Page 54 of The Bad Boy's Homecoming
“What if it’s true?What if the baby is yours?Won’t you want to stay in Atlanta?”
“And play alongside her ex, while the team managers decide what new way to make my life a twisted reality TV show?No way.”
“Alright, well you definitely need a paternity test and probably a lawyer,” Wesley said.
Running his hand through his hair again he looked up at the ceiling, as if he could see Missy upstairs and stop her from finding out about this.He’d just experienced the most intense and thrilling moment he’d ever shared with a woman.And he knew without a doubt as soon as she saw this, she would shut him out.
“Declan can probably represent you, or recommend someone.”
Levi laughed at how twisted this was.Now Missy’s cousin was going to be his lawyer to deal with a paternity issue.
“Look, if the baby is yours, then you man up and we make it work.”
“We?”
“Well, if that baby is a Hart, then he or she will be the next generation of this family.So yes:we,” Wesley said.
His older brother stood scowling with his arms crossed, leaning against the kitchen counter, but his eyes showed only concern.After their father died, it was Wesley who filled those shoes, and he’d always supported Levi’s dreams, being his guide as Levi grew into manhood.His brother was the closest thing he had to a father and he knew he’d help him with anything.
“I guess I’ll reach out to Declan in the morning.”
Wesley nodded.“Good plan.And don’t go playing with his cousin or this will only get messier.”
Levi nodded but avoided Wesley’s eyes.He didn’t want to admit it was too late.
“I mean it, leave her alone at least until you get this all sorted.The last thing a woman will want to hear is you’re into her, but you’re about to be a dad.”
“Ya, talk about a mood killer,” Levi said, opening the trash and tossing the paper out.He wondered how long it would take Missy to hear from someone else that he was being shortlisted as a possible father.
“Alright, I’m going to go pick up Gran from card night and bring her home.If she’s already heard about this, you’re going to get an earful tonight.”
“Thanks for the warning.”
Once Wesley was gone, Levi skimmed his texts.The one from Sara stood out:We need to talk.
He wasn’t ready to have that conversation, and he definitely didn’t want to risk Missy overhearing it.After heading back upstairs he gently knocked on her door, but it was quiet and dark inside.When he stepped in farther, he could see she was already lying in bed, curled up under the blankets.
“Missy, do you need anything?”he whispered into the dark, but only the sound of her breathing replied.
He moved closer to make sure she had her hand protected on a pillow and tucked her covers around her.Leaning down he kissed her brow, knowing tomorrow she probably wouldn’t want to let him get too close.
Which was probably for the best, because if he was going to be a dad, his entire life was going to change.And for now, he needed to focus all his energy on landing a deal with a new team.He shouldn’t be getting distracted by the beautiful artist living in his old room, or even wondering what it would be like to stay and start a family with her.
Levi considered locking himself in his room before Gran got home, and he even debated on leaving the house for the night.But in the end, he sat in the kitchen and waited.It only took one look from his wise grandmother for him to know she’d heard.Wesley sat next to him at the kitchen table and they both watched as their gran put on the tea kettle, then pulled a pie she’d made earlier out of the fridge.She placed that on the table and then got three plates and forks.Next, she made two cups of tea and poured one big glass of milk for him.
“Now, Levi, I’m not going to lecture you on the dangers of sleeping with a person you don’t love, because, well, that would make me a hypocrite.Everything happens for a reason, and if it’s yours then we will welcome this baby with open arms.”She cut three pieces of pie and slid the biggest one in front of him.
“Is it weird that I’m not completely terrified?”Levi said.
“No, but it does make you a bit naive.Raising kids is hard enough but to do it with someone you’re not in a loving relationship with sounds like a lot more headache than I’d wish on an enemy,” Gran said.
“Sara and I were really good friends in college, but she used me to make Maddox jealous.And she went running back to him when he wanted her again.”
“It sounds like she’s not the type of woman you want to have a child with.But first things first, you need to talk to her and find out if it’s yours.You need proof,” Wesley said.
Levi took a huge bite of his pie.Every aspect of his life was imploding but at least he had his family’s support.
“And if it is yours, don’t go thinking you need to marry her just because you got her knocked up,” Gran said.“Gone are the days where two people need to stay in a loveless marriage for the children.”
