Page 31 of Reed

It’s savage.

Absolutely brutal.

Why the hell would anyone choose to come here?

“This burger is so good. It makes me so happy I was man of the match.” Bryce grins from ear to ear like I gave him a billion dollars, yet I struggle to function enough to respond. Ketchup drips from his chin, and I shift closer to the window and contemplate throwing myself out of it to get away from this nightmare.

“Would you like to try a fry?” Gia asks, holding said fry up to me.

“No,” I snap.

“You said you’d get me the toys from the Happy Meals.” Bryce’s solemn voice surprises me, given he was just excited over a miserable-looking burger.

“Buddy, Reed can’t get you the toys that are already out.”

“He said he was going to get them. Why did you lie and become a litter bug?” His eyes narrow on me. “Why are you having a baby with him? He’s not a very good example. We don’t need him.”

“Bryce. Don’t be so rude,” Gia snaps back at him, and as grateful as I am, I’m also momentarily stunned. After all, the kid is right, but I’m not about to tell him that, not with the death glare he has aimed in my direction.

I lean forward and steeple my hands on the table. The table I insisted on Gia sanitizing twice before I would sit down at it.

“I’ll get you the toys because I promised them. I’m not a liar, Bryce. I don’t break promises.” He swallows, and I continue. “I shouldn’t have littered, you’re right.”

His eyebrows rise.

“That’s not a good example, and I won’t do it again, so thank you for the reminder.”

Gia’s hand moves beneath the table to my thigh, and something in her touch spurs me on.

“I’m very lucky your mom is having our baby, and more importantly, I’m lucky your mom has you too. That way, you can help us and remind me of where I’m going wrong.” I laugh awkwardly on the last part, and so does Gia, while Bryce seems to be contemplating my words. He doesn’t say anything for a minute, but when he does open his mouth, I wait with bated breath.

“You need a new car.” This time, I throw my head back on a genuine laugh. He isn’t wrong. Not one of my thirty-two cars is a family car.

I never anticipated a family.

CHAPTERFOURTEEN

GIA

When we arrive home,Reed doesn’t ask if he can come inside; he simply takes it upon himself to follow us, and I can’t say I’m disappointed.

Chester barks when we enter, and Reed grumbles under his breath about him being a “Fucking wolf hound that needs a new home.”

“He’s a German Sheperd,” I clarify.

He scrunches his nose. “Whatever. He’s shedding hair all over me.” He grimaces, swiping his hands down his pants even though Chester hasn’t so much as approached him yet. “I probably need some vaccination or something.”

I give him my attention, suddenly thinking about the baby. “Do you have allergies?”

“Lots,” he responds. I feel the color drain from my face, and my stomach drops.

His eyes search mine. “Hey, are you okay?”

“I-I…” I shake my head. “The baby,” I whisper, and place my hand on my bump.

Reed’s face whitens. “Shit. I’ll call the doctor.”

My ass finds the couch, and he starts tapping away on his phone.

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