t think you were enough, who didn’t make you a priority, are goddamn fools because you and this baby are more than enough. You deserve to be someone’s priority, and I have every intention of making you mine.”

She opens her mouth to say something—probably argue—but she had her time to speak, and now, it’s mine.

“You are everything I’ve ever wanted,” I continue without letting her cut in, “and that was before I found out that you were carrying my baby. Hell, when we were in London, I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t fantasize aboutnotpulling out and filling you with my seed on more than one occasion.”

Her cheeks turn the most beautiful shade of pink, and I shrug because it’s the damn truth. Too many times when we were together, I wondered what it would be like to make her mine, to fill her with my babies, and to live a life with her by my side. I just didn’t think it was actually a possibility.

“And while I hate that John cheated on you because you deserve way better than that, selfishly, I’m glad he showed his true colors when he did because it’s what led you to me.”

“I think it was me tripping over the cobblestoneand nearly getting run over that led me to you…but yeah,” she mutters, making me laugh.

“That too,” I agree. “But regardless, their loss is my gain.”

“But what are you gaining?” she asks. “We live…where do you live?”

“In Dallas.”

“Great,” she chokes out, fresh tears filling her eyes and spilling over. “We live four hours away from each other, and I’m pregnant.”

Having enough of not being able to hold her, I round the table and sit in the chair next to her, pulling her into my arms. Thankfully, she comes willingly.

---