I smiled at him sadistically. Rage was beginning to roll through me. This wasn’t how I wanted my night to end. Dodger had been more receptive to our news than I had expected. He embraced it and wanted to show me that he was here for me. Seeing that girl, made any feeling of happiness dissipate in a matter of seconds. Now I wanted to walk out the door and deal with my new life on my own. I didn’t need this.
“No, it’s not bullshit. There’s nothing I need to tell myself, that isn’t more than the truth.”
“You have no clue what you’re even talking about. I didn’t ask her to come.”
“I know you didn’t.”
“Then why are you so mad.”
“I’m not mad.”
“Yes, you are,” he argued.
“No, Dodger, I’m not. I’m indifferent. I could care less that she’s here.”
He put his hands on his hips and looked up at the ceiling. “Jesus Christ, you’re a difficult woman.”
I got a little pleasure out of knowing I was giving him a hard time.
“I’m not difficult. But let me make myself clear. Who you date or don’t date used to not be my business. However, if you plan on having someone in your life and you plan on being in my child’s life, then it is no longer just your decision. From day one that girl,”—I flung my arm up, directing it toward the back of the gym—“Has had it out for me. She’s wanted you and made no qualms about trying to get your attention when we were together. If you are still going to deny it after all this time, then you’re fucking blind.”
“You think I don’t have Dana pegged? I know her game. No need to rush out of here like you’re on fire. I told her no. But I did ask you to join me.”
I looked around. Camden wasn’t anywhere in sight, and the gym was almost empty besides a teenage kid puffing out his chest in front of the mirrors. Good, at least I didn’t have an audience.
“And I declined. I’m going home, getting into some comfy pants that don’t cut me in two, and crawling into my bed.”
“Gaining weight are we?” Dana spoke over Dodger’s shoulder.
I hadn’t seen her coming.
I took a step forward, brushing against Dodger and letting him know my intentions. I was about to tear this chick apart.
“Dana, I think you need to go,” Dodger said, trying to maintain control of us both.
He’s hysterical. Nobody controlled me except for me.
“Actually, no. I was just telling Dodger that we have a bun in the oven. He’s going to be a daddy. Isn’t that wonderful news?” Sarcasm was oozing from my voice. I put my hand on my stomach, making a show of it. Her eyes followed my movement. “Seems that the wedding was the perfect setting for incredible sex and baby making.” My other hand went up to Dodger’s cheek to add insult to injury. “He’s going to be the best father.”
Her mouth dropped open. My eyes squinted as if to really make the news sink in. I swear to god, she had anything else to say, I wouldn’t be held back.
I dropped my hands and looked up at Dodger. My voice went cold. “I’m going home. I’ll text you if I need anything.”
I walked out without so much as a second thought. I did what I came here to do. Baby bomb dropped. At the moment I still didn’t know what I needed to do to make this all seem okay, but one foot in front of the other toward my car seemed like a good start. Oh, and getting the chance to tell Dana my wonderful news . . . yeah that.
Damn that felt good. I smiled and got in my car and headed home.
INHERENTLY I PUT MY FINGERS on the pulse inside my wrist. Yep, I was definitely panicking. I was on a roll filling everyone in with my latest situation. As challenging as I’d convinced myself it would be, truth be told, the reactions I seemed to be getting were nothing like how I played them up in my head. Keegan had been understanding and loving. And Dodger skipped past the freak out portion and dove straight in to the logistics of future planning. Not that I didn’t think it wasn’t coming. At some point the poor guy was going to be slammed with the weight of it all and flip out. I knew him. This was the calm before the storm. Right now wasn’t the time for me stew over how that will go down. It was now time to let the parental units know. Best way to do this was quick and dirty. Like ripping off the Band-Aid and hopefully the sting wouldn’t be too horrible. I dreaded this far more than I did telling Dodger. I was a daddy’s girl. I grew up well aware of the hopes and dreams he had for me.
Walking downstairs, I figured my dad would be finishing up getting ready for work. He moved about this house like clock-work. He walked the treadmill for thirty minutes, did some light training in the in home gym, and after a shower he always went to the kitchen for his usual cup of coffee and English muffin while he read the paper. Right now I was more than grateful for his routine. Made my life a little less chaotic. Coming around the corner, there he was, toasting his bread and opening the paper to the section he reads first.
He looked up and greeted me. “Morning, pumpkin.”
“Morning, Daddy.”
Walking up to him, I kissed his cheek and grabbed a coffee cup from the cupboard. There was a full pot, thank God. I fixed it just how I liked it and went and sat down on one of the barstools. I kept my eyes on the cup instead of watching what he was doing. I knew it all by heart anyway.
Clearing my throat, I fidgeted with the handle of the cup and said, “Do you have any free time today? I was hoping to meet up with you and Momma for a late lunch date or coffee. There’s some things I need to talk to you both about.”
“I’ll double check my schedule but I’m pretty sure it won’t be a problem. Is everything okay?”
“Everything is great. I just want to sit down with you both and fill you in on some things coming up.”
“Have you asked your mother yet?”
“No. I was going to text her when I went back upstairs.”
He pulled out his Blackberry. I found it funny my dad wasn’t interested in updating his work accessories to what everyone else was using these days. He liked what he liked and unless the stupid thing fell on the floor and shattered, he was sticking with it. He clicked around and then looked back up at me.
“There. Schedule is clear this afternoon.”
I looked up and smiled at him. “Thank you.”
He gave me a brilliant white smile. “Of course. Let me know when and where your mom can meet and I’ll see you both there.”
While most would listen to our interaction and think it was too formal, for me this was normal. The three of us all worked and did a lot of things separately. Even my parents scheduled their dates versus going whenever. It was likely how most of the rich community worked. It’s probably why they were all rich to begin with. Careers came first. I was fine with it, nor did I judge.
“Perfect, I will.”
I got up, leaving my coffee untouched and went upstairs. I was going to ask my mom when the earliest she could meet us at Spooned. It was a café that had just opened and their Monte Cristo sandwich was to die for. The moment I started thinking about it, I wanted one. I also remembered I needed to call the doctor’s office and make my appointment.
Sitting down on the corner of my bed, I snagged my phone and text my mom. Once that was done, I googled Dr. Carrie’s office and made the call.
“Good morning, Dr. Carrie’s office,” The receptionist answered.
“Hi, I need to make an appointment.”