Birth of a Baby Daddy

by Piper Rayne

“No, I’m not.” I clench my teeth, trying not to lose my temper. Something is definitely going on with her.

  “You are. You come and go and do whatever you want. I haven’t even taken my exam yet.”

  I hold my hands up in the air, taking the pan off the stove because this looks like it might be a long conversation. “I never said you couldn’t. We have a calendar for a reason.” I point to the big one she put on our wall. “We’re a team, but I’m not a mind reader.”

  “Mama? Dada?” Calista asks, crawling off the couch and coming over to Harley. She tugs on her dress and Harley picks her up.

  “It’s okay,” she soothes our daughter since we’ve never once raised our voices like this.

  Is this the start of our demise?

  “Just go.” I hold my arms out and Calista comes to me. “We’re having daddy and daughter date night then.”

  Harley stands there for a second like she wants to tell me something, but as our eyes test one another, waiting for the other to apologize. She grabs her purse. “Don’t let her stay up late so she’s a nightmare for me tomorrow.”

  She’s out the door before I can respond which is probably a good thing since Calista is present.

  “We need to figure out what’s up with Mommy,” I say to Calista.

  Calista and I go to the diner to let someone else cook for us. After my argument with Harley, I’m not in the mood. Calista gets a scoop of ice cream and Karen asks to feed it to her. I’m not complaining.

  Afterward, once I’ve had time to cool off a bit I figure Harley has a point. Terra and Mare has been taking up all my time up and I’ve barely been home. So, after I read Calista a book and get her to sleep, I put away all her toys, clean the dishes, and the fridge. Hell, I even dust the television and the lampshades. I haven’t been pulling my weight around here and I’m going to fix that.

  I’m in the bathroom cleaning and grab the trash, taking it to the kitchen to empty it in the garbage there. I put a new bag in the trashcan and put it back in the bathroom.

  “Almost finished and then it’s relaxation time on the couch. Hopefully Harley’s super happy when she gets home and wants to repay me with some sex,” I say to myself.

  I pull the kitchen bag out of the garbage and grab the monitor, heading down to the bin in the alley to throw away the garbage.

  “Li!” I say as I approach, seeing him throw away his garbage.

  He crosses the alley. “What’s up, man. How’s Terra and Mare going?”

  “Good.” We shoot the shit for a while and discuss him maybe having a signature night at our place, a special of a dish he’s been thinking of that wouldn’t work at Wok For U.

  He eyes me with garbage and the monitor.

  “Never thought I’d see you so domesticated,” he laughs.

  I stare down at myself and join in his laughter. “Yeah, but why didn’t you tell me what I was missing all this time?”

  Li married his high school sweetheart and they already have three kids. He was always the settling down type. In our yearbook, it should’ve said most likely to be the all-American Dad under his name.

  He glances down at the garbage bag again. “Looks like you’re not that far behind me, huh?” He leans forward. “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”

  I tilt my head trying to figure out what he’s talking about.

  He eyes the bag again and I look down at the garbage in my hands and see a pregnancy test box pressed against the outside of the white trash bag.

  “Well…” I’m stunned. I can’t even form words.

  He smacks me on the back. “Like I said, your secret is safe with me. I better get going. Sunday nights are crazy.”

  “See you.”

  I turn my back to him and rip open the trash bag until the test box is in my hand.

  Sure as shit it’s a pregnancy test and the stick falls out onto the black pavement. It’s upside down so I can’t see what it says.

  Harley would’ve told me. This is something we would do together. She’d tell me she was late, we’d pee… well, she’d pee on a million sticks and we’d sit on the bathroom floor for three minutes both silent and contemplating what we were going to do—together. I missed this with Calista and I definitely don’t want to miss it with my next one.

  I throw the bag in the dumpster, pick up the stick and slowly turn it over.

  My heart drops to the pit of my stomach.

  It’s positive.

  It’s fucking positive.

