Page 99 of Waiting Forever
“I would have known by now if you returned my calls. I’m glad Kensi finally got through to you. She could be a great aunt to our baby.”
My stomach coils again. This would break Kensi’s heart. She doesn’t deserve this and if I am the father, I’m going to put Kensi first. I’ll let her go. It will kill me, but I will. So she can go find a guy without baggage.
I rub my throbbing temple.
“Are you excited?”
She’s insane.“I’m stunned, Harper. I…I don’t know what to think. It’s too soon, too much.”
“Well, you’ll have seven and a half months to come around to the idea of being a daddy.”
“IfI’m the dad.”
“My bet is on you. Call it mother’s intuition.”
“What about college and New York?” She’d always planned to move there after she graduates. It was her dream.
“I’m not ruling out moving to Manhattan. My parents are on board with helping me afford a full-time nanny. You could move with us. You have an office there, right?”
“No. We don’t.” We have clients there but not an office yet. “And if I’m the dad, we’ll need to discuss where you live and who cares for the thing.”
“Baby.”
“I’d want to be a part of his life and living in the city with a full-time nanny isn’t how I want my child raised.”
“Aw. You think it’s ahe? Should we name him after you?”
This is so fucked up. I rake my fingers through my hair again and stand, needing to move.
“See, this is how I know you’ll be a great dad,” she goes on. “You already care. Tad was all for me moving. If he’s the dad, I’m sure I’ll have to fight for child support.”
“Harper, I have to go.”
“What about the DNA sample? We just need to swab your mouth. If you come to my next appointment, they can do it there.”
“Fine. Whatever. I’ll call you later.”
“I’m so happy we’re together again.”
“Not together.”
“In this together.”
Not for sure. I don’t bother saying it. Instead, I say good-bye and run to the bathroom to puke.
* * *
Kensington
I HEARD EVERYTHING Nathan said. He’s devastated. I am, too. But I feel worse for him. He doesn’t want this. I could hear it in his voice,feelit when he spoke.
It tore at my heart. He didn’t ask for this. He told me he used protection with her, and I believe he did. I also wouldn’t put it past Harper to trap a man with a pregnancy. The woman is manipulative. And now, she might be the mother of Nathan’s baby.
I press a hand over my stomach, wishing I could soothe the knot that formed while I was eavesdropping.
I should have walked away. Haven’t I been down this road with him and Harper before?
I went to talk to him. His parents had been gone for over an hour and we still hadn’t spoken. But I decided Azure was right. I needed to let Nathan explain where he went and why.
