Chapter 2

chapter

two

Jared

I think I might be hyperventilating.

I force myself to remain still though. If I move, I might strangle that skinny fucker who's running that wand thing over Audrey's stomach.

Right now Audrey is freaking out a little. And who the fuck could blame her? Our lives are about to change forever.

"Were you going to tell me?" I ask.

I shake my head. "It's not?—"

"Don't you fucking say it's not mine, Audrey."

"Sir, if you upset her, we're going to have to escort you out," the nurse says.

I turn to the nurse. "That's my baby. I'm not going anywhere." I cross my arms over my chest and stare at the older woman.

Audrey's hand brushes my arm and just like that, the beast inside me calms, the rage and frustration dissipate.

"Maybe we could have a few moments alone," Audrey suggests.

The nurse nods. "Of course. Press the call button if you need anything." She gives me one more glance before ushering Quinton out of the room. The last thing she does is set a printout of the ultrasound on the table next to Audrey.

My heart pounds and the bridge of my nose stings. Like I'm going to—what?—cry? I don't fucking think so. I haven't cried in years. And I'm sure not sad.

Not even a little bit.

"I don't understand," Audrey says to no one in particular. "How did this even happen?"

"I think we both know how this happened, Kn?del . We were there."

Her hazel eyes flick to mine and I swear I see her pupils expand.

Then all I can think of is that night. The noises she made. The way she took me—all of me—begging for more.

Fuck .

I cannot get a fucking boner in the middle of the emergency room right after we found out we're having a baby.

Baby .

Holy shit. I'm going to be a father.

Panic rises like bile in my throat, threatening to choke me. I don't know the first thing about being a father. Never had one worth a damn. Mine was gone by the time I was twelve, before that all he did was drink and knock me around a bit.

"I didn't know, Jared, I swear. I would never keep something like that from you. From anyone."

"There is no one else," I growl.

"That's not what I meant, and you can stop being such a grumpy ass. You're not the one that's going to swell up to the size of a bloated prize pumpkin."

I fight the twitch at my lips. My Audrey. My Kn?del. Unlike a lot of people, she doesn't capitulate to my scowls and growls. She's not afraid of me, not bothered by any of my moods. She's steadfast, and I wish I knew the words to say to her right now.

Which is nothing new. I'm not good with words. Or feelings, for that matter. So I never know how to tell her the things I want to. Why would this moment be any different?

"Sorry," I say.

She glances up at me and just nods. Her hand falls to her exposed belly, then she lifts it again, glaring at her hand. "I'm all sticky from that jelly stuff."

I move to the sink and dampen some of the hospital grade paper-towels, then make my way back to her side. Gently, I wipe her soft, pale skin as clean as I can.

God, I want to lay my head right there on that rise at the bottom of her stomach. I want to lay there and wrap my arms around her body and hold her like that forever.

But I don't have that right.

Not yet.

Audrey deserves a man who can pamper her and lavish her with romance. I'm not that man. But maybe I can learn.

Because that's my baby growing in my woman's belly and I'll be damned if I let another man sweep in and lure her away with poetry and flowers.