I knew it!
We do have a kid together. I think back to our last conversation about the issue. She didn’t deny it. She didn’t say no. In the media, that’s as good as saying yes.
And speaking of media, she probably knows about all those paternity cases I was named in. I bet she doesn’t want to be another girl like that.
I have to know.
I’m tempted to pull the car over again, but since we’re in the midst of downtown Boston traffic, I instead follow the GPS, sitting in silence.
It’s fine. I can be patient. I can wait.
I’m bringing her to her house. It’ll be apparent soon enough if there’s an eleven-year-old in residence.
Of course, I’ll have to get inside. I can’t just storm in, as much as I want to. I could ask her, but with the attitude swirling around her now, she’s likely to say no.
That’s fine. I’ll take a page from her book.
I pull into an on-street parking spot just past her place. “Do you mind if I use the bathroom? I’ve got a long drive home.”
She rolls her eyes but exits the car without saying anything. I take that as a good sign. I hop out and hurry after her to the door. Her building is a three-story brick with peeling black-painted trim. I look up and try to imagine a small child in this building.
I can’t.
Never have I wanted to be wrong so much in my life.
Hannah doesn’t speak to me as she walks up to the second floor. She opens the door and walks into a small living room. The whole place is light and bright and there’s color everywhere. Bright rugs and couches and artwork.
Not a toy in sight.
Do prepubescent kids play with toys? I glance at the TV. There’s no gaming system. I’m pretty sure preteens play with those.
“Bathroom’s down the hall.”
I walk down the narrow hallway, trying to look in the bedrooms on my way. One is pale grays and aquas, while the other looks like a unicorn threw up in it.
I never pictured Hannah as a rainbow-sequin-unicorn person.
Which is what I say to her as soon as I’m done in the bathroom.
“That’s because I’m not. That’s my roommate’s room.”
I look around. “Oh, is she here?”
Hannah smiles. “Sheis not. Carlos should be home soon though.”
Right.
I look down at my feet. There’s definitely no kid stuff around.
“Okay then, thanks for the ride. You should probably get back on the road. You don’t want to get off schedule with your training regime.”
I meet her gaze. “Hannah, I’m not going anywhere until you tell me how I ruined your career. Did you get pregnant or not?”
She laughs a bitter laugh, shaking her head in denial. “I only wish.”
The startled expression on my face has her immediately recanting that statement. “That’s not what I mean. I didn’t want a baby, and I certainly wasn’t trying to get pregnant from you. It would have been horribly inconvenient, especially considering how you never looked back.”
“Then what could I possibly have done to you? I mean other than never calling you after we slept together. I know that was a dick move, but there were extenuating circumstances. If there’s no kid, then why are you bitter?”
