Page 21 of Hard To Love

Another knock sounded, this time harder. She groaned louder. “You should get it. Could be important.”

“You sure?” She nodded, and when I rose, she extended her hand. I helped her up. “I gotta use the bathroom,” she shared, and I watched her disappear.

I moved to the door, adjusting myself because no one needed to see me standing at attention, ready to go. I opened the door, and my jaw automatically clenched.

“What do you want?” I asked in a quiet, calm tone.

The man on my porch was the last person I wanted stepping foot on my property. I glanced over my shoulder hoping and praying Sandy didn’t hurry out and find her ex standing there.

Waiting.

“Guessing she’s in there, since her place is…” His eyes drifted off toward the construction going on next door. The guys were off Sundays, and even though it looked like a tornado had ripped it apart, we were closer to being done than it seemed.

“You would guess right.”

“She, umm…“ He swallowed. “She doing okay?” he asked, his arms settled across his chest.

“Peachy keen.” I stood straight and crossed my arms in front of me. But Calvin didn’t seem fazed in the least. Either he was too cocky or too arrogant to see the threat I was. Good. Let the bastard underestimate me.

“I got something for you.”

“You do?” I asked, sounding as suspicious as I felt.

“Yep.” The ‘p’ popped, and my jaw clenched.

“Now, what the hell could you have for me?”

“Parental rights papers my attorney drew up for me. Figured I’d come back here and find you gone into superhero mode to save the day. Guess I wasn’t wrong. Just surprised she’s not wearing your ring yet,” he noted. I frowned.

“How the hell would you know?”

“Been in town for a week. First thing I heard about in the gossip mill was you two were together and expecting. Nothing about wedding bells. There a reason?”

I stepped forward and shut the door behind me, but Cal didn’t step back. “You going to do right by her and—"

“And my baby?” I answered. “Because that’s all that child is going to know. I can tell you that right now.”

“Man.” He laughed humorlessly and looked away. “Knew she loved you. Fuck, knew she loved you before I met you, but you know how special she is. How beautiful and kind.

“Look, I’d appreciate it if you left—” I started to say. I didn’t need to know he cared about her.

“I get that, I do.” Cal reached behind him and handed me a rolled manila envelope. “Hell, I even respect it. If it had been anyone else, no way in hell would I have done this. I need you to know that. I signed my rights away. My only clause is that you adopt him or her as your own the moment they’re born.” You could have tipped me over with a twig. Shit, I had underestimated the guy.

“What?”

“I don’t wanna cause her any problems. Not now or ever. I left because…” He shrugged and exhaled roughly. “I’m not what you call forever material. I don’t know how to take care of myself half the time, much less a woman and a kid. She was better off without me.”

“You got that straight.”

“I think she was relieved when I told her that.” The guy ran his tongue over his teeth. “Plus, I knew the moment I left, you sure as hell wouldn’t fuck shit up again by not claiming her like you should have before she left for school.” I stared at him for a long moment.

The guy was about my height. Had hazel eyes and a square jaw. His hair was a little lighter than mine. I could have easily taken what he’d just said to heart. Got pissed and lashed out.

Instead, I thought about where we were standing.

I was in front of the door while he was facing me on the porch. My girl was behind that door. My very pregnant girl. I had no reason to lash out. I had everything I ever wanted, and it wasn’t like he was wrong. I’d been an idiot, but things happened in life, and they happened for a reason.

“Again, you got that right. I won’t mess it up. Not with Sandy or our baby. They will never lack for anything. Not materialistically or emotionally,” I vowed.

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