Page 4 of Falling Stars (Wild at Heart #2)

BAYLEE

A few hours later, Rory and I finally get on the road.

For what seems like the dozenth time this trip, I swallow back the urge to puke.

It’ll be okay, I tell myself. Sean might be surprised, but he’ll be supportive. We talked about having a family someday.

This is just a little earlier than either of us anticipated.

“Are you okay?” Rory asks hesitantly.

I flinch at the sound of her voice, not because she’s loud but because I forgot I wasn’t alone.

“I’m fine,” I say even though my white knuckles on the steering wheel might suggest otherwise.

She nibbles on her thumbnail, looking like she wants to say more. Finally, she takes a deep breath. “You can tell me this is none of my business.”

“This is none of your business.”

A rare laugh bursts out of her. “I haven’t told you anything yet.”

I smile. “I know. I’m just being a smartass. It’s my best feature.”

We’re two hours into our trip to Dallas to style a bride’s hair for her rehearsal dinner and wedding, but since we’re arriving early, I’m hoping to drop Rory at our motel and then swing by Sean’s apartment to break the news to him. Otherwise, I might go out of my mind with stress.

I should’ve told him when he visited me last month, but I chickened out. I told myself I needed to get confirmation first from a doctor.

Well, I have confirmation.

I’m definitely pregnant.

And it’s definitely his.

I’m having a baby with Sean Cooper.

I wish I was more excited. Don’t get me wrong—I am excited about the baby.

I’ve always wanted kids. Except this isn’t the way I wanted to go about it.

Of course, my mom loves my older sister.

But Mom got pregnant before getting hitched to my father, who, let’s face it, has not been the paragon of paternal love.

And after they got divorced, he strung my mom along for another several years. It goes without saying that the man is dead to me. I’m just glad my mother finally cut him out of her life.

Call me old-fashioned, but I was hoping to do this in a more traditional order. You know, date someone, get married, buy a house, and then have a child.

Sean doesn’t even live in my part of Texas yet.

I try to focus on the good part, the little soul growing in my belly.

As I stare at the highway in front of me, an evil voice in my mind whispers, It should’ve been Maverick’s.

I roll my eyes at myself. Sometimes my subconscious is a shit-stirring little bitch. I read about this in my online psych course. It’s called an intrusive thought.

Regret over all the lost time spent on a man who will never love me makes my heart heavy .

Despite how badly that “kiss your best friend” challenge went in high school, it took me years to get over Mav. It wasn’t until he brought Kira to Rhett and Paige’s wedding last summer that I finally took the hint. Yes, that’s a long damn time to pine for someone.

He’d never brought a girl home before. Seeing him with Kira made something click for me.

Because I want what I never had—a happy family and kids and the white picket fence.

I want stability and a future with a partner who’s going to have my back and not ditch me for a pair of perkier tits, the way my father ditched my mom for a younger woman.

Or the way he’d ditch her every time he got called up to the Majors.

And I’m sure as hell not going to get that with Maverick Walker, the New York Vipers’ newest hotshot tight end.

I met Sean a few weeks after that wedding, and we hit it off.

I thought it was a sign.

Like the devil knows I’m thinking of him, Maverick texts. Hey. Missed you at my party last weekend.

Sure he did. Well, I miss my best friend, but we can’t always have what we want.

Frankly, I didn’t want to watch him stick his tongue down Kira Stafford’s throat like he did after he got drafted this spring, so I skipped his graduation shindig.

He’s off in New York now, living his dream as an NFL player, probably fucking groupies, and being a celebrity.

I wish him well. Look, I’m not a coldhearted bitch—I sent him a gift with a note that said I was proud of him and hoped he got everything he wanted in life.

And that’s all true. But it’s been easier to get over him when we don’t talk all the time.

To be clear, I wouldn’t have started dating Sean if I thought I still had feelings for Maverick. It’s just that sometimes, old feelings crept in, which is why I needed space from Mav, real space to move on.