  Another baby is on the way.

  Calista’s gonna be an older sister.

  No. Harley would’ve told me. I know she would have. Maybe it’s Brooklyn’s or Holly’s. Definitely not Sav’s. Maybe it’s Juno’s, though I’m not sure who the father would be. Maybe Colton? But I’d know if it was Harley’s. Right?

  As much as I try to convince myself, the doubt is still there. I taper down my excitement of being a father again until I know for sure which woman peed on this stick.

  Pulling out my phone on the way back into the apartment, I conclude there’s an easy way to figure this one out.

  Me: How’s the wine?

  Harley: Good. Sweet.

  Me: Red or white?

  Harley: ?? Why are you so concerned?

  Me: I’m bored.

  Harley: White right now.

  Harley: You’re acting weird.

  Me: When are you going to be home?

  Harley: I never texted you once while you were with Denver and Liam, so maybe grant me the same courtesy?

  I sit on the couch, staring at the phone, wondering how to respond.

  Screw this. I’m not the type to sit around and wait. We’re going to figure this shit out right now.

  Then I stare at the monitor in front of me.

  Fuck.

  What do I do about Calista?

  Ten minutes later, Denver walks into my apartment. He’s dressed in joggers and a t-shirt and falls onto the couch. “You owe me big. I had a survival trip last night.”

  I toss him a blanket.

  “If she wakes up, just soothe her back to sleep. Sometimes she can’t find her pacifier, so look for that first.”

  “Sure thing. What’s so damn important anyway and where the hell is Harley?” He glances around for a second before grabbing a throw pillow and putting it under his ear.

  “Nothing and Harley’s with our sisters. Girl’s night.”

  He cringes. “Sucks for you. They’re probably all bitching about you.”

  “Whatever. Call me if anything horrible happens.”

  He nods, his eyes already falling back asleep, so I turn on the monitor to maximum volume even if Calista is literally twenty steps away.

  I hop in my truck with the pregnancy stick in my pocket.

  Who’s going to be a mommy and daddy this time around?

  Thirty-Two

  Harley

  “Are you sure you don’t want some?” Savannah asks, holding the wine bottle up toward the only empty glass at the table—mine.

  “My stomach hasn’t been great today and I have to study for the exam.” I hate lying, but the guilt of not telling Rome yet is eating away at me. No way I can tell his sisters, though I’m dying to talk to someone about it.

  I have no idea how he’ll handle the news. I mean another baby. I don’t understand. Our life has been a bit chaotic, but I’ve taken that pill every damn day. Isn’t it supposed to be more effective than condoms? Am I the only woman on this planet who can get pregnant while using contraception?

  “He did it again. Wyatt threw out all the stuffed animals because he said what Gizmo’s doing to them is freaking him out.”

  “What will you do when you have kids?” Juno asks, her one leg is propped up on the edge of the chair as she sips her third glass of wine.

  “We’ll have to keep the stuffed animals up high, I guess.”

  “Good luck,” I say and Brooklyn laughs.

  “I love this new fridge.” Holly’s hands run down Savan
nah’s newest purchase—a top of the line stainless steel fridge—like it’s a hot model with abs of steel. “I keep telling Austin we need to update, but…”

  The girl’s eyes all turn down to the table.

  Savannah’s the first one to speak. “You should. I know Austin’s probably hesitant since it still looks like my parents live there, but you guys need to make it your own.”

  Holly comes over to the table and sits down next to me. We’re the only two here not related by blood. She shoots me a look and I understand what she’s conveying. We didn’t experience the loss. The Bailey siblings all share something no one outside of them can ever completely understand.

  “I don’t know. Austin says maybe we should build our own home.” She shrugs and twirls her wine glass in her hands.

  “That’s ridiculous. It’s paid for in full,” Brooklyn says.

  “Exactly, we could sell it and you’d each get a share,” Holly counters.

