Page 25 of One Night Stand

Mia nodded. “I do. I teach. Second grade.”

“So that’s what, seven and eight year olds?”

She nodded again.

“How long?”

“I just finished my first school year.”

“You get decent benefits?”

She nodded but shrugged as well. “If you’re asking about the baby, Conor, I said I was going to be fine.” Unlike the previous time she told me this, her voice held no bite.

I shifted in my seat and narrowed my eyes ever so slightly. “Do you want me in the baby’s life?”

I don’t know why her answer mattered, but I was surprised to find it did. I would have been fine going through my days, not knowing I’d fathered a kid. But knowing there was a kid out there that was mine? I’m not so sure I could do it and not have any sort of contact with it.

“I don’t need you in the baby’s life, no.”

“That wasn’t the question though.”

“Conor, I don’t know you anymore. I can’t make that kind of decision. I don’t know if there’s a good guy under that front you put on at the bar, or if that front is really just you.”

“Then ask me something.” It caught me off guard, but I wanted her to know who I was. I wanted her to have that knowledge so she could make that decision. Granted, I was surprisingly afraid she would learn that what I put on for show at the bar was really just classic Conor O’Gallagher.

I found myself wanting to know if I could be the good guy who got the girl. Crazy as that fucking sounded.

Mia frowned at me but she didn’t move from her spot. I could see the wheels turning behind her eyes. She leaned to her side so she could rest her arm on the counter, her head in her hand, as she scratched at the side of her head. Her eyes remained on me as she thought. “This is awkward.”

“Anything, Mia.” I leaned back to appear more casual, slouched against her couch with my arms thrown over the back, when casual and carefree were the last two things I felt inside.

Nervous.

Anxious.

Not worthy.

Those were pretty forefront in my mind.

Not to add the confusion of why those things were there.

“Well…” She sat up and rocked in her seat, as if to find a better position. Her eyes were fixed to my chest but moved up to my eyes. “I guess, what have you been up to the last few years? Just taking over the bar?”

“Yeah and no. I bought it from the parents and Rory and I worked on the remodel before opening the doors again.”

“Did you go to school?”

I lifted my brow. I remember the day I left for college; it was probably the last time I’d seen a little Mia. “You know I did.”

“Well, did you finish school, then?”

I nodded. “Business,” I said, guessing her next question. I leaned forward again.

“Any serious relationships?”

I shook my head no.

Her brows rose. “None at all?”

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