Page 63 of Fumbling for Perfection

KENDALL: Uh oh. She’s sentimental. Pregnancy hormones?

I read through my work emails for another hour then make something to eat. When I’m done delaying the inevitable, I text Walker.

ME: I have a doctor’s appointment next Monday at ten. I can give you the address and name of my doctor if you want.

Less than a minute after I hit send, he replies.

OH GOD: Sure.

I don’t ask him what he means by that. If he doesn’t mind having the information or if he plans on coming. Instead of asking and sounding desperate, I send him the information and wait for a reply.

He doesn’t respond right away.

There’s nothing from him an hour later.

When I climb into bed and plug in my phone, there’s still nothing from him.

And four days later, when I park outside the women’s clinic and he still hasn’t replied, the last thing I expect is to find him in the waiting room.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

WALKER

I feel awkward and out of place. Up until thirty minutes ago, I wasn’t sure I was going to meet Riley at her appointment. The asshole part of me didn’t want to.

Then I remembered I’m not an asshole. Save that for my father. He’s too greedy of a mother fucker to pass down that trait to me or even to Jackson.

I’m fifteen minutes early and tuck my hands in the front pockets of my jeans. My Boston Revolutions ball cap hides most of my face and makes me fit in among the loyal fans of the city.

When the automatic doors open and Riley steps into the lobby, I nearly lose my breath. Fuck. I do. Just for a second. I haven’t seen her in over a week. Somehow, she’s even more gorgeous than when she’d been made up to the nines and donning an expensive wedding gown.

Dressed in jeans that end at her shins and a long-sleeve, fitted bright blue top that makes her eyes pop, and a face free of makeup, she’s perfect. This is how I like her best. Well, naked is best, but that ship has sailed.

While I won’t begrudge my child, or ever make them feel unwanted, Riley’s trickery in getting pregnant shows a side of her I didn’t realize existed. Conniving, manipulative, dishonest. Those are qualities I don’t want in a partner. Qualities I despise.

My father may not be dishonest, but heisthe other two. And a shit awful parent. I’m not going to trap myself in a relationship with anyone who has the slightest resemblance to him.

Riley notices me and does a double take. Her mouth turns up in a smile that quickly vanishes, as if she remembered she’s not supposed to be happy to see me. To be honest, I’m surprised she told me about her appointment.

“Walker,” she says as she crosses the lobby. “You’re here.”

“Did you not want me to be?” I snap, and immediately regret my tone.

She recoils and I can see her struggling with how to react. At the moment, I’m more upset with myself than her. My body continues to betray me by being mesmerized by her.

It’s purely physical. It’s my dick reacting, not my head. And not my heart. My heart has nothing to do with me being here.

“I’m glad you’re here, Walker.”

I nod and stare over the top of her head. With a quiet sigh, she turns toward the front desk. “I should check in.”

I take a seat in one of the waiting area chairs and take out my phone, pretending to be engrossed in it when she sits across from me.

Riley holds a clipboard and begins filling out information. A few minutes later, she looks up at me.

“Is it okay if I put your information down for an emergency contact?”

“I’m not anemergencycontact for this baby. Unless you’re telling more lies, I’m the father. We should do a paternity test.” Fuck, I’m an asshole.

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