Page 103 of Pregnant By the Playboy

“Oh, by the way,” Julian says, after he places the order. “Dad had Marissa investigated.”

“Jesus Christ. I didn’t want him to do that. I hope nobody was following her.” I hate the thought of her privacy being invaded.

“Well, it’s over now, and he’s convinced she isn’t angling for all your money. So he’s not against this anymore.”

“Perfect timing.”

“Vince, this will work out. It’s not going exactly the way you wish, but you have to accept that the world won’t always bend to your will, as hard as that may be for you. Just...be there for her in the way she wants. Give her space when she needs it. I suspect that finding herself unexpectedly pregnant has brought up a lot of things for her, and you might not feel like you’re rushing into this, but she does, and that’s okay. And she’s the one who’s pregnant, not you. She trusts you, right?”

“Yeah, she does.”

“I do, too,” Julian says. “Even if there were years when you were constantly talking about hookers and blow, and I could never be sure what was real and what was a joke.”

Apparently our conversation has gotten too heavy for him, because he pulls out General Bloopy again.

“I love you, Vince!” the bloopisaurus says. “I’m sure you’ll make a great dad.” He plants a kiss on my cheek.

“Julian, man, I think you’re losing it,” Cedric says.

“Evie refused to sleep last night.”

Our pizza arrives, and I confiscate General Bloopy from Julian. I start feeling a little less like complete shit, which is an improvement.

What else could I do with my life?

It’s terrifying, yeah, but a little exciting at the same time.

* * *

Unfortunately, after spending most of Saturday sleeping on the couch, I have a terrible night’s sleep. I suppose I should get used to this for when the baby comes.

After coffee and cold pizza for Sunday breakfast, I stumble into the room full of things for Baby and look around. I can’t wait to meet Baby.

And God, I miss Marissa. And I will keep missing her. But I will keep my mind on the ultrasound at the end of this week, when I’ll see her next.

She might not love me now, but that doesn’t mean she never will.

I refuse to let everything go to shit. I remember burning out and how badly I coped with it. Now, I’m going to create a balanced life that will not destroy my mental health.

It doesn’t sound glamorous, but I don’t need that anymore.

My gaze falls on Baby Loves Coding! and it gives me an idea.

Chapter 28

Marissa

I’m in the waiting room. My ultrasound is in twenty minutes, and Vince isn’t here yet, but that’s okay. There’s still time, and I know he’ll be here soon. Usually he picks me up for my appointments, but this one is at the end of the day, and he was going to visit his niece first and asked if he could meet me here instead.

I’ve thought about Vince a lot in the past week, and I think I want to keep seeing him. Maybe I’ll come to love him, and it’s just not something I can do quickly.

That doesn’t mean I’m broken.

He’s able to fully commit to things in a short period of time, and I admire that about him. It’s not me, though, and that’s okay. He just has to understand.

Still, something bothers me.

He said I couldn’t love him because he couldn’t live up to the superhero dad of my imagination. I suspect he regrets it. I know he feels terrible about hurting me. I know he’ll listen to what I have to say today.