Page 39 of Hooking
We walk into the Skipjacks holiday mixer an hour later. My hands instinctively pull down the hem of my dress. I chose to wear a beige body con dress that lands about mid-thigh, but with my now prominent bump, it continues to ride up with every step I take. I hand off my oversized coat and purse to the concierge and make my way into the party.
A few staffers stop me on my way to the bar. Each one is excited as they discover I’m pregnant and didn’t just gain a million pounds overnight. Once at the bar, I order a ginger whiskey mocktail, which let’s face it is just ginger ale. I slowly sip my drink as my eyes roam the party, looking for one person in particular.
When I don’t find him, I’m half-tempted to throw in the towel and go home. Sulk in my bed for a few more days before returning to the office, but that’s when I see him standing across the room in a pair of dark-wash jeans and navy-blue button up. His sleeves are rolled to showcase his lick-worthy forearms that are covered in tattoos.
Sucking down the last of many drink, I adjust the hem of my dress and walk toward him. It’s time. It’s now or never. I let out a deep breath as I slowly approach a very heated discussion about football playoffs. Sparrows insisting that Baltimore is going to win the Super Bowl, while Channing fully believes Kansas City has a chance once again. His back is to me as I approach slowly, waiting for his conversation to end, but the not-so-subtle jester for Sparrows lets me know I’ve been fully compromised and the time I thought I had to compose myself is now over.
Channing turns around, one hand in his pocket, while the other clutches a whiskey on the rocks. His sandy-blond hair has grown out to almost shoulder length, and he has a little more scruff on his face then usual, yet he still looks sexy.
“H-hey,” I start to say as I move in for an awkward hug.
“Hey,” he says, as he wraps his arm around my waist, instantly pulling back though at the intrusion of my protruding belly. His gaze goes to my round stomach, his hands retreating quickly as if he’s been burnt.
“Uh, um… do you think we can talk for a minute?” I say, looking down to where my hands are instinctively holding my belly protectively.
He averts his gaze as he shoots back the last of his whiskey. “Sure.”
We walk toward the terrace where most of the crowd seems to be avoiding. I can’t say I blame them; it’s colder than a witch’s titty out here tonight. I rub my arms, trying to fight off some of the cold as Channing leans against the railing. The tension between us is thick.
I go to say something just as Channing says, “I guess congratulations are in order. I guess Misty was right about one thing. You and Vince obviously worked it out.”
“I’m sorry, what?” I say, dumbfounded. “Channing… no. Vince and I aren’t back together and never will be. I obviously have been avoiding you since the whole Natasha debacle, but… um.” I freeze with the words on the tip of my tongue.
Just say it.
“I’m pregnant, Channing,” I say, looking into his blue eyes, filled with so many questions. “And it’s yours.”
Oh, God. I feel like I’m going to puke.
Channing doesn’t say anything. Doesn’t even move as he stares at me, his lips pressed into a tight line as he just stares at me.
“Please say something,” I say, wrapping my arms tightly around myself. It’s cold out here, but the cold shoulder I’m receiving from Channing right now is even colder.
He clears his throat for a moment before his eyes connect with me. His gaze is cold as he looks at me, almost as if he’s seeing right through me. This is what I was afraid of. The fear that all of this will be for nothing. He doesn’t want me; he doesn’t want this baby. I see that as I wait with bated breath for him to say something. Anything. “Excuse me,” he says, turning his back to me and walking back into the party.
Biggest fear confirmed.
Fighting back tears, I walk into the party, avoiding anyone who tries to talk to me. I shouldn’t have come. I shouldn’t have told him about the baby. I should have just stayed with my parents in Ketchum, had them help me raise the little life inside me.
“Cass.” I hear Hayley call out to me as I rush out the door, yet I don’t stop. “Cassidy. Wait, where are you going?”
Sobs wreck my body as I reach the taxi stand outside the hotel. “Away from here. He doesn’t want me. He doesn’t want this baby,” I say, turning to look at her, tears streaking down my cheeks. “You should have seen his face when I told him.”
She wraps me in her arms as a taxi pulls up to the curb. Helping me into the backseat, she climbs in beside me, rambling off my address as the driver pulls away from the curb. I lay my head down on Hayley’s lap as I listen to her talk to Brooks on the phone, telling him what happened.
I walk into my house and immediately turn off my phone before plopping down on the couch. I don’t want to be bothered by anyone. Going tonight was a mistake. Telling Channing was a mistake. Heck, right about now, coming back to Seattle was a mistake. Hayley, being the best person I know, brings me a cup of tea before helping me out of my heels.
“Brooks is handling Channing,” she says, taking a seat next to me. “So, what exactly did Channing say?”
“Before or after he accused me of being back with Vince.”
“What?”
“He saw my bump and thought I was back with Vince like that stupid woman from the puck bunny podcast said. Then, when I told him the baby was his, he just looked at me. Stared right through me as if I weren’t there. Then he just excused himself and left.”
“I’m going to murder him if Brooks hasn’t already,” Hayley says, tightening her hold around me. “So, now what?”
I guess I should give him a few days to process everything. I mean, he did just find out he was being lied to, so I can see how this might fuck with his head. But I have to be realistic here. I have to prepare myself that he might never come to terms, and I could very well be doing this all on my own.
