Page 188 of His Sunshine Baby

“Shut up, Danny! You traitor! You should have told me!”

“Elena, I know you by heart, you would have said no! I had no choice. So now, just suck it up and trust me! Come on!”

He gets out of the car, and honestly, I want to stay here and sulk. I can’t believe him. After a while, though, I can’t stand being so childish, especially with Nathaniel there. I get out of the car, not hiding how pissed I am.

Nathaniel is standing next to his car now, in his usual jeans and T-shirt outfit. Damn, I hate how handsome he is at a time like this. I probably look like shit, and angry too. I don’t want to talk to him or Danny. I just cross my arms and look down, or anywhere but his direction.

“Hi…” says Daniel, a bit awkward.

“Hello, Daniel, Elena.”

“Let’s go, Danny,” I just say.

My best friend hesitates before walking ahead, taking us to one of the labs he works in. I make sure to stay away from Nate despite the glances he sends me. Stay cool and calm, Elena. Deep breaths; don’t get flustered.

Daniel takes out a large envelope, handing it back to Nathaniel.

“I checked your medical file. It is as you said: azoospermia.”

I look at them, confused.

“You checked his…?”

“Yes, babe. When he mentioned his sterility, I wanted to check for myself. So we talked, and he gave me a copy of his file. Nathaniel has azoospermia; basically, when he comes, it’s blank and, well, he cannot have children. It’s due to trauma, and the surgery required to heal it, as it says on the file, is impossible by today’s medical standards.”

I just can’t believe that. Daniel went as far as checking Nathaniel’s medical file? To be sure? I stare at the envelope, and Nathaniel holding it with a long face, totally confused. I turn to Daniel again.

“He’s really infertile?”

“Well, he was, back when he was diagnosed. To be honest, I’ll say science is on his side.”

“See? I didn’t lie to you, Elena,” says Nathaniel.

I glare at him. I am not crazy, or a liar. This baby is his, no matter how many medical files he brings. I turn to Daniel. At least I know my best friend trusts me.

Daniel takes a deep breath, crossing his arms.

“I want to check again,” says Daniel.

“… Excuse me?”

“Those tests were done ten years ago. They reflect how things were back then, but maybe it has evolved. Science has yet to explain everything and, moreover, we are werewolves. Who knows if something has changed since then, healing you in the process? So, I want to retest you, do a new test. If the results are the same, then we can confirm you are not–”

“You think I wouldn’t know if I could have children?” yells Nathaniel, suddenly furious. “Sorry to disappoint you, but I’ve had many, many women before Elena! I would have known if things had changed, and I would have checked!”

He takes a deep breath, trying to calm down, before turning to me.

“Elena, it’s nothing against you. I swear I’d give anything to be this child’s father, biologically. But your best friend just confirmed it: I cannot. Even if Daniel asks me to go through all the tests to check whether I’m cured or not, it won’t be ready until–”

“Let’s do a paternity test.”

He looks at me, speechless. I try to look at him, keeping my cool as best as I can. Honestly, I want to slap him and make him go away.

“I don’t care about you being infertile or not. Danny will do a paternity test and clear things up. It’s quick and sure, alright?”

“We will do a real test, not that cheap stuff from a drugstore,” adds Daniel. “I just need a sample of your blood, and we have everything at our clinic to test Elena’s baby.”

Nathaniel frowns.

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