“Well,” he says wryly. “That explains the tears.”
“It has been very overwhelming.”
He’s silent, staring at the table between us. He releases a breath as he runs his hand through his hair, messing up the combed strands. A wave falls near his face and I almost want to brush it away.
“I think I need some more wine for this conversation.” He reaches for the bottle and tops up his glass. “You don’t have a beer, do you?”
I jump up. “Yeah, of course.”
I grab a can of IPA from the fridge. “It’s not like I’ll be drinking this for the next nine months, so you can have as many as you like.”
He takes it from me, his fingers brushing mine. “So, you’re keeping it then?”
I sit down in my seat, unable to stop my hand brushing my stomach protectively. It’s never been flat to begin with but I know it’s way too early to show.
I’ve been asking myself the question for days, but it’s only when he asks me with that earnest look in his eyes that I know my answer.
I nod slowly. “Yeah, I think I want to keep it. I thought about having an abortion but I wasn’t going to do that without speaking to you about it first. But I just…” I shrug, “I don’t think I want to.”
He’s staring at me, his usually tan skin slightly pale behind his dark beard.
“I’m sorry to put you in this position, Jackson. I honestly didn’t plan for this at all?—”
“Don’t say sorry,” he says, taking a gulp of beer. “This is half on me too.”
I bite my lip, unsure what to say. I thought for sure he would be mad at me.
He nods again, his eyes softening as they land on me. “Okay.”
“Okay?” I ask.
“Okay, let’s do it.”
“Do what?”
“Have a baby.”
“Oh, I mean I didn’t expec?—”
He raises his hand, “It’s too late to unbutter the bread, pretty girl, all we can do now is eat our sandwich.”
An incredulous laugh escapes me. “You’re the one who wanted me to stop talking about sperm and you talk aboutbuttering bread?”
He sends me a cheeky grin, “My butter, my sperm.”
I roll my eyes but can’t help the giggle that bubbles in my chest.
8
JACKSON
That was nothow I expected my first date with Rosie Taylor to go. I thought I’d go over, bring her some wine, eat some good food and preferably end the evening with her legs wrapped around my head.
Instead, she dropped a veritable bomb.
Pregnant.
I’ve never considered having children, never considered settling down full stop. I’m happy being the fun uncle to my sisters’ kids, meeting beautiful women and enjoying their company, before heading back to my condo and getting into my own bed. I have a pretty perfect life.
