Page 67 of The P Arrangement

If I had ever really fallen out of it in the first place.

TWENTY-FIVE

DELANEY

That night,it took forever to put Paxton to bed.

As soon as I’d left Preston’s law firm that afternoon, I’d run to the store and bought a test. I didn’t even wait until I got to work. I used the restroom at the pharmacy and found out what I’d suspected was true. Confirmed by two pink lines.

I was pregnant.

After deciding it was best to wait to say something to Preston until we wouldn’t be interrupted, I had tried to pretend like everything was normal.

Apparently, I had done a horrible job because as soon as Preston came downstairs after putting Paxton to bed, he leaned against the counter right next to where I was doing dishes and crossed his arms.

“Okay, Delaney, what gives?”

“What?”

He laughed. “Don’twhatme. You’ve been off in la-la land all night.”

I’d been waiting all night to tell him, but now, I was anxious as hell. “Just let me finish the dishes.”

Since I’d moved in, we’d been taking turns with cleaning up the kitchen and putting Paxton to bed.

Preston took the pan I was cleaning out of my hand. “Something is obviously on your mind. Talk to me, and then I will help you finish up.”

I couldn’t put it off forever. “Okay. Let’s go and sit down.”

I dried my hands and followed him to the table. But after taking a seat, I opened my mouth, and nothing came out.

Preston chuckled as he leaned forward and took my hands. “Laney, it can’t be that bad.”

It wasn’t. Not to me. Despite being nervous about telling him, I was so excited. But I was never going to be able to share that with him if I didn’t tell him.

“I’m pregnant,” I blurted out.

His smile faltered, and he slowly pulled his hands away. He looked as if he didn’t quite understand what I’d told him. “I’m sorry. I thought you just said you were pregnant.”

“I did. I am.” Leaning back, I put my hands on my lower belly. “I’m pregnant. We’re going to have another baby.”

Preston stood so fast that his chair fell backward. All pleasantness disappeared from his face as his eyes narrowed. “No. Absolutely not.”

I had known he wasn’t going to be happy, but I hadn’t thought he’d be furious.

Determined to try and keep the conversation calm, I said, “I think this is something we should decide together. We’re both the parents—”

“I said no. Get rid of it.”

I flinched, as if his words were a verbal slap.

Taking a deep breath, I stood. “First of all, it’s not anit. And I’m not getting rid of this baby. I want to have this child.”

He stepped forward and got in my face. “Then, you’re going to have to do it by yourself.”

My jaw dropped. I was completely taken aback that he would say something like that. He loved Paxton so much, yet he was ready and willing to throw his future child away.

“What is wrong with you?” I yelled. “I can’t believe you won’t even consider us having another child.”

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