At least I still have Paige, but she has her hands full with Ella. Otherwise, I would’ve dragged her with me to talk to Sean.

Ignoring Maverick’s text, I tighten my hands on the steering wheel.

Rory, who looks like she’s still trying to find a way to confess something, motions to the gas station at the next exit. “If you need a ginger ale or something to eat, we can stop.”

The expression on her face tells me I haven’t been as stealthy as I thought. So much for secrets. I sigh. “Do I look pregnant?”

She shakes her head. “Not at all. It’s just…”

I lift my brows.

“In the mornings, you get a little green. And then sometimes I hear you throwing up in the bathroom.”

Damn it. I thought the vent was loud enough to block that out. “Does the whole salon know?” I’ve missed my mom, but I’m glad she’s not here right now. I can’t handle any lectures at the moment.

“The stylists are too preoccupied with their social media and trying to make their hair videos go viral.”

That sounds about right.

Sometimes I get an itch to post a video, but then I remember how I bombed the last time I tried to make one. I’ll just have to try another marketing tactic.

Lost in my thoughts, I ignore the next wave of nausea. We make it to Dallas in record time. I’m about to drop off Rory at the motel when I get a call from Sean.

I put him on speakerphone and then turn down my air conditioner so I can hear him. I have an older car, and it doesn’t have a fancy wireless connection to my car’s speakers.

“Hey, handsome. What’s up?” I don’t tell him I’m about a mile away.

He’s expecting me tomorrow after the wedding, but I can’t keep this news to myself any longer, and I’d love to surprise him with a visit.

He usually drives down to see me. He works at a mortgage company, but he’s hoping to transfer somewhere closer soon.

“Baylee. Um.”

I wait for him to say something. When he doesn’t, I get a chill.

All the women in my family get “feelings.” Some might call it intuition. My mother calls it a gift. I don’t always know what they mean, but since I’m not getting all warm and fuzzy over here, I prepare myself for the worst and pull over to the side of the road.

“Sean, whatever it is, just say it.” My voice comes out harsher than I intend, but given the chills up and down my arms, this is DEFCON 1. Whatever this is, it’s probably the third bad thing. I brace myself.

“I don’t think we’re working out.”

“You can’t hang out tomorrow?” That would be a bummer, but it’s not the end of the world.

“No.” He coughs. “I mean us. You and me. This thing we’re doing. I don’t think it’s working.”

It takes me a minute to process that.

Did he just call our relationship this thing we’re doing?

Is he breaking up with me?

After he swore we were the real deal?

After he swore he loved me?

After he swore he wanted to have kids with me?

“What the hell, Sean? Weren’t you just telling me you wanted me to marry you someday? That you wanted to have a family with me?”

His voice goes stiff. “That… that didn’t mean anything. We were just shooting the shit. ”

He doesn’t think that meant anything. Good to know. I need a second before I can speak. “What’s going on? What’s the real reason you want to break up?”

He goes quiet again. “Look, I want to be honest.”

“That would be a great place to start.” Asshole.

“This… this is going to sound terrible, but I think I want to get back together with my ex.”

He did not just say that. “Are you talking about Giselle, the woman you said was toxic and made you miserable?”

He sighs. “She and I had some rough times, but I’m still in love with her. I was fooling myself to think I could move on. I’m so sorry. I really like you, Baylee. I wish I could make this happen with us. Trust me, it would be easier.”

Gee, what an endorsement.

It took me years to put myself out there after I got turned down by Maverick. Years to form a connection with another man. Years to put my heart on the line.

Once again, I pick someone who doesn’t want me.

“Are you home right now?” I choke out.

“Yes.”

“I’ll be there in a few minutes. There’s something I need to tell you.” I hang up before he can respond.

Hitting the gas, I speed toward his apartment.

Rory clears her throat. “Are we going to Sean’s place? Do you think that’s a good idea?”

