Page 26 of Baby For The Billionaire Silver Fox

Me: Dark and rainy.

Dan: Are you glad to be back there?

Me: Again, dark and rainy.

Dan: So you’ll be coming back soon? Nana misses you. She wants me to take her to the biker bar for burgers tonight. She says she wants to go in style—on the back of my motorcycle. Please come back soon.

Me: Ha. You can’t handle her, can you?

I heard the click of the front door and saw Lexi come in, salad and pizza box in hand. She was looking at me with a worried expression.

Me: Gotta run. I like you and all but the pizza is here, and pizza trumps everything.

Dan: Pizza is more important than people. Good to know.

I put my phone away and stood up. I reached out for a hug, and Lexi dropped the boxes down on the coffee table and squeezed me tight. We stayed like that for a bit. It felt good to be on the receiving end of Lexi’s strong hugs. She would make a caring and loving mom someday. My doubts about my own mothering abilities crept back in, so I started talking just to get my mind away from the negative thoughts.

“Hey, do you think you could hurry up and get pregnant too, so our kids could be the same age and play together?” I asked.

“I swear you drive me crazy, Nik. I want to hear how the meet-up went, not talk about when I should have children.” She sat and crossed her arms and stared at me. “Could talk about your conversation with Derek first?”

I sighed. “I was right. He’s a fucking asshole.”

“Well, nuts,” Lexi said. “What did he say? Did you just spring it on him?”

“There is no gentle lead-up to something like this, Lexi. I am pregnant. He is the father—I mean, sperm donor. There’s no way to sugarcoat it.”

I swallowed and continued. “He didn’t believe it was his. It had to be from some other one-night stand. He even called me a liar. Then he wanted me to get rid of it, and when I said I wouldn’t, he said he would have nothing to do with it ever.”

“It takes two, and he has a financial obligation,” Lexi huffed.

“You know what? That’s okay. I don’t want that jerk anywhere near my baby. I’d rather raise the child myself than have him involved in any way. If he had to pay child support then he would also have rights. No way.” I was adamant. “I might not be able to pay the kid’s way through college, but I can manage financially without Derek.”

“If you’re sure, I know a good lawyer who could draw up the paperwork for that.”

Lexi’s brother, Ron, was an attorney. Even though this wasn’t his field, I knew he would make it happen for me.

I nodded. “This wasn’t a quick decision. I was already there, but I thought it was only fair to let him know.”

“Be sure to tell Ron this is on the down-low. I still am not ready to tell people yet.” I reached for a slice of pizza and took a huge bite, groaning over the greasy, salty flavor.

“Of course,” Lexi answered.

“In a way, I’m relieved. That’s one decision done with, and the necessary confrontation has been had.”

“Good. Now about the other thing you said about having babies close in age so they can play together,” she said, grabbing her own slice. “In order for them to play together, you would have to move permanently to Cooperstown. Because that’s where any babies I have will be playing.”

I groaned. “I’m still working on location decisions.”

“So, one more question… when are you going to tell your parents? And how? In person?”

I let out another big sigh. “That is another confrontation I’m not looking forward to. As much as I’d rather just take the easier route and text my mother, I’ll have to go in person. It’s likely to be a quick visit.”

“Maybe she’ll like being a grandmother,” Lexi said hopefully.

I looked at her. “You are a ray of optimism, my friend.”

“Well, I’m crossing my fingers,” Lexi responded a little stubbornly.

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