Page 67 of Bossy Surprise Baby

“This being?” I inquired with a fluttering heart. He had been hinting at it the entire time, but I needed it to be explicitly said because I didn’t know if we were on the same wavelength.

He turned to me for a split second, but it was enough for me to see the intensity in his eyes.

“You’re mine.” His words reflected that fervor. “You’re having my baby, and I’m taking care of you two for the rest of your life. My son too. It’s as simple as that.”

Wow. My heart thumped in my chest, and I felt emotion well up in my throat. It wasn’t quite a love declaration, but it was close enough.

As for me, I already knew I was in love with him. I knew it from the beginning, maybe, but yesterday confirmed it. Seeing him like that and discovering his pain made me feel like someone was twisting a knife in me too. And that was when I knew that no matter how much I tried to dissociate or pretend I could just have casual sex with him and keep my heart intact, I was only fooling myself.

I was completely, irrevocably in love with my sister’s ex-husband.

“I did things wrong the first time,” he said, interrupting my musing. “With Kelly. I knew your parents didn’t like me, so I stayed away. I thought it would make things worse if I came over.”

Ah, that would explain the fact that he hardly ever visited during their brief marriage.

“And with you…” he continued. “Made a mistake the first time. But I’m tired of making mistakes, doing the wrong thing, and hurting people. For once, I want to do something worthwhile and do it right. I want our baby to have a relationship with his or her grandparents.”

Our baby.Zane saying those words got me excited even before the full magnitude of his words hit me. Because what he was talking about didn’t sound like love to me. In fact, it sounded more like an obligation than love.

“I don’t want to just be someone else you take care of.” The words blurted out of me with a boldness I didn’t recognize. Embarrassment immediately washed through me at his sudden glance, but I continued regardless, “I want to be more than that to you.”

The silence after my words was only punctuated by the sound of the truck moving. I could tell he was thinking, but I couldn’t tell what he was thinking about. I nearly regretted revealing that to him, but I knew I couldn’t keep the secret forever. I was a terrible liar and even worse at hiding my feelings.

And then, after what felt like an eternity, he replied, “You are.”

Just like that, the butterflies came alive again.

I told my fluttering heart that it was not really a confession. It just meant he cared about me, possibly as a friend. But my heart danced regardless.

His words didn’t manage to calm my anxiety about telling my parents, though, and by the time he pulled into the driveway, my anxiety was through the roof.

“Okay, here’s how we play,” I said as he parked his truck. “I go in first and tell my mom that I have something to say and warn her not to panic. I’ll tell her everything from the beginning. She’ll be mad, but at least they can get some of their aggression out earlier and—”

“You’re insane if you think I’m letting you take it all on your own.” He was already getting out of the truck. “In fact, it might be better if you stay in the car while I take care of this….”

But neither of us managed to achieve either because the doors were thrown open to reveal my entire family storming out one by one.

They were all led by my father’s furious face. “What the fuck is that bastard doing on my lawn again? And with my daughter?”

“Again?” My mother turned to my father before spiraling her outrage onto me. “What is he talking about?”

Oh no. This was already starting out heated and with anger. “Dad, let me explain—”

But Zane walked past me, using his wide shoulder to block me off entirely.

“Hello, Mr. Mulin,” his deep voice rumbled. “I’d like a word with you.”

“The only words I have would be to send you straight to hell.”

Zane nodded mildly. “Yes, but you’re going to listen to me first.”

My dad’s eyes bulged out in his outrage. “I’m not going to do anything. God, where’s my damn gun….”

“Calm down, Jerry,” my mom said, but I could see her eyes glaring at me over Zane’s shoulder. “How could you bring this man here after everything? Are you insane?”

“Relax, Grandma,” Casey said, speaking up for the first time. “He’s her boyfriend, and I’ve met him. He’s a pretty cool guy.”

I was sure Casey was only trying to help, but it was the worst thing he could have said.

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