Page 92 of Mister Cowboy

“Where’s Nadia?” he hollered through Tina’s office door.

Tina looked up from her computer and straightened her glasses. “I think she had a doctor’s appointment.”

Shit. The appointment he’d demanded she make, and he hadn’t even remembered. “Thanks,” he said, heading out the door. He checked her schedule on his phone and directed Edward to the doctor’s office a few blocks away.

Inside, a twenty-something nurse looked up from a file. “Can I help you?”

Brecken looked around the small waiting room. “I’m here for an appointment.” The woman smiled patiently up at him. “I mean, my, uh, Nadia Sinclair.”

“She’s with the doctor now. Let me have one of the nurses walk you back.”

The door opened, and a woman in maroon scrubs led him through a maze of cubicles and closed doors. The nurse rapt twice on the door labeled Exam Four and poked her head in. “Nadia’s husband is here.”

He withheld his rebuttal of being referred to as Nadia’s husband, already uncomfortable enough walking into the room where she laid back on the table with her legs spread wide.

“I didn’t realize you’d gotten married, Nadia.” The doctor stood and removed his gloves, reaching out a hand.

“She didn’t,” he said keeping his eyes glued to the doctor and away from Nadia. “I’m the father.”

The doctor scrunched up his eyes, the wrinkles around them making them appear tiny, and looked to where Nadia lay.

“I hadn’t gotten to that.” Nadia’s voice was too high pitched, too nervous.

“You haven’t told the doctor you’re pregnant?”

There was a long moment of heavy silence, and then the doctor cleared his throat. “Why don’t I give you two a moment?”

The doctor slipped from the room, and he waited for the click of the door before turning his gaze to Nadia.

“What the hell is going on? I thought you made an appointment to make sure that you and the baby are healthy.”

The gown draped over her crinkled as Nadia sat up slowly. “Why did you come?”

“What do you mean, why did I come?” His voice rose with each word. “I’m the father, Nadia. I told you I’d be here for you.”

Tears welled in her eyes, and Nadia covered them with her hands as sobs broke out. “I’m not pregnant,” she cried out between sniffles. “I never was. I didn’t want you to find out this way. I thought eventually you’d forget aboutherand remember how perfect we were together and come back. You just needed time to remember. We’re perfect for each other.”

Torn between anger and sadness, he balled his hands into fists. “Are you fucking kidding me, Nadia?”

“Breck—“

“No. Shut up.” A hollow feeling spread through his chest. He wasn’t going to be a father. Slowly, he turned cold eyes in her direction. “I’m going to walk out this door, and I never want to see you again.”

“But—” She reached out toward him, and he stepped back.

“Are we clear?” he said through gritted teeth.

She bobbed her head up and down and wiped her nose. He turned, walking with purpose out of the room and through the maze of offices.

He wasn’t going to be a father.

* * *

He foundhimself at January’s door before he could talk himself out of it. She might not want to see him, but he needed her. Needed to be reminded of everything that was good in the world.

She opened the door, hair wet and robe wrapped tightly around her.

“Hey,” she said happily, her eyes lighting up when she saw him. “Come in.”