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Um…I blinked at him. “What?”
“If we get married then we can offer a stable environment. A house. Two incomes. A commitment.”
I sat back, pulling my hand away from him, stunned. “Wow. That is just…wow.” That was literally the world’s most unromantic proposal. He was seeing me as a means to an end. A way to cement his custody fight for Camp.
“That way we don’t have to worry about the baby either.”
What did that even mean? Was he afraid I was going to battle him for custody of the baby? That was insane. We were dating. “Christian. I don’t think you have thought about this.”
“All I’ve been doing is thinking. This is the best solution.”
That would be my jaw dropping onto the table. “I don’t want to be a solution,” I hissed. “And I resent the hell out of the fact that you are bringing this up here, while I’m on break at work. This is not the place to talk about this. This is marriage!” I felt like I couldn’t breathe. “I actually need you to get away from me, please.”
“What? Why?” He looked baffled. “I thought you wanted to be married.”
He had lost his mind. “So let me trade one guy who doesn’t really want me for another one? Sure. That’s exactly what I want. Not.”
Christian frowned. “That’s not what I mean.”
Since he clearly wasn’t going to leave the table, I stood up. “I’m going home because I need to cry,” I said with as much dignity as I could muster. “And if I lose this job because of you I’m going to be really pissed.”
I fast-walked over to the bar, where I had stashed my purse, and blinked repeatedly so my tears wouldn’t fall. Brandy took one look at me and said, “Oh shit. You okay?”
“No. I have an upset stomach,” I said. “And I need to go home. Can you please tell the manager?”
She looked behind me to Christian, who I could sense was approaching us. “Baby mama drama at work is not cool, Jordan.”
I gasped. She could just mind her own business. “Well then, how about I quit, Brandy? I don’t need to be talked over like I’m not standing here.” I turned and glared at Christian. “And I don’t need to be harassed while I’m working either.”
“I asked you to marry me, how is that harassment?”
He actually looked confused and a little frustrated, as if I was being the unreasonable one.
“You did what?” Brandy exclaimed, sounding scandalized and gleeful. “Shut your face.”
“Do you mind?” I asked Brandy, outraged. “This is private.”
I couldn’t believe this was happening. I actually thought I might throw up. Or burst into tears. Or both. I rushed out the front door of the restaurant, and as luck would have it, it was raining and I had parked in the back lot. I didn’t want Christian to corner me by the Dumpster and force me to talk to his stupid face. The plan was to run out front, around the side of the building, and jump into my car.
Except I couldn’t get my purse unzipped. I was standing in the pouring rain on the sidewalk out front with trembling fingers trying to get the stupid thing open so I could dig out my keys. A glance back showed Christian was barreling out the door.
“Bella!”
I started running. I didn’t want him to see me cry. And I didn’t want to hear his stupid explanation of how this was practical.
Unfortunately, he had longer legs than me. He caught me by the arm and spun me around. “Stop!” I yelled. “Let me go.”
“What’s wrong?” he asked, looking genuinely bewildered. “I’m confused here, Bella. I need you to talk to me.”
I blinked, rain pelting me in the face and blurring my vision. “Are you kidding me? You went dark for two days! You gave me one-word texts. Now you’re demanding I talk? Oh, screw you.”
“I was thinking. Do you need to think about what I said? That’s fine.”
“I don’t need to think about it.” Damn it, I was crying. “I am not a martyr. As much as I want to guarantee that you keep custody of Camp, I can’t marry you solely for that reason. I may be a dumb princess, waiting for the fairy tale that never happens, but I can’t be so practical that I am willing to commit myself and my life to a man who is only with me for the sake of his children.” My purse slipped out of my damp hands and I swore, bending down to pick it up.
Christian squatted down too, and while I grappled with the bag, he wiped the rain off my face. “Is that what you’re worried about? Bel, I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to sound so businesslike. I’m just so scared to lose Camp I blurted that out. You deserve better.”
“Damn straight I do,” I said, swallowing back a sob. I lost my balance and fell onto my butt on the wet sidewalk. “Shit.”
