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He didn’t look at me.
“I think you would leave.”
“I wouldn’t leave.” He looked at me again. “But yeah, I get your point.”
I stared at him, feeling like a terrible person for saying all of that, but I didn’t want to take it back either. “I love kids. I think they’re adorable. I love hanging out with your nephews. I want kids of my own. It’s just…hard.”
He turned his head and stared at the changing table for a while. “I’m in love with you, I’m happy with you, and I want this relationship to continue. But I can’t apologize for having Ryan or wish things had been different. I love him, and I haven’t even met him, and yeah, I love him more than I’ll ever love anyone. I know this is shitty because it’s not the two of us having a family together and living happily ever after…but I’ll never regret having him.”
“You misunderstand me, Dex. That’s not what I’m implying.”
“I know,” he said quickly. “I know this is especially hard because of the way I felt about Catherine in the past, and the very reason I didn’t want to be with you was because of my feelings for her, but that’s over. We can move forward, the three of us, and someday, we can have more kids and be a blended family. I know it’s rough right now, but it’ll get better. Derek has a different mom, but my mom became his mom. She loved him liked she had been pregnant with him for nine months. That maternal love is there. It’s amazing what women can do. And I know you’ll feel that way about Ryan. Think about it—Ryan gets two moms instead of one. That’s pretty awesome.”
I gave a slight nod.
Dex moved into me and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into his chest, his chin resting on my head. His large hand spanned across my entire back, and his smell enveloped me, masked me in a comfortable blanket of his scent, affection, and love. “We’ll get through this, alright?”
I squeezed him back. “Okay.”
“I love you.”
I closed my eyes and melted into him, like chocolate chips on a hot pan. “I love you too.”
Dex insisted I tag along, because I was family now. We went to his parents’ condo, and they sat together at the dining table, eating dinner and enjoying a glass of wine. Deacon’s laptop was beside him, but it was closed, like he gave his wife all his attention during dinnertime.
Deacon smiled when he saw us approach. “You guys hungry? There’re leftovers.”
“I’m good.” Dex turned to me. “Baby?” He pulled out my chair for me.
“No, I’m okay.” I’d had no appetite at all since Dex told me the news.
Cleo was across from me, and she gave me that motherly smile. “How are you, honey?”
“Good,” I answered. “Just busy…you know.” The love of my life had a kid with his ex-wife who would do anything to get him back. No big deal.
Deacon kept eating and exchanged a few words with Dex about work, a language only they understood because they were doctors.
Dex released a loud sigh as he rubbed the back of his neck. “So, I’ve got some news. It’s pretty insane, so…you’re in for a wild ride.”
Both of them immediately looked at me, like we might be engaged or something.
Dex continued to rub the back of his neck. “You kinda have another grandkid.”
“Oh my god.” Cleo cupped her mouth and looked at me. “You’re pregnant?”
Deacon gave a clap of his hand. “That’s great news.”
I was fucking mortified, and I was pissed at Dex for wording it that way. It hurt even more that his parents were so supportive and happy, completely genuine, like they had accepted me into their lives without reservation…and I wasn’t having Dex’s kid.
“Whoa, whoa.” Dex raised both of his hands to calm them. “Sorry, that’s not what I meant.”
I looked down at the table so I wouldn’t cry. I knew I shouldn’t have come. This wasn’t about me. This wasn’t my kid.
Both of his parents looked at him, bewildered.
“I said you have a grandkid, as in, he’s already born. Sicily is not—” He shook his head. “I did not mean for you to make that assumption. Sorry, I guess I should have said that better.”
Deacon’s dark eyes burned into his face, angry. “You’re a heart surgeon, Dex. You’re not an idiot.”
Dex sighed. “Anyway…Catherine and I have a child together.”
His mother still wore the same look of confusion. She hadn’t even blinked in over a minute. “I’m sorry…what?”
Deacon was silent, still looking pissed.
“Yeah…” Dex cleared his throat. “We were trying shortly before we got divorced. I guess she got pregnant without knowing it, we went our separate ways, she realized she was pregnant, gave birth without telling me…and now he’s eight months old. I have a picture.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket.
