Page 81 of Silver Fox's Secret Baby

“So, this is what I’ve just found out,” I explain. “Right after Kent walked in on us, Dana walked in and was like, ‘I got this soup for the baby’ and, well, I just assumed it was mine, but I guess–”

“I think it’s a safe assumption.”

“Okay, so then, Harley Solace is pregnant with my baby.” The weight of what I’ve just said punches me in the gut. I collapse into the couch. “Holy shit.”

The room is silent.

“Congratulations, brother.”

“Is it congratulations?”

Victoria smiles. “Yeah, I think so.”

I rub my hands over my face. “Fuck.”

“Grant, isn’t this what you’ve wanted?”

I sigh. “Victoria, you know as well as I do–”

“Don’t bring Mom and Dad into this.”

Our blue eyes meet. Silence.

“They aren’t a part of this.”

I shake my head. “Of course they are. They’re the whole reason we’re here.”

“And they’ve been gone for thirty years.”

Thirty years. Wow. I hadn’t realized how much time had gone by. “I’m not good for anyone, Victoria.”

“That’s a bullshit self-preservation tactic and you know it,” Victoria replies. “I’m sick of watching you talk yourself out of what you want because you’re scared you’re going to fuck up. Grant, you’re not them.”

“We don’t know that.”

Victoria throws her hands up in the air. “I mean, maybe I don’tknow, but I have a pretty good inkling that you’re not going to repeat their mistakes.”

I appreciate her vote of confidence even if I don’t believe it. “Well, I don’t even know if Harley would want me involved or how she feels or–”

“Then you should just tell her.”

Well, that sounds scary as hell.

“Kent knows now, right.”

“Yeah, and that’s going to be a whole other thing to deal with entirely.”

“Okay, well, forget about him. He knows now, so there’s no reason to hold back how you feel.” Victoria looks me dead in the eye. “How do you feel, Grant?”

The entire car ride home, my whole body felt like it was twisting in on itself with confusion, unsure if I’d heard correctly or if it was even me who was responsible.

Now, I think it’s fair to assume that I’m a part of this.

I’ve always feared love and fatherhood after seeing how horrible things turned out with my parents. In fact, I’ve actively avoided any possibility of love. For the first time, with Harley, I’ve been eager to run into the fire. That’s got to mean something. “I think I want a chance with her. Because I…”

Victoria speaks for me. “You love her.”

I close my eyes tightly. “It’s ridiculous. It’s been two months and barely any time together. How can Iknowthat?”

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