Page 27 of Can't Win 'Em All
“You believe if we spend time together, go to ultrasound appointments together, and paint the baby’s room together that we’re going to fall in love. This isn’t a romcom.”
She snorted. “I didn’t say any of that was going to happen.”
I didn’t believe her.
“It could happen, though,” she said. “It doesn’thaveto happen. It just could.”
“And what if Ruby and I aren’t destined for one another like you and Zach? What if we fight and break up or turn into Ryder and Cora? What then?”
“You could never be Ryder Stone.” She delivered the simple statement with vehemence. “Why would you even think that?”
“I don’t think that. I just … I want to take time and make the right decision. Ruby told me to think, so that’s what I’m going to do. I don’t want to make a knee jerk reaction and then regret it for the rest of my life.”
“Do you really think you would regret being a father?”
“No, but … I want to be sure.”
“Well, then you should be sure.” There was a chilliness in the way Livvie carried herself as she stood. “If you think there’s a possibility that you’re not going to love this kid, then you should totally take yourself out of the equation.” It was disappointment clouding her features now, and I hated that. I’d always been her hero growing up.
“I’m not saying I’m going to walk away,” I gritted out. “I just?—”
“Need to think,” she finished for me. “You should think.” She stomped toward the door, pausing before opening it. “I’m not going to say anything to anybody. Ruby didn’t want to tell me. I guessed. I saw you guys leaving together the night of the party and I had an inkling.”
“I didn’t realize.” I was sheepish. “We were too drunk to make smart decisions that night.”
“Yes, well, I married my husband with a Batman officiant to get dental work. It’s not about the decision. It’s what you do after the decision that counts.”
“I just need a little time, Livvie.”
“Fine. Take your time.” She grabbed the handle and opened it.
“Please don’t hate me,” I pleaded. “I can’t handle it if you hate me.”
“I would never be able to hate you, Rex.” She was solemn. “I just … there are things happening here I never thought you were capable of. It’s thrown me.”
“Everything about this day has thrown me.”
“I get that.” She managed a smile, but it was wan. “At least I got to see Ruby puke all over Ryder. That was kind of fun.”
I chuckled. “I’m actually sorry I missed it.”
“Yes, well, you might be missing a lot of things.” She was prim and proper as she said her goodbyes. “I’ll keep my mouth shut because it’s what Ruby wants. Just … make sure you do what she asks and really think things out, because if you don’t want to be involved, you shouldn’t be involved.”
“I’m going to figure it out, Livvie. You have my word.”
“Okay. I guess that will have to be enough for tonight.”
With that, she was gone, leaving me alone with my never-ending parade of thoughts. What the hell was I going to do here? I’d never been more frightened in my life.
8
EIGHT
Iwas a world class shopper. Really, nobody did it better than me. Not even my sisters. It was one of the few things I was not only allowed but encouraged to do under my father’s rule. He wanted us to appear girly and frivolous for potential husbands. No deep thoughts to be found in our pretty heads. Thankfully, I enjoyed shopping. Despite Dad’s machinations, however, things never worked out how he envisioned them.
“So … do you want a theme?” Pearl looked around the high-end baby boutique and took in all the offerings. “There are a lot of themes here.”
My sisters had offered to take me shopping so I had an idea of what I wanted to do with the nursery. We weren’t necessarily buying anything today. We were just looking for ideas.
