Page 44 of Theodore

“Why can’t you just man up? I know you’re all loved up withMiss Perfect, but this is yourresponsibility,” Lissa snapped as I screwed my face up in response.

“Lissa. I’mnotthe fucking father of your child. I slept with you weeks before you got pregnant.”

Fuckher. I’ve had enough of her shit. Let’s see how she likes home truths.

“It’s just anestimate, dickhead. I didn’t sleep with anyone else for months before you and no one after. So it’s time to man up.” Lissa sneered as I rubbed my temples.

“I don’t believe you. So we will have to wait for the DNA results,” I said as I heard a click on the other end of the phone.

Lissa wasn’t the sort of girl to sleep around, which was annoying.

But I knew I had slept with herweeksbefore, once.

Surely I couldn’t be the dad?

“Argh, forfuck’s sake!” I roared, launching the phone onto my bed.

I turned to see my dad standing in the doorway, his face pale.

“Theodore?” Dad whispered. “Who is Lissa? Is she pregnant?”

Great. Just what I need.

“She’s a girl I slept with, who is now pregnant. It’snotmine.”

I sank to the bed as he strode over to sit beside me.

“How many times have I told you? Always put a hat on.”

I grimaced at his description of condoms, then sighed.

“I did.”

We were silent until he sighed heavily. I didn’t look at him as he spoke again.

“Is she pregnant?”

I nodded glumly, explaining how I had gone with her to the scan.

I told Dad everything—from the party, to how far she was, and he looked at me sadly.

“Youcouldbe the father, Theo. She’s right; the scans aren’t always accurate. Do the right thing.”

I nodded, feeling shame creep over me.

“What would you do if it was Hannah?” Dad asked as I whipped my head to him.

“That’s different.”

Dad smiled as he looked at me.

“If this is your child, you need to support it. Regardless of the mother, thechildremains your priority. By all means, do the DNA test, butdon’tbe a fool. Go to the scans; get a job. Save some money. Because if the baby is yours, you don’t want it to go without.”

He’s right.

He squeezed my shoulder as he sighed.

“I loved your mother, and when she was pregnant with you, I couldn’t have been happier. Butyoumade me happy, Theodore. When times were hard,youmade me smile. I’m sad, though. It means you won’t get to live with your child if itisyours.”