Page 67 of About That One Night
“What way?”
“Stubborn,” I repeat. “I’ll just have to prove you wrong.”
My phone buzzes and it’s a message from Caleb that there’s yet another emergency. “I have to run, but this isn’t over. In fact, it just started.”
I leave her with her mouth slightly open and I’m pretty sure a bit flustered about my warning. And that’s one of the things I like about her. We challenge each other and have fun, even when she can drive me a little crazy.
Will this be as easy as our relationship though? Making her fall in love with me?
Chapter Forty-One
Maximillian
“What is wrong with you?”Caleb asks when I connect to the video call.
“What?” I mumble, my mind a million miles away.
“You look . . . like somebody kicked your puppy, but instead of going full John Wick, you want to cry,” he says, raising an eyebrow.
I glare at him, my jaw clenching. “You said this was urgent,” I remind him, fighting to keep my voice steady.
“Yeah, but you look like shit, and I don’t want you flying a drone while you look like you want your mommy.”
I flip him the finger, anger bubbling up inside me. “And you know what? I don’t want to fly a fucking drone either when I have to figure out my life before I lose it all,” I snap, my voice rising. “But here I am, so let’s get this over with.”
“Zoe still not talking to you?”
The mention of her name feels like a punch to the gut. “Oh, she talked to me. It was just not what I expected, and I . . .” I trail off, whistling softly, regret washing over me as I think about the past couple of hours.
There are so many things I should’ve said when she gave me the news. Instead, I froze. Not only did I freeze, but I even yelled in the middle of the restaurant that I knew how to put on a fucking condom. What is wrong with me?
If I were her, I would plan on getting a restraining order or something. But fortunately, she’s a different person than me. At least I hope she is and that I can . . . Fuck, this job, I swear, it’s been consuming me so much that I lost track of time and what matters.
I began to concoct a plan right after I boarded the plane out of Fiji. A perfect plan where I would come back and see if she would give me a chance to change the dynamic between us. Sure, I love that we’re becoming friends, but I also realized that between thefirst time I saw her and that one night in Fiji, I had fallen in love with her.
Who knew that was possible? Obviously, not me. I thought I was immune to love until this maddening, brilliant, beautiful woman got under my skin and decided to steal my heart. And now what am I supposed to do?
My fingers drum restlessly against my desk as I consider my options. Obviously, I need to catch up faster than I intended. Sure, my plan to sweep her off her feet—once I figured out what was wrong with her—has to change. I just have no idea how. But I have to work fast before I not only lose my chance to show her that I love her but also lose my baby.
Fuck.
Fuck.
Fuck.
The reality hits me like a freight train. I’m going to be somebody’s father.
My heart races, a mix of terror and exhilaration coursing through my veins. I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself.
Caleb leans away from the camera, crossing his arms. His brow furrows as he studies me. “I’ve never seen you losing your shit like this. What happened?”
I sigh, running a hand through my hair, tugging at the roots in frustration. “Let’s just say she had some news, and I made an ass of myself. And now, I have no idea how to fix what I fucked up—or to show her that I care.”
He chuckles, shaking his head. His eyes sparkle with amusement. “Man, you’re in deep. I thought itwas just a crush that would go away after you fooled around but nope. You’re in love.”
“Tell me something I don’t know,” I mutter, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me. My shoulders slump as I lean back in my chair, staring at the ceiling. How did I go from being the carefree bachelor to a lovesick fool about to become a father?
“You probably already know she’s pregnant,” he says with such casualness I choke on my own saliva.
