Page 50 of Broken Daddy

Gen’s head tips to the side as her mouth snaps shut. She’s watching me closely, eyes narrowed.

“You don’t?”

“No. I think it’s your choice. If youwantedto, I would support that. But if you’d like to keep the baby, I think you should.”

My chest swells with the need to continue. To reassure her I’ll give her and this baby everything they could ever want.

A home. Even if it isn’t here with me. Money. A permanent job. Or just a stipend. Whatever. Whatever she needs, whatever I can give.

I’d give all of me.

The realization is sobering as I stand only a few feet away from the woman who crashed into my life almost two months ago.

Who would’ve thought we’d be brought together like this? It feels like a lifetime ago when we were kids—Gen a shy girl hiding around corners while Russ and I tumbled about in adolescence.

Russ.

He’s going to kill me.

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. This time when Gen speaks, it’s careful, as if she’s trying to feel me out.

“You’re okay with me keeping the baby. But you seem a little stressed-out.”

A chuckle slips out before I can catch it. “Well, yes. I just thought…your brother.”

Silence.

Gen starts chewing her lip again. That means she must’ve thought about it, and must be worrying about it, too.

“I don’t want to tell him yet,” she blurts out.

“Okay. That’s fine, we don’t have to tell him.” But inside, my heart is breaking. I don’t like the thought of keeping something this big from my best friend—even if it’s something that could end the friendship. I can feel the scales tipping as my allegiance shifts from Russ Walker to his sister, the woman who will be having my child.

A rush of heat fills me as memories come flooding back.

Julia laughing as I stood, awestruck, holding a positive pregnancy test. Listening to her sing in the morning as she got the nursery ready. The rush to the hospital, my wife a beacon of calm as I hounded the doctors and nurses, making sure over and over again that everything was okay.

When I come back from the past, the steady reassurance I’ve been trying to offer is muted. And Gen is chewing her lip again.

Reaching out, I thumb her lower lip from between her teeth.

Our eyes meet. Her lips are parted, my fingers resting just beneath her chin.

Head tilted up.

I could almost…

If I wanted to, I could lean in and…

Shaking the thought off, I step back hastily. The last thing Gen needs is the man who got her pregnant kissing her in the middle of this mess. Even if it’s a happy mess.

She still looks worried, though, and my mind races as I try to think of how to calm her. Old habits die hard. I start talking business.

“Obviously, you’re going to need time off for appointments. And shopping. If you’re as tired as you say you’ve been, we can move breakfast back for now. It’s summer and I’m sure Eva won’t mind sleeping in—”

Slowly, a smile spreads across Gen’s face. I’m making a complete ass of myself as I rant on, but she puts it to a stop with a shake of her head.

“Nate, I’m fine. Really. For now, anyway.”

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