Page 31 of Suddenly Pregnant

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“You did what?” his sister asked on the other end of the phone.

“I got her pregnant.” He shook his head at Amy’s voice, carrying over in the Bluetooth inside the rental car. He was still in the parking lot of the bar, clearing his head, unsure about what to do. He could check in a hotel, or motel, whatever he could find, but he didn’t want to—he’d been thinking. He didn’t want to even go to sleep without sorting out his life with Billie and telling her how he felt.

“You know it’s getting harder and harder to defend you, right?” Amy asked, disapproval leaking into her voice. Even from far away, he could picture his sister rolling her eyes and dropping on her sofa with an exasperated sigh.

“You don’t need to defend me, Amy,” he said, in a serious tone. He hadn’t done anything wrong. Well, if he considered their professional relationship, yes he had. But he was hopefully, about to make it right, once he concocted a way to show Billie how sorry he was that he underappreciated her. “I love Billie, and we’re two adults who had consensual sex. I’m not ashamed of anything.”

“Ace,” she said sarcastically. “She seems nice, but couldn’t you have had consensual sex with someone who didn’t work for you? Especially when all eyes are on you.”

He drummed his fingers on the middle console of the sedan and glanced at the time on the digital panel. Two in the morning. “I could, but Billie… it’s hard to explain. I really think we are meant to be.”

“I never heard you talk about anyone like that, even when you were engaged before. Though I guess you aren’t the talkative type when emotions are the main subject,” she said, her voice softer.

He nodded, even if she couldn’t see him. He’d had a lifetime of not wanting to talk much about feelings and emotions. Yet now, after he’d abruptly left her house, he needed nothing more than to pour his soul out to her. Would she believe him? He’d gone without as much as a phone call to let her know he was okay.

He hadn’t texted because he wanted to go full-on when he talked to her, and not half-ass it. A text wouldn’t do. He needed to show her his love. The love she deserved.

“What’s going to happen? I mean, seems like you’re into her—but does she want you?”

“I think so,” he said, hoping that he hadn’t permanently screwed any chances of making it right with Billie. His Billie.

“I hope so. I mean, she’s lived in Australia for a bit, but she might miss her family if she considers living here forever. Life is not just koalas, macadamias and kangaroos.”

Kangaroos.

Billie’s voice rang in his ears, and a memory of their visit to the sanctuary flashed in his mind. Why can’t I have all the kangaroos?

A sense of urgency bolted through him as the idea unfurled in his head. “I have to go, Amy. I’ll call you later with more details.”

“Wait,” she said, but he flicked off the screen before she had a chance to continue. He had a job to do, and couldn’t waste another second.

Billie woke up startled, and sat up right away. Powerful knocks banged on the front door, and she could tell, because she heard it all the way into her room. What the fuck? She rubbed her eyes, yawning.

She’d been asleep for about two or three hours, after having been awake most of the night and well into the morning.

Bright light trespassed the window blinds, and she imagined it had to be eleven in the morning, if not later. Who could be in such a rush to talk to her anyway? God, please no more bad news, she pleaded, as she quickly beelined into the bathroom, brushed her teeth in minimum time and slapped on a fluffy robe over her pajamas. She’d buried her father and lost Jack. She wasn’t sure she could handle more.

Another knock and she rushed to the hallway and marched to the front door. She twisted the door handle, hoping this was some neighborhood kid who had kicked a ball over her fence. She’d take anything at this point if it meant no more deaths or losses. Anything…

Her heart froze. Anything but this.

She glanced at Jack, who looked like he hadn’t slept well either, at her doorstep, holding not one, not two, not three, but four stuffed kangaroos and a nervous smile that she had never seen on his lips before. Moisture evaporated from her throat, and she felt a shudder of surprise. What was happening?

Did he bring her some parting gifts? Was this a joke?

“May I come in?” he asked, and she stepped back, still dumbfounded, granting him access. She tied a knot in her robe to give her fidgety fingers something to do, and closed the door behind them.

She swallowed the lump of confusion lodged in her throat. “What’s going on?” she asked at last, seeing him stand in the middle of her living room, still holding those damn kangaroo plushies. Where the hell did he get them? In Australia, he could buy those easily wherever. But in Hope Springs, she doubted.

“Billie, I’m sorry I left like that.”

She chewed on her bottom lip, unsure if she should say her piece too or wait for him. The anxiety for both speaking and listening left her stomach in knots. If he didn’t talk quick enough, she’d be the one in a coffin next.

“I was an idiot. You are right, I’ve been making decisions without considering what’s best for you. But not only that, I was accommodated to not wanting to change things.”

A small wave of relief poured over her. Okay, so this was a good start. She loosened her shoulders and stared at him, recognizing the honesty in his eyes. “I understand,” she said in a low voice.

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