Page 74 of One Unexpected Gift

“Her what?” Skylar felt her cheeks warm. “You told her—”

“Easy.” He took her hands in his. “All I told her was that I was bringing a friend with me. Mom did her Mom thing, and my brothers have been giving me shit every day.”

“I’m not following.”

Nick let go of her hands and rubbed the back of his neck. “She asked how long I’ve been... seeing you. I didn’t correct her assumption and told her we’ve been friends for over a year. You’re the first woman I’m bringing home since my divorce. It’s only natural for my family to assume things.”

“Why didn’t you set them straight? Oh.” She looked in the back at Gabby strapped in her car seat. “You’re ashamed of what I am.”

He pinched her chin between his fingers turning her to face him. “Don’t even think about going there. I have feelings for you, Skylar. You have to know that. But I don’t want to tell my family about them before telling you.”

Her heart thumped in her chest so loudly she could hear it in her ears.

“What’s happening between us is no one’s business but ours. We have a lot to talk about, but I don’t want to rush you. Baby steps.” He winked, glancing over his shoulder at Gabby. “Pun intended.”

Skylar swallowed the lump in her throat. He gave her a light-hearted smile like he hadn’t just bared his soul to her. Which he hadn’t, but he’d hinted pretty loud and clear. Not ready to have this conversation two minutes before meeting his parents, she asked, “What did they say about Gabby?”

“Here’s the thing.” He dropped his hand from her face, and she instantly missed the contact. “Ever since I can remember, my brothers and sister and I have been one-upping each other on Mother’s Day and on Mom’s birthday. She claims she only wants her family together, healthy and happy, but each of us is always trying to be the favorite child. It started with my brothers and I, since Camilla, being the baby and only girl, was the obvious favorite. Ever since the time Holden, Logan, and I had jobs, we’ve been lavishing Mom in gifts.”

“That’s incredibly sweet, if not a little twisted.”

“Yeah, so, um.” He turned so he faced forward and put his hands at ten and two on the steering wheel, even though they were parked. “I’m sort of hoping Gabriella puts me over the top this year.”

“Are you telling me they don’t know about her yet?” Skylar unlatched her seatbelt and leaped out of the car, pacing in the weeds at the side of the road.

She had her back to the car but heard Nick’s door open and close. A second later, he was by her side.

“Are you serious right now?” She spun on him and jabbed her finger into his chest. “You’re seriously planning on showing up at her front door with absolutely no warning and introducing her to her granddaughter? What if she freaks out? What if she thinks I did this on purpose?” She jabbed harder. “What if she thinks I ruined your life and now you’re ruining her birthday? This is sick and twisted, Nick.”

“Skylar.” He gripped her wrist and held her hand tight to his chest. “Trust me.”

“Trust you?” she hollered at him, seeing red. “You kept this secret from your mom, and from me until it’s too late for me to turn around. Gabby and I are literally stranded here at your mercy. You planned this entire thing.”

“Yes, I did plan this as a surprise. If I thought for one minute it would upset my mother, do you really think I would be doing this? She’s going to be ecstatic. She’s been waiting for a grandchild for over a decade.”

“A grandchild from her married children. She wanted you to have a baby with Trish, not with me.” She yanked her hand away and spun on her heels. When he told her about his ex-wife last week, jealousy instantly lurked in her stomach. He wasn’t the settling down type, yet he chose to marry the woman when they were barely out of college. After she learned the type of relationship they had, and that she’d cheated on him, her jealousy subsided. Still, what if his family kept in touch with her? What if they wished she and Nick would get back together?

Nick caught her around her waist before she could take two steps.

“No, not with Trish. My family was never a fan. The only light they saw about our relationship was hopes she’d help settle me down. I didn’t love her enough to make sacrifices, to make compromises. I wasn’t even upset when I caught her in bed with someone else.”

“You what?”

“I pushed her away by not being around. Honestly, I didn’t want to be around her.”

“So why did you marry her?”

Nick dropped his gaze to his feet. “Honestly?”

“You’re the one who started this whole honesty bit between us.” She folded her arms across her chest and tapped her foot impatiently.

“Please don’t compare this to today.”

“Compare what?”

Nick squeezed his eyes shut. “Holden had planted a Magnolia tree in the backyard, our mom’s favorite. She was over the moon excited and gushed about it all day. That night, at dessert, in front of my family, I dropped to one knee and proposed to Trish. It was Mother’s Day.”

Skylar stood stunned. Speechless. She was hurt beyond measure. Introducing Gabby was another ploy in becoming the favorite son, not because he was proud to be a father. Her heart twisted in pain. He was using her and Gabby for his own gain.

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