AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It's all because there is one huge what if looming.
What if there was someone else and baby girl isn't mine? Audra did freak out a little at her doctor's appointment when I was trying to get her to talk about things, so maybe I should be a little doubtful. I can't believe I'm freaking out about this. But I am because what if she's not mine? There will be no more quiet, secretive talks to a baby, my daughter. That one thought makes my stomach roll with anxiety and nerves more than anything else. She has to be mine.
“You okay?” Grant asks as he walks into the living room and sits on the couch.
I nod my head in a lie. Once Audra calls and confirms that she's mine, then I'll be okay. Until then, I'm fucked. Grant watches me pace, probably debating saying something more knowing him. Winston walks in and repeats Grant's question, sitting next to him.
“I don't need a fucking audience,” I mutter as Bo enters the room, taking a seat on the couch as well.
“Guessing you don't know yet?” he questions with curious glances from the other two.
“Does it look like I know?” I glare. Just then, my phone rings and I answer it before the first ring can even finish. “Hello?”
“I told you so,” Audra's voice smugly says.
With a deep sigh of relief, I stop pacing and run a hand over my face. “Thank you,” I whisper in gratitude. She's still my baby girl.
“Did you think she wasn't yours? That I was lying?” There's a tinge of annoyance in her voice.
“No, but I was worried anyway. Just in case.” I glance at my peanut gallery. Bo has a small smile, and the others look confused.
“Worried? That she wasn't yours?”
“Yeah, I want this.” The guys still don't know, so I'm having to censor my responses.
Audra is quiet before she asks, “Are you coming over, Neil?”
“I wasn't planning on it because I have a game, but I can afterwards before work.”
“No, that's okay. You should get some rest in first. I'll just see you tomorrow and you can bring dinner.” She sounds a little letdown to me. Or maybe that's wishful thinking.
“Are you sure?” For some reason, I want her to want me to come over. I want to go. Maybe I'm in withdrawal or something because I haven't seen her nor spoken to her since the doctor's appointment. I must have really upset her with my comments. Who knows. I've pulled the sonogram out of my wallet so many times that it's already slightly wrinkled. The urge to pull it out right now surprises me, but I don't. Not with the guys watching me.
“Are you sure you won't mind?” she asks. Before I can answer, she barely audible says, “I've kind of missed you, Neil.”
It takes everything I have to swallow. I don't know if I should comment on that or not, but decide to sort of say something. “I know what you mean, and I'm positive I won't mind. Are you coming tonight?” She did tell her mom that they would go to one game.
“Oh, no. Ma can't make it tonight, but we'll be there for your next one.” After a pause, she adds, “Thanks, Neil.”
“You're welcome.” I hang up and face the expectant peanut gallery. “What the fuck are y'all looking at?”
Grant laughs. “There's the Neil we know and love.”
Winston nods. “Yeah, we were worried about you for a second.”
Shaking my head, I don't bother answering them as I leave the room, texting my parents the results. Bo follows me into my bedroom though. It's tempting to throw his ass out because I don't want to hear whatever he is about to say.
“You like her, don't you?”
“I care for her because of, well, you know,” I finish, glancing to see that he left my door open.
“You sure that's all there is to it? You haven't really said much about this and with your past with-”
“I'm not going there,” I interrupt, sitting on the edge of my bed.
“Does she know?”
“Why would I tell her?” Seriously. Why in the hell would I tell Audra anything about that? The past is the past. I don't need to dig it up to inform her of something that has nothing to do with her.
