Page 95 of Denim & Diamonds

Brock

“Hi.” Nina smiled nervously as I walked up the stairs to my apartment.

“What are you doing here?” I asked as I reached the landing.

She looked down at the truck parked in the driveway. “Is she your girlfriend?”

“Does it matter?” I took a steady breath, trying to keep my tone even when all I wanted to do was scream my head off. But I couldn’t, not at a pregnant woman. “Why. Are. You. Here?” I asked again.

“Do you think we can go inside to talk? I really need to use the bathroom.”

I just wanted her to say whatever it was she’d come to say—namely, that it wasn’t my kid in her belly—and get the hell out of here so I could put this nightmare behind me and get back to my day with February. But Nina put her hand on her pregnant stomach, and there was no way in hell I could say no.

I unlocked the door and pushed it open for her. “You know where it is. I’ll be back in a minute.”

Once Nina went inside, I walked back down the stairs to the truck. I was relieved February was still inside. She rolled down the window, though she didn’t say anything.

“She needed to use the bathroom. I’m gonna talk to her inside for a minute, if that’s okay with you.”

February shrugged. I figured that was the best I could hope for under these circumstances.

“I’ll make it quick.” I turned back as I walked away. “Don’t go anywhere, okay?”

At least she nodded that time.

Inside the house, Nina was still in the bathroom. Oak paced back and forth outside the door. He looked as confused and upset as I felt, so I let him out the back door so he could go down to the fenced-in yard.

Nina came out of the bathroom and glanced around the living room. She smiled. “Nothing’s changed.”

I looked down at her stomach. “I’d say something has.”

She looked anywhere but at me. “Do you want to go for a walk or something? Maybe take Oak? He looked like he could use some air.”

“I’m not feeling much up for a stroll.” I couldn’t take it anymore. I snapped. “What the fuck, Nina?!” I yelled. “Whose kid is that?”

She jumped and started to cry. “Yours! It’s yours.”

It felt like someone had whacked me in the stomach with a baseball bat. I staggered three steps back. “How is that possible?”

“I’m due in less than a month, and we broke up a little over nine months ago. I haven’t been with anyoneelse since before I met you, so there aren’t any other possibilities.”

“If that’s true, why didn’t you tell me?”

“I’ve been trying to call you for almost a month. You wouldn’t return my calls.”

“A month? Don’t you think I should’ve known about this a little fuckingsooner?”

She looked down for a long time. “I’m sorry. I really am. I didn’t find out until I was three months along because I have an IUD, and I don’t really get a period. When I took a test and it came out positive, I needed some time to figure things out. I never really wanted children, but I thought being pregnant would warm me up to the idea, that a little time would help me to settle into impending motherhood.” She took a deep breath and finally looked up. “But I haven’t, Brock.”

“You haven’twhat?”

“Accepted that I’m going to have a child very soon.” She held up a thick manila envelope that I hadn’t even noticed and extended it to me. “There are two sets of papers in here. Adoption papers and sole custody papers. I had my attorney draw up both, but you should have your lawyer read the documents once you decide.”

My head was spinning so fast I couldn’t decipher what the hell she was saying. “Decidewhat?”

“Whether you want to relinquish your parental rights and put this baby up for adoption or take full custody yourself. I’m giving up my rights either way. You’re the father, so you have a big decision to make, too.”

I raked a hand through my hair, feeling sick to my stomach.It can’t be true. It just can’t.“I need a paternity test.”