Page 58 of One Unexpected Gift

Besides, it wasn’t like he had a freaking clue what to do with a baby. He hadn’t changed a diaper since he was thirteen years old when his baby sister was born. And even then, after a few weeks he ditched the nasty chore and offered to help by bossing his brothers around instead.

No matter what they decided, he’d pay child support and be a part of Gabriella’s life in some capacity. Skylar visited Maine a few times a year. She had her sisters and Derek here. She could add in a visit to Nick as well.

Nick thunked his forehead on his keyboard. Was that what he wanted? Random visits for the next eighteen years? A daughter growing up not knowing her father? He thought about what happened to his parents when they learned his mother was pregnant. They’d done the right thing and it had worked for them.

But just because their story ended in a happily ever after didn’t mean his would. Travis Pierce was a loving, devoted father and husband. He had the gentle qualities that supported his wife. Nick wasn’t sure those qualities were passed down to him. His brother Holden, maybe.

For thirty-five years, Nick had only focused on himself, on his wants, his needs. It wasn’t that he was a selfish bastard. He cared about his friends and family and gave a lot to them and his community, but never at the expense of his own happiness. In addition to, yes.

“Knock, knock,” the words preceded the actual knock. Owen stood in his doorway, a beer in each hand. “I come bearing gifts.”

“Stealing beer from my bar isn’t exactly a gift.” Nick righted himself in his chair and accepted the beer. “What brings you by at eight o’clock on a Thursday night? The crew with you?”

Alcohol probably wasn’t the best thing for his headaches but not wanting to draw attention to his medical condition, he took a sip of the cold ale before setting it down next to his laptop.

“I think you know.” Owen took the seat across from Nick’s desk and leaned back, crossing his ankle over his knee as if they were carrying on an everyday conversation.

“Does that mean you know?”

“Yeah.”

Nick scrubbed his hands across his face. “And you didn’t think it was important to tell me?”

“I’ll clarify. I assumed. I received confirmation last night.”

“And you’re here... why?”

“Sky’s like a sister to me, which makes Gabby like a niece. My sister spent the first twelve years of her life living in a home with an unloving mother and absent father. I won’t let that happen to Gabby.”

“What are you saying?” Nick mirrored Owen’s posture and leaned back in his chair.

“If you want nothing to do with Gabby’s life, be straight up and honest about it, and stay the hell out of Sky’s life as well. She deserves better. She deserves a man who will treat her and her daughter right. If that can’t be you, I’m asking you, as a friend, to move out of the way.” Owen sipped his beer casually as if he hadn’t issued a cheap-shot insult at Nick.

“What makes you think I don’t?”

Owen leaned forward and set his beer on the edge of Nick’s desk. “What have you done or said to prove that you do?”

Nick huffed out a sigh. “Shit, Owen. You don’t beat around the bush, do you?”

“Not when it comes to the people I care most about.”

“How’s she doing?” Nick had a plan but discussing his feelings with Owen hadn’t been part of it. He’d already asked Colby and Ashley to open and close tomorrow so he could spend the day with Skylar. Not that she knew that yet

Owen shook his head, his massive shoulders not moving an inch. “If you want to know how she’s doing, ask her yourself.” He stood, his six and a half foot muscled frame taking up way too much space in Nick’s small office.

“That’s fair.” Nick stood as well and rounded his desk. He respected Owen and liked him even more for coming out to The Zone to issue a warning. Sky needed men like him in her corner, especially since he’d been a scared weasel taking the easy way out by ignoring her. “I’m going to do the right thing, O.”

“Right by who? You or Sky? If you don’t love her and her daughter, don’t string her along.”

Nick didn’t know if he loved her. Hell, he barely knew her, but he didn’t like the insinuation that he was a dickhead. “First, Gabriella is my daughter as well. I’ll never let anything bad happen to her. She’ll know me and will always know how much I care about her. I’m not tossing her aside. Even if she doesn’t want a hovering father around, I’ll be there.”

“Will you, though?” He crossed arms over his chest in an attempt to intimidate.

Nick stood taller and rolled his shoulders back, not afraid of Owen’s size. Poking his finger in Owen’s face, he snarled, “I’m not a douchebag loser like your father. I’m not going to turn my back on my kid like your mother. I’m sorry your parents couldn’t be the parents they should have been, but don’t lump me in the same category as them. This is freakin’ huge. I needed a few days to process, to deal with... other shit I have going on, but I’m not going to neglect Skylar or my daughter. I consider them both my responsibility, and I’ll do everything in my power to make sure they’re cared for and safe.”

Owen dipped his chin in a curt nod. “That’ll do for now. But making sure they’re cared for... think about that one. What do you really mean? How do you really feel?” In a move Nick hadn’t expected, Owen squeezed his shoulder and tapped him on the back. “See you at the gym.”

The following morning, he skipped the gym and drove straight to Owen’s house. He hoped Owen and Charlie were at work and Olivia in school. Calling Skylar to give her a heads up he was on his way would give her an opportunity to brush him off or tell him to stay the hell away. Instead, he went for the element of surprise. Dickhead move or not, it was what he needed to do.

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