Page 4 of A Baby Changes Everything

When she put it that way, Drew felt like a first-class ass.

"But fortunately, the doctor asked all the right questions this morning, which prompted her to run a few tests, and within an hour, she confirmed her suspicions. And to answer your next question, yes, I had every intention of telling you. I just needed to wrap my own head around the news first."

God, he was such a jerk. "I'm sorry, Hope." Sorry he had even considered Hope might have suspected she was pregnant before the doctor had mentioned the possibility. Sorry he’d asked the question out loud. Sorry he hadn't been more responsible that night. "I should have been better prepared. Done a better job of protecting you."

"You weren't alone that night, Drew. And as a willing participant, I had just as much responsibility to take precautions as you did."

Only neither of them had. Sure, it was easy enough to blame their carelessness solely on the Patron. Even give it considerable credit for lowering their inhibitions. But wanting Hope in the most intimate sense had absolutely nothing to do with the tequila. That was all him. And had been since the first day they met.

Now, because he'd been thinking—and feeling—with the wrong head three months ago, Hope was pregnant with his child. In the big scheme of things, the circumstances surrounding the conception didn't matter. What mattered now was what they were going to do as a result.

A million questions raced through his head. So many things for them to consider. So much for them to discuss and decide. He didn't have a clue where they should start. But there was one question that gnawed at him more than the rest. One he was reluctant to ask because he feared what Hope's answer might be. Yet one impossible to ignore.

"Are you going to have the baby?" Drew steeled himself against her response.

Hope looked at him like that was the absolute last question she expected from him. "Of course."

Relief washed over him like a cleansing rain. Okay, one obstacle down.

"But that doesn't mean I expect anything from you, because I don't. I'm perfectly capable of handling everything on my own. Really."

Though he knew her words were meant to soothe, Drew found no comfort in them. "What about my expectations?" he countered, a sharpness he hadn't intended edging each word. "Because make no mistake, I do expect to be a part of our child's life." No matter what happened between them from this point forward, Drew wanted to be sure Hope understood that much from the jump.

Nodding, Hope swallowed visibly. "I didn't mean to upset you. I just didn't want you to feel obligated to go all 'do the right thing,’ because I'm really okay with handling all this on my own."

Reaching out, Drew took her hand and threaded his fingers through hers. "But you don't have to handle everything by yourself, Hope." He squeezed her hand. "I want to be there for you. To help you and to share everything about this pregnancy with you."

"I'm sorry I let this happen, Drew. That I put us in this predicament. If I had just gone home by myself that night, none of this would have happened."

"Like you said, you weren't alone. I could have gone home anytime I wanted, but I didn't because I was exactly where I wanted to be. With you. I didn't have a single regret after the night we spent together, Hope.” He squeezed her hand. “And I don't have any now either."

"How can you say that? Especially since you've barely had a minute to let everything sink in?"

"Because it's the truth." He leaned into her. "And because you're having my baby. That's all I need to know."

"But we're not ready to be parents." Sighing, she pulled her hand from his and covered her face with her palms. "At least, I'm not."

"I doubt anyone is ever totally ready."

"Yeah, well, I'm not even remotely ready." She dropped her hands to her thighs. "And I'm not sure I ever will be."

Panic suddenly clawed through him. "You said you were going to have the baby."

"I am. I'm just not sure about keeping it."

Her words hit him like a sucker punch straight to his gut. "You're thinking about giving the baby up for adoption?" She couldn't be serious, could she?

"It's an option to consider."

"Why?"

"Because I'm not ready to be a mother. I don't know what it takes. Besides, with my veterinary career just getting started, the timing couldn't be any worse."

"A lot of mothers have jobs outside the home, Hope. There's no reason why you can't as well."

"I know that."

For several minutes, they sat on the bench in silence, each deep in their own thoughts about the choices and challenges they faced in the coming months. Their potential differences in opinion. And the possible fallout that might ensue as a result.

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