Page 62 of Draft Pick

Would that be the Universe's idea of penance for my past clumsy romantic handling?

I wasn't religious, but I found a desperate prayer on my lips.

Please, God, let it be a boy.

But even as I offered that silent prayer, shutting off the water and wrapping a towel around my midsection, I knew I would love whatever came out of Starlie's belly because it was ours.

I'd have to figure out how to protect a girl from….well, the goddamn world.

Including guys like Zay.

And guys like I used to be.

After our last class,Darby and I went to the grassy quad, a favorite spot for unwinding. The quad was alive with the energy of late fall; students lounged on blankets, some studying, others just enjoying the sun's warmth. Laughter and chatter filled the air, creating a backdrop of youthful exuberance.

We found a perfect spot under a sprawling oak, its branches swaying gently in the light breeze, offering a patchwork of shade on the lush green grass. The smell of fresh-cut grass mingled with the distant aroma of coffee from a nearby cafe, adding to the relaxed ambiance of the campus quad.

Unwrapping our cafeteria sandwiches, we settled into our usual routine. With her vibrant red hair catching the sunlight, Darby looked particularly animated today, her green eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Can you believe Professor Jensen's pop quiz today?" Darby groaned, unwrapping her sandwich with an exaggerated sigh. "I swear, she lives to catch us off guard."

I chuckled, pulling out my turkey wrap. "Yeah, but you aced it, didn't you? You always do."

Darby shrugged, a smile tugging at her lips. "Maybe, but it doesn't mean I have to like her methods."

We ate in companionable silence for a moment, watching a group of students tossing a Frisbee nearby. I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. It was now or never.

"So, I told Cason about the ultrasound," I ventured cautiously, watching her reaction closely.

Darby's hand froze mid-bite, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You did what now?"

I fiddled with the edge of my wrap, avoiding her gaze. "I invited him to come with me on Wednesday. I just... I think he should be there, Darby."

"Why?"

"Because he's the dad," I answered.

"Ten minutes ago, you weren't even sure you wanted him around, and now you're inviting him to take my place at your side? What changed?"

"Um, well, he made me dinner, gave me a foot massage and he remembered my favorite ice cream is mint and chip," I shared. "It was nice to be treated like a priority."

"Babe, I'm going to say this with the utmost kindness but your judgement is sus right now. Not only are your hormones playing ping-pong with your brain but you are so accustomed to putting the bar on the floor that you don't realize that the bare minimum isn't special. So what, he made you dinner and gave you a rub? He literally knocked you up and bailed on you. He's going to have to do a helluva lot more groveling than that if he's going to gain entrance to the circle of trust."

"To be fair, he didn't know he'd gotten me pregnant when he bailed," I said, though I cringed as I said it because even to my own ears, it sounded pathetic. "But I think Cason is different," I protested. "He's leaps and bounds better than Derek ever was, so that's something."

"No, Derek was pond scum. Being better than scum is not a flex. Again, babe, pick the bar off the floor for a minute and make them work for the privilege of being in your life because you are amazing!"

Darby's aggressive love for me was one of her best and worst qualities.

"Darby…I hear what you're saying and I'm not saying you're wrong but I have a feeling about Cason… it's hard to explain."

"Have you met his friends?" Darby shot back, not backing down.

"Well, no, not yet but I haven't been open to that yet either. I can't vilify him for not doing something that I wasn't ready to accept."

Darby grudgingly accepted my answer. "Okay, that's a fair point, but honestly, he hasn't shown me that he's worth being a part of my niece or nephew's life, and that's all I have to say about it."

"I love that you have my back," I said, nudging her shoulder with mine. "You know that right?"

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