Page 110 of More than Friends

I dart my eyes away, my mind spinning as I try to understand what he’s saying to me.

“I specifically asked you if we were trying to get pregnant, and you said no. I asked if you wanted me to wear a condom. We talked about this – all of this.”

I do remember that. Of course, I remember that.

I stumble backward a few steps until I hit the sofa and then I sink down onto the soft cushion. I still don’t understand what’s he’s trying to say.

“Look at me, Maggie.” I don’t want to. I’m afraid I’ll burst into tears at any moment. I reluctantly raise my eyes. He points at me. “That’s my baby too. I’m the father. Not the sperm donor.The father. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Declan.” My voice is low. “Declan, please don’t do this.”

“I’m not doing anything. I got you pregnant, and now I’m going to be a dad. That’s just the way it works.”

“But you promised me.” The tears are falling now.

“But we ended that promise.”

“I didn’t know...”

He interrupts. “You did know. We talked about it.”

He sits down across from me. I look down at my lap and cry. After a few minutes, he says, “Why does it matter so much? Is it so bad to have help?”

I can’t look at him. “I wanted to do this on my own.”

He doesn’t respond for a moment and then I say, “Why are you doing this? You don’t even want to be a father.”

“That’s not true.” I snap my eyes up to look at him.

“Really?” I say, my eyes narrowing.

“Yes.”

“Since when? We’ve been friends for a while now, and you’ve never mentioned this to me.”

He shrugs. “I always wanted this. Just in the future. I guess the future is now.”

My mouth drops open. “What about roaming the earth? Surfing and fucking any woman who’s willing.”

He scoffs. “Fucking any willing woman. Is that really what you think of me?”

“You sure had a lot of women over here these past few months. I guess you had to make up for lost time. Were you counting down the minutes? Were you so relieved when I tore up that contract – freeing you to be able to fuck whoever you want?”

His face is red with anger. “You have no clue what you’re talking about.”

“How long did you wait, Declan? Was it even a day?”

The stare he’s sending me is so hateful, it causes a chill to slide down my spine. “Declan, I trusted you.”

“You’re not being fair, Maggie. We ended our deal. I have rights now.”

I can’t have this conversation any longer. I came over here to celebrate, not have my future ripped apart. Bile starts to rise in my throat. I’ve been nauseous for days. I put my hand over my mouth and then jump up and run to the bathroom, where I throw up my whole lunch. I’m sitting on the bathroom floor, head in hands, when I hear a soft knock.

“Are you okay? Can I get you anything?”

“No,” I hiss.

He pushes the door open. I hadn’t bothered to lock it. He kneels down beside me and hands me a glass of water. He lifts his hand to touch me, and I flinch. Hurt flickers through his eyes.

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