Page 7 of Steamy Mountain Daddy

I sat straight up, trying to control my temper as she was pushing each and every button to make me mad, “it isn’t about control, Taylor! It’s about giving your trust to someone, and knowing that they are going to make the right decision for you. Laz would never do something that would hurt Charlotte, or take away what she would want.”

Taylor’s jaw clenched, and she looked away, “this isn’t Charlotte. I don’t know who she has become.”

“Taylor,” I murmured softly, hoping that I could just get through to her somehow, “people change, and he makes her happy. You should be happy for her. Okay?”

“Why should I be happy for her when she has lied to me for months now?” Taylor demanded, a fiery hurt in her eyes that showed me exactly how she was feeling, “how would you feel if the person you trusted the most turned around and lied to you? Kept things from you? Wouldn’t you be angry? Wouldn’t you feel betrayed? Because that is ALL I feel right now towards her! I think that Laz has changed her, and I don’t think it’s a good idea to be around him!”

I was getting a little fed up with her words, no matter how drawn I was to her, and I told her coldly, “then why not leave and let them live their life happily?”

I knew I shouldn’t have said it. The hurt that crossed her expression, I knew I had struck a chord, and she didn’t know how to handle it. I wanted to apologize, tell her that I didn’t mean it the way that it had come out, but it would’ve just been a lie. I made no move to stop her as she turned over to face away from me, looking like she was just going to go to sleep.

I knew I should apologize.

I know that I should.

But I did the best thing in that moment and closed my eyes, drifting asleep as I let the darkness take over me. I don’t remember falling asleep, nor did I wake up once she did. By the time I woke up, all I knew was one thing…

Taylor was gone, and so was her stuff.

I should have apologized that night, and now, it was too late.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Taylor

“Congratulations, Taylor, you are six weeks pregnant.” The doctor announced excitedly, showing me the little bean on the ultrasound screen.

My eyes widened in horror, and all I could do was stare at the screen, not believing what I was seeing. It has been six weeks since I left the cottage, and I haven’t spoken to anybody since then. Charlotte has been trying to message me, wanting to ‘talk’, but I couldn’t bring myself to speak to her right now. After everything Rhydian had told me that morning about if I couldn’t accept it, then I should just leave so they could be happy, I did exactly as he had said.

But it wasn’t because of me not approving of Charlotte’s relationship.

It was because of Rhydian.

I know I had told him no strings attached, but by how good the sex was, and how he held me once we were finished, it had tugged at my heart strings. It made me think that he really wasn’t a bad guy, but as he was explaining this… lifestyle that he and Laz liked, it just felt weird to me, and he didn’t even give me a chance to try to get used to it. He just basically said if I couldn’t accept it, then I should just leave.

He made it clear that night he only saw me as someone to have sex with, and didn’t feel what I did. I know I shouldn’t have gotten so mad at him considering I was the one who told him that this whole thing would have no strings attached. I just thought that he would be different and he wouldn’t be like that. I guess what did I expect considering I didn’t know him at all.

“Taylor, do you know who the father is?” The doctor asked politely, seeing the surprise on my face no doubt, “if you wish to, you could try to bring him to the next appointment. It would be good for your health.”

My jaw clenched, and I couldn’t meet her eyes as I wiped the gel off of me, “I don’t think that’ll be possible. He is not in the picture.”

A sympathetic look crossed her face, and she reached out and patted my hand, “I understand. This is not going to be an easy task, and if you don’t think you’ll be able to care for the baby, I can get you alternative options you can look into.”

I froze, knowing what she was implying, “I don’t-“

“Sir, you can’t go in there!”

There was a commotion going on outside, and the doctor and I both turned towards the door, confused about what was going on. The door suddenly flew open, slamming against the wall. I froze when I saw Rhydian standing there, a furious look on his face as his eyes met mine. The doctor shot to her feet, stepping between Rhydian and I.

“Sir, you can’t just barge in here!” The doctor snapped sternly, trying to usher him out the door, “you need to leave before I call security.”

“I’m the father.” Rhydian grumbled, shaking the doctor’s hands off of him, “I have every right to be here.”

The doctor froze, looking back at me with confusion, “Taylor, is he the father? I thought you said he wouldn’t know.”

“He shouldn’t know.” I muttered, rising to my feet as I cautiously looked at Rhydian, wondering how he had figured it out, “what are you doing here, Rhydian?”

“I’ve been standing outside the door.” Rhydian admitted, crossing the room to get to me, “we have been trying to talk to you for over a month now. Why didn’t you come and tell me that you suspected you were pregnant? I could have-“