Page 57 of One Unexpected Gift

“He didn’t fumble a single syllable.”

“Literally, maybe not. But he wanted you. Bad. All we did was make sure no obstacles got in your way.” Brooke draped her arms across Sky and Charlie’s shoulders, pulling them in for a group hug. “The rest, was all you and loverboy.”

“I’m not so sure he wants me now.” She sniffed and rested her head on Gina’s shoulder, looking down at Gabby’s blue eyes.

“Then he’s an ass. If he doesn’t want to be a part of your and Gabby’s life, then he’s not worth the fight. How did he handle it when you told him?”

They broke apart from their hug and took their seats around the table. Gina passed Gabby over to Sky so she could nurse while she told them the story, leaving out the part of his dissection.

“There’s no excuse for the radio silence. You’ll be heading back to base next month. He shouldn’t be wasting this time.” Charlie dumped the rest of the crackers on the plate next to the barely touched antipasto platter.

“He hasn’t been feeling well lately.” Sky clamped her lips shut. His medical issues were private. From a nurse and a friend’s standpoint, she had no right to share his diagnosis.

“New daddy blues?” Brooke scoffed.

“Something like that.” She didn’t want them to get the wrong idea about Nick.

“Is that why you needed his address? To nurse him back to health?” Charlie teased.

“He’s actually been sick. That’s why I went over in the first place. To... check on him.”

“Like chicken noodle soup sick or something more serious?” Gina asked.

As long as Nick took care of himself, the carotid artery dissection wouldn’t be that serious. “He’ll be okay but was going through a rough patch. When he feels better I’m sure he’ll call.”

Sky wanted to believe the words she spoke, only she didn’t have much confidence in Nick.

Or herself.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Three days after learning he was a father, his head had finally given him a reprieve. Nick was far from one hundred percent, but he was back to functioning on nine out of ten cylinders. He’d kept himself busy at work, mostly locked away in his office, and ran through a million and one possible next steps.

Marriage was the most extreme. It had worked for his parents. Thirty-six years later and they were still as happy in love today as they were as teenagers.

Skylar didn’t seem the type to rush into marriage. He could talk to her about joint custody, but he doubted she’d be willing to part with Gabriella for weekend visits. Hell, Skylar lived in Virginia. It wasn’t like Nick could knock on her front door whenever he wanted to see his daughter.

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