  Juno and Brooklyn glance over to Savannah. “No, Holly.” She reaches her hand over the table and places it on top of hers. “We’d much rather have you remodel it and keep it in the family.”

  Holly’s smile is tight. “I’ll talk to Austin.”

  The conversation turns to lighter topics… Juno razzing Savannah about Liam and her rolling her eyes. Brooklyn asking Juno about Colton and Juno rolling her eyes. We talk about wedding plans that have yet to be made for Holly and Austin, Brooklyn’s essential oil business and the Farmer’s Market this weekend.

  It isn’t until the doorbell rings that I remember Rome had texted asking what time I’d be home. How could he even bother me about that? I gave him his space. Still my eyes find the clock.

  “I’ll grab it.” Juno stands since she’s the closest to the door. “Is this Liam, your late night booty call?”

  Savannah flips her off. “I’m not sure if you noticed or not, but we hate each other.”

  Juno laughs, her auburn hair swinging back and forth while she walks to the front door. “Oh no, you don’t. Girl’s night.” We can’t hear the guy’s voice to know who it is, but Juno’s voice gets louder. “No, you can’t see her. She’ll be home later.”

  The door shuts and Juno comes in laughing.

  “Who was it?” Savannah asks.

  Juno points her finger, doing eeny, meeny, miny, moe between the three of us with a significant other until she lands on me.

  By that time the door is already swinging back open and Rome is storming down the hallway.

  Rome has this way about him when he walks into a room. Usually you feel comfortable, like he’s a friend from childhood. But tonight, he looks like he’s on the warpath. His eyes are laser sharp and ready to shoot. They scour the table until they zero in on my empty wine glass and his shoulders falter. Without a word, he swivels on his heels and walks out of the room.

  “What the hell is his problem?” Savannah asks, but she saw it too. It was quick but deliberate and Savannah is just too damn smart not to have caught it.

  “I’ll be right back.” I stand from the table.

  “He can be such a jerk,” Brooklyn carries on, her voice drowning out as I open the door to find Rome heading toward his truck.

  “Rome!” I call out to him.

  He places his hand in the air. “Just go have your fun. I got the answer I needed.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  He opens the passenger door and a second later the pregnancy stick I peed on last week is in his hand.

  My knees almost fall out from under me, but I manage to stay standing.

  I threw that out. Put it in the plastic bag, knotted the bag and threw it out. How on Earth… I suppose it doesn’t matter now.

  “I can explain.” I come over to the side of the truck.

  “Explain why you didn’t trust me enough to tell me? Why I have to find a box in the trashcan?”

  I back step into the darkness and close my eyes.

  “It’s not about trust, it’s just…”

  “What?” He’s so eerily calm I’m not sure where to go from here. Screaming I can deal with.

  “I don’t know. I should’ve told you, but I needed time to absorb the information.”

  He slams his door shut and walks over to me under the light of Savannah’s driveway. “We’re supposed to be a team. This is never gonna work unless you trust me.”

  I blow out a breath. “I get that, okay. I was just… you’ve been so stressed out with the restaurant. We barely see one another.” I throw my hands in the air.

  “So, what? You figured you were just going hide it from me until when, Harley, you had a bowling ball for a stomach?”

  “No! I wouldn’t do that.”

  His fist slams on the truck’s hood and I jolt back. “Why? I don’t understand.”

  “I… I…” There’s no excuse other than my own fear so I remain silent, staring at my entwined fingers.

  “You know what? Forget it.” He rounds the front of his truck.

  “Where are you going?” I step forward.

  “To think.” He slams his door shut and all I see is his pissed off expression before he turns the ignition and the interior lights dim into darkness.

  I watch him pull out of the driveway and his tires squeal before he speeds down the road.

  I cover up my sob and realize how wrong I played this fork in our road. First time we were both to blame, but this time, this time it’s on me.

  “Harley,” Savannah says, sliding out of the front door. “Did Rome leave?”

