Page 12 of Unexpected Kisses

He shakes his head. “Not at all. I’m happy to work it out between the two of us. I don’t foresee any issues.”

“Are you sure your sister and her wife will be okay with this? Their children will be related to this one,” I remind him again.

He shakes his head. “I don’t think they’ll have any issues with it but I’ll ask what level of involvement they would like, and we’ll see if we can come to an agreement. You didn’t answer me before, wouldyouwant the kids to know each other?”

I ponder his question for a moment. Since this will probably be the only child I’ll have, it might be nice for him or her to know their half-siblings. My child wouldn’t have this opportunity if I was using an anonymous donor through the clinic. I’d be crazy to refuse. I nod. “I think I would. But only if your family agrees.”

He nods, then leans forward slightly, pulling something out of his back pocket. “I brought my paperwork. It’s from six months ago when I went through the process with Hayley and Lisa for the second time, but if you want me to get a more up-to-date semen analysis and sexual health check done, I don’t mind. I haven’t … I haven’t uh … been with anyone since these results.” A slight blush stains his cheeks as his eyes drop away from mine. I’m not sure why he’d be embarrassed about that. I’m happy to know he doesn’t sleep around on the regular.

He slides the results across the table, and I dig my glasses out of my purse to read them.

Concentration: 285 million. I raise my eyebrows, that’s fantastic.

Motility: 85%. Another fantastic result. This is really promising.

Morphology: 90%. This guy’s sperm is like the high achievers of sperm according to these results.

I take off my glasses and glance up at AJ. He’s sitting there like he got a perfect score on his SATs, and heshouldfeel proud. These are outstanding results.

“Wow. Your sperm are real go-getters.” I chuckle as I place my glasses on the table and slide the paper back to him. Did I think I would ever say a sentence like that in my life? Nope. But here I am sitting opposite a man who has one of the best semen analysis results I’ve seen.

He chuckles. “Thanks.” He points at my glasses resting on the table. “You look cute with your glasses on.”

I glance down at them and my cheeks heat at his compliment. “Thanks. I only need them for reading. Do you wear glasses at all?”

“Nope. I’ve got twenty-twenty vision.” He relaxes back in his seat. “About that last question.” He points to the questionnaire.

I straighten. This is important. “Yeah.”

“I’ll stick with your pregnancy plan for as long as it takes, Sarah.” He leans forward, placing his elbows on the table, looking intently at my face. “And I won’t be seeing anyone during that time.”

I blow out a relieved breath and my shoulders drop. “Thank you. But what if you meet someone?”

He shrugs. “I haven’t met anyone yet, and I’m not actively looking at this point.”

“Well, let me know if you do and we’ll re-evaluate where things are at.” He nods and I remember the paperwork I brought for him about me. I gather it together and hand it over. “Here’s some information on my background. I figured it was only fair you had an idea of the type of person you’re helping to get pregnant.” I chuckle awkwardly. “Is this the weirdest conversation you’ve ever had?”

He tilts his flattened hand from side to side with a grin. “Maybe. How about youtellme a little about yourself? Like how did someone as gorgeous as you end up having to go down this path to have a baby?” My light mood slips a little and I drop my hands to my lap to fidget. I glance out of the window and watch the people passing by while I gather my thoughts. “If it’s too personal, you don’t have to tell me. It has no bearing on whether or not I give you my jizz.”

I give him a grateful smile, but I feel as though he deserves an explanation since he’s being so generous. I lick my dry lips and take a sip of my coffee. “I was dating my high school sweetheart. We did all the things you normally do in a long-term relationship, we moved in together, bought a dog, he proposed, and I said ‘yes.’ Then one day he came home from work and said he had accepted a promotion within his company. I was so excited for him until he told me it was in Perth, Australia.” AJ’s eyes widen and his mouth drops open a little. “I was settled and happy in my job, and I didn’t want to leave my family and friends to travel to the other side of the world, so he left and I stayed. He took our dog and moved to Australia.” AJ moves his hand to cover mine, and I soak up his kindness. “It all happened so fast. I couldn’t believe he accepted the promotion without even discussing it with me. I thought our relationship was stronger than that … I thought I was more important to him, but I was wrong.”

“I’m sorry, Sarah. That’s tough and the guy’s an asshole.”

I shrug. “His dreams were different to mine, I guess. Anyway, I was thirty when that happened and by the time I recovered emotionally, I was thirty-two. Over the last two years, I’ve had some short relationships which were headed nowhere fast … and here I am.” It sounds trivial when I lay it out in simple terms but my heart was shattered when Michael so easily chose the promotion over me.

“Thank you for sharing your story with me. Time moves fast, and I get that you feel like you’re running out of time. I think you’re incredible for taking matters into your own hands and going after what you want.”

CHAPTER6

–aj–

I reachtoward the next pinch hold, pushing upward with my legs, straining and pushing my body to the limit. Sweat trickles down my temples and my spine making my tank stick to my body. One more crimp and I’m at the top. My hand makes contact with the button to stop the clock and I glance down at Dylan with a grin.

“Zero point five seven seconds. That’s gotta be your best time yet.”

“Yep. I’m pretty happy with that.” I glance up at the time, pride filling my chest. “Take,” I call down to Dylan who’s belaying for me today. I get myself into the seated position, my feet shoulder-width apart, ready to be lowered.

“Are you ready to lower?”

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