Page 52 of Unexpected Forever
I wait until his eyes meet mine.
“Let’s go see my mom.”
His lips curve into a soft smile. “Whatever you want, Firefly.”
“Judging by your last cycle, I’d estimate your due date to be mid-December,” she says.
We wrap up the appointment, with Val giving me some prenatal vitamins and contact information for an OB for future checkups. “We can do regular pelvic exams here, but we don’t have an OB on staff. But Dr. Miller is great. You’ll love her.”
We wave goodbye to Wilma, who’s ensuring someone on the phone their foot isn’t going to rot off, and head out the door.
Once we’re settled in the SUV, I turn to Nate. “Would you mind if we went by my mom’s house now?”
He turns his head and I feel the full force of those eyes. “Not at all.”
I let out a breath and smile. “Good. Let me text Emma and let her know I’m taking the day off.”
I direct him toward her house and lean back in the seat.
There’s a comfortable silence between us as I figure out how the hell I’m going to tell my mother she’s going to be a grandmother.
I also try to figure out how the hell Nate and I are going to handle this living like roommates thing. Roommates having a baby together.
It’s weird.
Because we aren’t a couple. We never will be.
Our lives and careers are on two different, far apart paths. The most I can ever hope for is friends.
It will have to be enough.
All I want now is to take care of my baby, give it the best home I can.
It isn’t all about me anymore.
THIRTEEN
nate
The ride isquiet between us.
I’m still in awe of hearing my baby’s heartbeat.
My baby.
My body is energized as the news sinks in for real.
Holy shit. I’m going to be a dad.
It isn’t like I didn’t realize it when Charley told me. But hearing the actual heartbeat made it even more real.
I also need to call my publicist, my assistant, and Derek Emerson, the GM of the Bull Sharks.
Someone will need to handle the press because while I may not be an active player anymore, my name still ends up in the media. Especially right now since I’m in contract negotiations for the manager position next year.
I don’t care what they say about me, but I won’t subject Charley to the vultures. The longer I can protect Charley and my baby from the part of my life I hate most, the better.
I glance over at Charley, who’s looking out the window as we drive farther out of town. The sunlight slants over her dark hair, bringing out some red strands, reminding me of fire.
