I glanced down the end of the hall, through the window. Snow was indeed falling fast, piling up along the curbs and lining the sidewalks. It wasn’t the big, fat, fluffy flakes either; it was the kind that fell fast and heavy. The kind that could mean downed trees and power outages. I scrubbed a hand over my face, debating my options. I was running out of time, but this needed to be handled.
I glanced at my watch. It was nearly five, but if we rushed, we could make it. “Come on. Let’s go.”
Her brow furrowed. “Go where?”
“To put an end to this.”
She gasped. “Hunter, I’m having this baby. You don’t have to be in his life. You don’t have to support him in any way. But I’m not having an abortion.”
“What?” I jerked my head back. “No. I wasn’t suggesting…that.” I pinched the bridge of my nose, wishing I’d never opened the door. “I was suggesting we have a paternity test done.”
Her bottom lip was sticking out, her eyes filling with tears. “You don’t believe me?”
“Don’t take it personally,” I said. “I rarely take anything at face value.” It was part of the reason I was so successful in business.
“I almost hope you’re not the father,” she spat. “Because I’d hate to have him grow up to be an asshole like you.”
“I hope he’s not like me either,” I ground out, meaning every word. “Now, let’s get going.”
“I, um—” Her eyes darted toward the elevators. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and glanced at the time. “I’m sure most of them are closed by now. Even if they don’t close early on New Year’s Eve, it’s almost five.”
“Well, if we stop wasting time…” I all but tugged her toward the elevator.
“I need to discuss it with my doctor. I need to understand the risks to me and the baby.”
Oh.I felt like a giant asshole. Here I was thinking just about me, but if the baby was mine… I wouldn’t let myself go there. I couldn’t let myself contemplate that outcome.
“Right.” I swallowed. “Of course.”
She placed a hand on my arm. “You understand, right? I have to do what’s best for the baby.”
I softened, feeling awful for treating her like I had. I knew she was right, butdammit… I wanted answers. I wanted to dismiss the idea that I was her baby’s father. And I wanted to move on with my life without this enormous thing hanging over my head.
I tugged at my scarf. “I’m sorry, truly. I’m just— I was totally unprepared for this.”
She barked out a laugh. “You think I was?” She gestured to her stomach.
“No. But, well, you’ve had months to get used to the idea. And I’m only just finding out.” I scrubbed a hand over my face, wishing this nightmare would end. “When’s your next doctor’s appointment?”
“Two weeks.”
“Any way you can move it up?”
She shook her head. “He’s on vacation until the tenth.”
“What about one of the other doctors in the practice?” I suggested.
“Maybe, but it’s nearly impossible to get an appointment as it is. Besides, this is something I’d really like to get my doctor’s opinion on.”
I tried not to let my irritation show. Her request wasn’t unreasonable, but…it felt like she was stalling. Maybe that was just because I was impatient to have answers.
“Fine. Let’s exchange numbers, and you call me as soon as you’ve talked to him. I don’t want to put this off.”
“Of course,” she said.
I wanted this conversation to be over. I wanted to go back to thirty minutes ago and avoid it altogether. I had plans. Mia and this baby—whoever’s he was—weren’t part of them.
“Right.” I rocked on my heels, sensing there was nothing more to be done for now. We were at an impasse, at least until we had a paternity test done. “Well, I guess that’s it for now.”
“Happy New Year’s, Hunter,” she said.
“Happy New Year,” I echoed, but the sentiment was hollow.
I was in New York, alone. On New Year’s Eve. Instead of watching the ball drop with Lauren, a one-night stand had just dropped the bombshell that she might be pregnant with my child. There was only one thing to do—get shitfaced.
