Page 3 of The Baby Bargain
I press my lips together. It helps stem the tears. Not enough, but some. "Then why?"
"You only have a year."
"But I—"
"I thought I was ready, but I'm not… I'm not sure I want that anymore."
"What?" I pinch myself. Still here. Not dreaming. He doesn't want this anymore? He's always wanted this. "Since when?"
"I don't know."
"But—" There isn't enough time for someone else. A year and change. Which really means four or five months, max. After that, the odds are too bad.
I want this, yes, but I'm a woman of science. I know a sure thing when I see it. I know a death sentence when I see it.
"If there's anything I can do…" He presses his lips into a smile. "Anything, really."
"What if you didn't have to be involved?" The words tumble out of my mouth. They don't stop in my brain. Or my heart.
His brow furrows. That look he gets when he complains about coworkers who fail to grasp simple concepts.
The words keep coming. "What if it was just a… donation?"
"Ariel—"
"Breakup sex." My voice is fast. Desperate. Some tone I haven't heard since Mom… "Please."
"I'm sorry, but I don't know if I want to be a father anymore."
"I understand." Kind of. I mean, before I saw the test results, I wasn't sure either. Thepositivechanged something. Made it obvious what I had to do.
"I wish things were different."
"I know." It's sweet, really. It's not what I want, but it's honest. It's all I can ask for.
Phillip isn't ready to be a father.
Which means I have four months to find a guy to knock me up.
No, four months to actually get pregnant.
I'm completely and totally fucked.
Chapter Two
Chase
"You're not keeping that up." Forest points to the banner hanging over the foyer. The one that readsCongratulations, Mrs. Nguyen.
"Why not?" Holden makes a show of scratching his head. So we know it's the stupidest question in the world.
"She's not taking his name." Forest turns to me, requesting backup. Anything to prove he's right. Same as me.
No, I stop at teamwork. That's one of the many ways my best friend is a better person than I am.
"It's the thought that counts." I decline to take a side. I've been good friends with the Ballard family for a long time. Since high school. Forest and I were on the basketball team together.
I hung out here all the time. Got to know his little brother Holden and his little sister Ariel.
