Page 97 of Denim & Diamonds

The next day, I found Brock showered and dressed, sitting in the dark at the kitchen table at six o’clock in the morning.

“What are you doing up so early? I thought your appointment wasn’t until nine.”

“It isn’t, but the lab opens at seven. I looked it up online, and the website said they take walk-ins too. I want to get there early so I’m first. Results usually take three days, but I’m going to pay for a rush, which speeds it up to twenty-four hours. Twenty-four hours from seven AM is quicker than twenty-four hours from nine AM. I need this done as soon as possible.” He paused. “Do you think you could change your flight and stay another day?”

I shook my head. I’d rearranged my schedule and packed a million things into tomorrow just to have the time here I’d already had. There was no way I could stay longer. Plus, I wasn’t sure I wanted to be around when the results came in, when all hope was extinguished. “I can’t. I have a meeting with the bank about the loan I need to figure out and a ton of appointments at the office.”

Brock nodded. “When you had your pregnancy scare, you said you didn’t think you wanted children. Do you think you could date a man with a child?”

My heart clenched. “I don’t know, Brock.”

He looked so sad, so crestfallen. But I had to be honest with him. He nodded. “I understand. Will you at least stay until this afternoon? I’ll go get this lab trip over with now, and then we can spend the day together and talk more?”

“I think you need some time to think. This is a big decision that you need to make on your own, so it’s probably better if I leave on the flight I’m booked on this morning.”

Brock looked up. “On my own? But it will affect you, too.” Then his face fell. “No, it won’t affect you. Because you’re not planning on sticking around if it’s my baby.”

CHAPTER 23

Brock

I’d just finished with the swab. My nerves were going a mile a minute because now that it was over, everything felt so final. There was no turning back from potentially getting the news that I was going to be a father. My life as I knew it might never be the same.

I returned to sit in my truck with my head resting against the back of the seat. As much as I didn’t want to share this with anyone, I picked up the phone and called Trevor.

He answered, his voice groggy. “Hey, dude. Why so damn early?”

Shit.He was usually still sleeping at this time.

“I’m in trouble, man,” I confessed.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, sounding alarmed.

I scratched my head. “Sorry to scare you. I’m physically okay. But something’s come up—something big and unexpected.”

“Did something happen with February?”

I shut my eyes. “Not exactly. But it could mean the end of things with her.”

“What is it?”

I took a deep breath and told him what had happened with Nina showing up.

Trevor was just as shocked as I’d been. “Ho-lee shit.”

“Yeah.”

“Well, it makes sense now why she’s been so damn persistent in trying to reach you.” He sighed. “I don’t even know what to say.”

“You and me both, brother,” I muttered. “You and me both. I feel like I’m in the middle of a fever dream.”

“I wish I could make this go away for you. Axe and I were just talking about how cool it was to see you so damn happy with February. And now this.” He paused. “How’s she handling it?”

“Pretty sure it’s over with her.”

“Why do you say that?”

“We said goodbye to each other before I left for the lab. She didn’t want to wait for me to drive her to the airport, and instead called a car. I didn’t argue because I needed to get this damn test over with, and she was probably better off not having to deal with another second of this nightmare. I wouldn’t want this situation either, if I were her.”