Page 34 of Broken Boss Daddy

“But you’ve always wanted to be a doctor, so it wasn’t that bad, was it?”

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad he pushed me into this field because this was what I was meant to do. It’s just the principle of the thing, you know? Like, why would he be so content with that decision from Jack and not me? Often, it made me think he would’ve preferred Jack as his son instead of me.”

“Now that is just bullshit.” My voice was surprisingly firm for someone who was wracked with nerves. “Grant, your father loves you. Anyone with eyes can see that. He just has a hard time expressing his love becauseyou’rehis son, his legacy. Your father was happy with Jack’s decision because he knows that whatever happens, Jack has his own father. Maybe you’re too blind to see it, but your dad holds a torch for you.”

Grant tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear. “I can always count on you to get me out of my head and see the bigger picture.”

“Sometimes you need a good kick in the ass,” I said, my throat constricting.

“Not even going to deny it.” He leaned back against the bench. “If I’m ever lucky enough to be a father, I’m going to make sure my kids know exactly how much I love them. I don’t want them to play these guessing games that I have to.”

Grant just had to say that. Like I wasn’t a mess enough, he just effectively stripped me of all my resolve. Stifling a strangled sob, I asked, “Do you– do you want children?”

It took considerable effort not to break down crying when his face lit up with absolute joy.

“Yes,” he said.

Tears filled my eyes, and I couldn’t hold them at bay any longer. There was no stopping them, no stopping what I had to tell him.

My body wracked with increasing sobs, ones that I couldn’t keep quiet. When Grant saw the state I was in, he sat up in alarm and wiped the falling tears from my cheeks.

“Baby?” He scanned my face with panic in his eyes. “What’s wrong?”

Shaking my head, I mumbled words I couldn’t comprehend, let alone Grant. He had cupped my face, and I held onto his touch for just a moment longer. Just one more second before I destroyed everything we’d built between us.

“Whatever it is, you can tell me. I’m here for you.”

Gasping for breath, I said, “No, you’re not.”

“What? You’re scaring me, Jess.” The confusion and worry in his voice was clear.

I sobbed some more, not caring if people were watching or not.

Grant ran his hands down my arms in an attempt to comfort me and stop the tears. “Wait, does this have something to do with why you’ve been avoiding me and acting so strange?”

Taking a deep breath, I said between bursts of tears. “You’re… already… a father.”

He stilled.

Grant bursted out laughing. He laughed so hard I was sure he would fall right off the bench in his hysterics.

“Good one, Jess. You really got me going.” But when he saw I wasn’t laughing along with him, Grant’s entire demeanor dropped.

“No,” Grant whispered. He shook his head and shifted away from me.

“Grant—”

“Tell me you’re lying, Jessica. Tell me this is all some sick joke and we can get on with our day.”

“It’s not a joke,” I mumbled, a continuous stream of tears marking my face.

“No.”

“Please—”

“What the hell is going on?” he exclaimed, moving further away from me with a look of pain and disbelief on his face.

“I can explain,” I pleaded with him.

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