  I nod.

  “What’s going on?” She approaches me as I stand like a statue in the driveway like he’s going to return.

  “I’m pregnant.” My hand falls to my stomach as though I have to non-verbally show her as well.

  “What?” Her voice is low and there’s a note of disbelief and judgment there.

  “I was on the pill before you question how we could let this happen. And we’d used a condom with Calista, so I guess your brother has some kind of magic sperm that swims at the speed of light.”

  “Ew, let’s not talk about my brother’s sperm, but congratulations.” She opens her arms. “No matter what, it’s something to celebrate. Believe me, babies aren’t always planned, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t little miracles.”

  I stare at her like she’s someone else.

  She shifts under my gaze. “Not for me, but for other people. I’ve raised enough siblings in my life.” She leads me over to the front stoop and sits down beside me. “Do you want to talk about it? Why is he mad?”

  “I didn’t tell him. He found the test, which I’m still trying to figure out how that happened.”

  She nods. “Why didn’t you tell him?”

  I shrug. Savannah’s been on our side through most of this. I mean she let me move in with her, but I’m not sure I’m comfortable telling her that I worried he’d feel trapped. That in a few month’s time, he went from a bachelor to a dad of one with one on the way. How much can a guy take before he decides to bolt?

  “I can just see the stupid Buzz Wheel now.” My head falls to my knees and my arms hang at my sides.

  “Don’t worry about that thing. It takes two, Harley, remember that. Not to sound like a Health teacher but only abstinence is a guarantee you won’t become pregnant. Rome knew the risks.”

  But did he though? I’m not sure her argument holds much weight.

  “I think I’m going to go.”

  “Are you sure? The girls will understand if you want to talk to them about it.”

  I shake my head. “Nah, I’m going to cut out early and if we could—”

  “I won’t say a word until you two tell me.”

  “Thanks.” I stand and head into the house to say goodbye and go home.

  After I leave Savannah’s, I find myself driving around Lake Starlight instead of going straight home. Rome not willing to talk to me upsets me more than if he screamed in my face. For the first time since we started down this pa
th, I wonder if we’ve finally reached the end of the line.

  Thirty-Three

  Rome

  Harley got in late and I can only assume she’s told my sisters about her being pregnant which means my entire family should be calling me first thing in the morning.

  Her sliding into bed and turning on her side as I pretended to be asleep isn’t as bad as me sliding out of bed this morning and heading down to the restaurant like I’m expecting a morning delivery.

  It isn’t until later in the afternoon when Harley comes in to work her shift that it gets more awkward because where I usually get a big kiss hello and recap about this morning with Calista, I get a low good afternoon and she disappears into the front.

  Colin’s side glance says I’m not the only one who notices.

  Instead of addressing the situation, I decide to drown myself in work. Screw dealing with my feelings. It’s overrated anyway.

  Rachel, one of my waitresses, comes in a half hour later. “Table nine wants to talk to you,” she says.

  This isn’t unusual. I guess the patrons of Lake Starlight don’t understand that you don’t ask to talk to the chef unless you want to compliment or complain. You don’t seek him or her out just to chat about the last time you saw them. But this is a small town.

  The minute I enter the dining room, my eyes shift to Harley. It’s an instinct like breathing. I always want to check on her as though I’m her bodyguard.

  Our eyes meet briefly. Her hair is pulled back today, and her eyes have deep bags under them that her make-up can’t cover. But what wrenches my heart from my chest is the fact that her gaze swiftly leaves mine as though I disgust her.

  I blow out a breath and head over to table nine where friends of my parents, Val and Cory Martle, sit. They say how proud they are of me, and how wonderful the food was. They ask about Calista, so I pull out my phone to show them a picture. Val coos over it, her gaze going to Harley.

  My jaw clenches, but I turn around. “Har.”

  She stops mid-pour when she hears her name and plasters on a fake smile.