“I need to tell him I’m pregnant. Want to come with me if I promise not to get arrested?” Her eyes widen. “I swear I won’t choose violence today.”

She wrings her hands. “Maybe you should take some time to process everything.”

“Nope. I don’t need to process a damn thing.” When I pull up to his apartment, I park next to his car. My stomach roils, and I have to take a few deep breaths so I don’t hurl .

I’m saving it up. Because if I vomit, I definitely want to aim for Sean.

“This shouldn’t take long,” I tell Rory. “I’ll leave the car running for you.”

In case I need a getaway vehicle.

Sean opens the door before I knock. His dirty blond hair is messy like he’s been running his hands through it. I don’t say anything, just push past him. “Are you cheating on me?”

His eyes widen. “No. I’m not. I swear. It’s just… I’ve been talking to Giselle, and I can’t get over what she and I had. That’s not fair to you.”

“To be clear, though, you are planning to fuck her, right?”

His sheepish expression is all I need to see. “Baylee, I’m sorry. You’re a great person, and?—”

“Shut up. Your words carry no weight. As far as I’m concerned, you’ve been lying to me this entire time.” I glance around at his apartment. “I want my stuff. Last time I was here, I left my Bill Miller iced tea container and my Lone Star State Broncos sweatshirt.”

Technically, it’s Maverick’s sweatshirt, but I have no plans to return it to him, so it’s mine now.

God, how did I do this again? How did I fall for another emotionally unavailable man?

Sean gives me a sad look and ducks into his bedroom. I spot my drink container in his kitchen and grab it. He returns with the sweatshirt, which I swipe out of his hand.

“Before I go, I just want to make a suggestion.”

His brows lift. “A suggestion?”

“Yeah. Before you reconvene fucking your ex, you might want to get some better condoms first.”

“Um. Okay,” he says slowly. “Why’s that?”

“Because the ones you use aren’t effective. I’m pregnant. And guess what? You’re the father. Congrats. I’ll be sending you a paternity test come December so you can be extra confident it’s yours. Merry Christmas.”

I start for the door, but he grabs my arm. “Seriously?” He glances down at my stomach and then back up before he smiles. “You’re pregnant?”

I’m honestly surprised he looks happy about this, which annoys me that much more. “Do you think I’d joke about something like this?”

He shakes his head with a laugh. “Can I touch your stomach?”

Fuck, no. “Did you catch the part where you broke up with me on the phone ? That means we’re no longer dating, and if you touch me, I’ll break your hand.”

Or at least, I’ll try to.

“Baylee. Jesus. This changes everything. I think I need a little time to sort things out. I’ve just had some intense feelings for my ex. Maybe if I stop talking to Giselle?—”

I laugh coldly. “Have you ever heard the saying that you can’t put toothpaste back in the tube? Nothing you do will change what you told me ten minutes ago.”

The man looks positively stunned I’m not dropping at his feet. “But what about the baby?”

“What about the baby? Since I’m spending the next several months gestating this child, I consider him or her mine. If you want paternal rights, we can go to court and figure it out. If you’re not interested, then I hope you have a nice life.”

Again, I head for the door, but he jumps in front of me. “Are you serious right now? You don’t want me to be involved?”

First, he tells me he didn’t mean that talk about having a family with me, and now he wants to play the part of happy baby daddy? Which is it?

I stare into his eyes, so he can be sure to hear me loud and clear. “I don’t need anyone, and I definitely don’t need someone who doesn’t want me. And if you can’t figure out which woman you love, what makes you think you’ll get your head out of your ass long enough to be a good father?”

“But I thought you said you hated that your mom had to work so hard as a single parent. That you never wanted to take that road.”

“I don’t want to be a single mom, but I don’t have a lot of choices here.”

Groaning, he holds out his hands. “This isn’t how today was supposed to turn out.”

Welcome to the story of my life.