Page 56 of Full Out Fiend

I return his hug but extricate myself from his arms after a few seconds. The line between boyfriend and baby daddy is ill-defined and getting blurrier each day. Part of me is growing more and more tired of fighting our connection. But I don’t want to give my wavering heart too much credence in the midst of such a swoon-worthy gesture.

Fielding is working hard to prove he’s not going anywhere. But then I remember how little I know about him and how new all this really is. Slow and steady. I need to keep my head on straight and let things unfold over time.

“Holy shit—this issogood,” Serena declares, pulling something out of one of the takeout cartons and popping it in her mouth.

“You like that, huh?” Fielding grins as he shifts over to the table and grabs a bite of whatever she’s raving about. I shift from hip to hip and watch them interact. A surge of gratitude consumes me.

I never dreamed I’d see the day when my best friend and my—well, the man in my life would get along like this. Having them both so close feels like all I could possibly ever need.

Loved. Seen. Cared for. Supported. It’s all new. But it’s wonderful.

Fielding peeks over his shoulder and gives me a secret smile. A few seconds later, Serena turns around, wide eyed, and gives me a pointed look.

It’s not just the effort he put into this. It’s the gesture itself and the lack of expectations associated with it. He did this because he wanted to do it for me. He sincerely cares about me, and he’s determined to proactively prove himself. I couldn’t ask for a better partner—I’m overwhelmed by the way he’s gone all in. This moment is so much more poignant and emotional than I expected.

Maybe slow and steady isn’t necessary after all. I was with Anthony for more than a decade—it doesn’t get more slow and steady than that—and yet I can’t think of a single time he made me feel like this. Everything Fielding does feels right and real. Maybe right and real is what’s been missing all along.

Chapter 32

Fielding

“Areyounervous?”

Daphne looks gorgeous, per usual. I picked her up from Serena’s apartment this afternoon, and we’re on our way to Sunday dinner with her family.

I’m meeting her parents tonight, and I feel absurdly underprepared. It’s like not doing the reading for class and hoping the professor doesn’t call on you, then finding out there’s a pop quiz worth half your semester grade.

Existing in undefined relationship limbo isn’t making things any easier. It’s been almost a month since that first doctor’s appointment—three weeks since we received confirmation that I am the father of the child in Daphne’s womb. All I do all damn day is study and think about Daphne and the baby. Read baby books and send Daphnethinking of youtexts. Lie in bed and fantasize about that night.

I know what I want. But I’m trying my best to play this right and give her space. So while I’m not nervous about meeting her parents, I have no idea what to expect, and I’m still unclear about my role in Daphne’s life.

“Not nervous,” I finally answer, reaching across the center console and squeezing her leg affectionately. “Anxious to meet your parents—yes. Excited to meet Tahlia? Double yes.”

Desperate to know where things stand between us? Abso-fucking-lutely.

I keep that one to myself.

“I want them to like me and understand how seriously I’m taking all this.” My attention instinctively falls to Daphne’s lap before I turn back to the road in front of us again. She doesn’t have a defined baby bump yet, but she swears none of her pants fit, hence the pretty, flowy skirt she’s wearing tonight.

What I wouldn’t give to see exactly how her body is changing, up close and personal. I shake my head before my thoughts wander too far down that path. I can be a total horndog for my baby mama later. When I’m alone. Just like I’ve done pretty much every night since we met.

Right now, I need to focus.

“Areyounervous?” I ask, turning the question back on her.

She scrunches up her noses and side-eyes me.

“Honestly? I just want to get this over with. Now that they know about the baby and have sort of accepted what’s happening”—Daphne told them she was pregnant once we received the paternity results—“I’m anxious for them to meet you and for things to move forward. Just please don’t be offended if they come off as rude or unwelcoming. They loved Anthony, and our breakup has been really hard on them.”

I shake my head in frustration but say nothing. She’s given me the same warning multiple times over the last few weeks. No matter how she phrases it, it still pisses me off. Her parents are very much Team Anthony, which is just wrong on principle. Add in that fact that she’s already making excuses for their behavior before they’ve even met me…

“Parents love me,” I declare confidently. “It’s like a universal rule or something. They can try to resist my charms, but eventually, they’ll come around.”

“Yeah, well, you haven’t met my parents…”

I follow the GPS directions and turn onto Haymarket Street before easing into a driveway on the right. An inkling of recognition sparks in my mind as I coast to a stop. It’s not that anything looks familiar; I just recognize the neighborhood from all those damn videos. The houses on this end of town are spread out, but I can still see the Adley residence next door from here. It’s a historic home with an expansive yard and a two-story barn out back. I scowl at the house as if it’s personally offended me. I hate that Daphne is stuck next door to her ex’s family, even if Anthony doesn’t actually live there.

“Park on the right side,” Daphne murmurs, unbuckling her seatbelt and collecting her things as she anxiously plays with the hem of her skirt.