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He takes a tentative step up, keeping an eye on Snipe to hand me the tea. “Here. I’ll just let you get back to it or…whatever.” Hesuddenly appears drained and defeated, and he looked troubled to begin with. He turns and takes the first step down.
I take a breath and open the door wide, standing to the side.Here goes nothing. I really hope I don’t regret this.
“Sean.”
He turns to look over his shoulder, and it takes him a second to register the open door. “I thought–”
I cut him off. “Just…come inside.”
I take a step back, gesturing for him to come in. Snipe hesitantly enters first, sticking close. Before stepping inside, Sean looks around again at the trees bordering my property and back toward the road. He stands just inside the door, surveying the open space that holds my kitchen, living room, and piano. He shoves his hands into his hoodie, facing me.
“I’m sorry. I called Miranda’s assistant and got your address. I didn’t mean to intrude or…overstep boundaries.” He’s stiff and uncomfortable–not the confident, easy-going guy I’ve seen recently. The man standing before me is not the guy I play Words with, and I wonder what’s going on.
“Huh. Are you entitled to everyone’s address or just mine?” I mean it as a joke, but he doesn’t bite. His face is stoic, and his body is rigid.
“Are you ok?” I take a sip of the tea he brought me. It’s peppermint with honey, just how I like it, and I’m surprised he remembered.
He shrugs his broad shoulders, not making eye contact, and that tells me whatever it is, he doesn’t want to talk about it. I can respect that, but still, I’m wondering why he showed up at my house when we could have tried to work through Miranda’s email over the phone.
“I thought maybe we could just knock out the last details quickly and get on with it, but if you have other things going on, then–”
I hold up my hand, stopping him. “It’s fine, and you’re…here, but I should probably warn you–”
I’m cut off by the coo coming through the baby monitor.Great.
Sean frowns. “What’s that?”
Snipe hops up from where he was lying at my feet and trots down the short hallway to wait at Ax’s door. More noises come through the monitor, and I move to snatch it off the counter, muting it.
“Andie, what was that?” He looks around like he’s expecting something to pop out at him. “Andie…” The monitor pops on again with Ax’s fussy grunts, and Sean just stares at me, his face morphing from confusion to…alarm. “What is that?” His agitation is growing, and I don’t understand.
For some reason, I feel like I’m being interrogated in my own home, and the look of absolute horror on his face has me shooting from one to a hundred.
I cross my arms over my chest. “My son,” I answer, trying to keep my temper in check.
“You have a son?” I’m not sure if that’s a statement or a question, so I let it hang. “Andie, you have a son.” I think he’s saying it more to himself than to me, but my annoyance allowance has tipped over my maximum limit.
“Uh. I birthed him. I’m very well aware. Thank you.”
“Shit, Andie.” He rakes a hand over his head, looking like he might puke.
What in the hell is his problem?“Look, I don’t know what your deal is, but I need to go get him.”
He shoves his hands back into his front pocket. “Why didn’t you tell me?” His voice is so soft, but it sends me to the moon.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize having fictitious sexual relations with you required me to divulge all of my deepest and most precious personal details.” I stare at him and the look ofdisbelief on his face.What is his freaking problem?Then, I think I understand.
“Wait. Waaaiiiitttt. Are you afraid people will think he’s yours?” I spit it out like someone had just poured gasoline into my mouth.
“What?! No! Andie, no. Shit!” He moves to sit on the couch, putting his head in his hands.
“Go ahead and make yourself comfortable.” I move toward the hallway and bedroom where Axel is crying. I don’t know what Sean’s problem is, but I’m about to kick his muscled ass out of my house.
I push the bedroom door open and lean over the crib's railing. “Hey, monster.”
I pick Ax up and pull him to my chest, rocking back and forth. I need a minute to collect myself, or I might kill the big, bewildered football star sitting on my couch. I sing to him softly as I change his diaper, taking my time.
I hope this wasn’t a mistake, letting Sean in. This is my life, and I don’t need the drama that seems to follow him anywhere near here.
