Page 48 of Unexpected Pass

“To be an asshole I’m sure,” I muttered, rolling my eyes as I stared at him.

His caramel skin, beautiful smile, and starter locs used to move me. It was funny how someone I used to think was fine shit now looked so ugly and stupid in his too little Amiri shirt. Reggie’s eyes scanned the room until they landed on me, and a smirk broke out on his face.

“Come holla at me outside, P,” he requested.

“Yeah, right.” I crossed my arms, trying to stop my irritation for him from bubbling to the surface.

“Come on, man. I’m parked out front.” He motioned toward the door, and Lolo grabbed my arm.

“I don’t trust him,” she whispered, and I agreed.

I didn’t trust his ass either. I’d heard enough stories of athletes trying to get rid of their pregnant mistresses. A man that wasn’t here on bullshit would have called first. This felt more like an ambush. Still, we needed to talk, and since he had blocked me on everything, this may have been my only chance.

“We can talk in the back.” I pointed, pulling away from Lolo, who eyed Reggie down as he sauntered behind me like he owned the place. I tried to keep a neutral expression as I walked us to Lolo’s back office, but internally, I was a wreck. What would I say to him, and where would I even start?

“What?” I asked as soon as we were alone inside Lolo’s office with the door shut.

“You are so cute when you’re angry, you know that?” he teased, leaning against Lolo’s desk. “We need to talk about this little situation you say you got going on.”

“Now, you want to talk? You ghosted me for the last three weeks, Reggie. If it wasn’t for your viral engagement video, I would have thought you dropped off the face of the damn Earth.”

“I was busy, aight? I had a lot going, and you just dropped that bombshell on me.”

“I dropped a bombshell on you? Social media had to tell me you had a long-term girlfriend.” My fists clenched. “After you left me alone to process the fact that I’m pregnant.”

He huffed, crossing his arms. “Are you sure it’s mine, though? It’s not like we were like that.”

“Yes. I’m sure. Unlike you, I was honest when I said I was only sleeping with you. My conception date traces back to that night in your car.”

“Shit.” He rubbed his forehead. “How far along are you?”

“Twelve weeks today.”

“Good. You can still get an abortion, right?”

I felt my stomach turn at his suggestion. “Are you serious right now? How dare you!”

“You really trying to keep a baby by a man that’s about to get married? Come on now. Does that sound smart, P?”

At this point, I was so angry all I could see was red. I couldn’t believe that he walked up in here without an apology—just dick and audacity.

“You pursued and had unprotected sex with a woman that wasn’t your fiancée not one time but many times. I don’t know, Reggie. Does that sound smart?”

He stood from the desk and got closer to me. “How do I know this isn’t some kind of publicity stunt or money grab?”

My mouth dropped in disbelief that this was a man I had been involved with.

“Newsflash. If this was a publicity stunt, you would have been exposed the moment you blocked me. I don’t want anything from you. I just want you to be a part of your child’s life!” I shot back, feeling more angry tears well up in my eyes.

He scoffed before lowering his voice to a calmer tone, one that I was used to. “Look, P, I can admit I was wrong for getting involved with you knowing I had a girl. In all honesty, when we first started fucking, me and her were beefing.”

“Y’all were beefing?” I attempted to walk away, but he grabbed my arm.

“Yeah, man. I fucked up, but a baby gon’ blow all my shit up. I’m not ready to be a dad, and I’m damn sure not trying to hurt my girl with this shit.”

I stared at him. What the hell did he want me to say? He played a stupid game, and he won a silly prize.

“An abortion is really the best option for both of us. I’ll pay for it and put a little extra in yo’ pocket.”

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