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“Meet me in Central Park in downtown Celebration at five o’clock.”
He released a slow, controlled breath, both relieved and surprised that she’d agreed to see him. But she had, and that was the first step. They’d take it from there.
“I’ll see you then.”
“Nick,” she said. “I don’t expect you to marry me. So, don’t worry.”
What was he supposed to say to that? It was one of those damned if you do, damned if you don’t situations, and he wasn’t going there. This impassive front she was projecting was probably just a defense to gain control over a situation that felt way out of control. He felt out of control, too.
Becca had just told him he was off the hook. She’d just handed him a free pass. If he knew what was good for him, he’d take it and run. But he couldn’t. And that made him feel so out of control it was as if his world was spinning, and all he could do was hang on or risk being flung off into parts unknown.
Actually, maybe that had already happened. Maybe this weird alternate universe was where he’d landed.
“I’ll see you at five.”
* * *
He arrived at the park a little early. He left his motorcycle in a parking space along the street and sat on a bench, looking at the fall decorations adorning the gazebo. Kids played in the park, running and laughing and chasing each other, as he sat there trying to gather his thoughts before Becca arrived.
Her words I don’t expect you to marry me rattled in his brain. If Becca Flannigan was one thing, it was sincere. If she said it, she meant it. Nick knew he should’ve been relieved, but he wasn’t. He wasn’t sure what exactly he was feeling—
Until he saw her walking across the grass toward him in her red coat and boots. Something pinged in his gut. Awareness flooded his senses, and his body tightened in response.
An image of the night they were together played through his mind. A guy like him would be wise to ignore feelings like this. He shouldn’t lead her on and make her think he was promising things he couldn’t deliver. Becca and the baby deserved better than anything he had to offer. He had a history of tearing things apart, of ruining anything good that had ever come into his life.
She deserved to be married to the father of her child, if she wanted to be. Deserved to have a traditional family, a traditional life. The house with the white picket fence with dogs and cats in the yard, if that’s what she wanted.
He didn’t know for sure, because he didn’t know her at all. Even if every cell in his body tried to convince him otherwise. As he stood to greet her, he shook off the unbidden memory of their night together—holding her, kissing her, making love to her. He had to man up and knock it off.
She offered a shy smile as she approached.
He had to fight the urge to hug her. He mentally scoffed. What the hell was wrong with him? He wasn’t a hugger. He had to do something to lighten the mood and preempt the awkwardness.
“Go ahead and say it.”
She squinted at him as she fidgeted with the scarf that hung around her neck. “Say what?”
“You can say I told you so. Twice if you want.”
She nodded solemnly. “I thought about it, actually.”
She shrugged and looked away.
Maybe he shouldn’t have tried to make a joke out of it. He was only trying to lighten the mood. A group of six preschool-aged kids ran ahead of their mothers, landing and tumbling in the grassy area directly in front of Nick and Becca.
Their mothers stopped at another bench about ten yards away and waved to Becca. She waved back. The three huddled for a moment, talking, then in unison they looked back at Nick and Becca. Then huddled up again.
“Friends of yours?” Nick asked.
“Acquaintances,” she said. “I don’t usually hang with the playgroup set. I guess that will change soon.”
One of the kids, a little girl with white-blond curls, let loose an earsplitting shriek, and two of her friends followed suit before they started chasing each other and shrieking even louder as they ran.
“Oh. Uh. Do you feel like walking?” he asked.
“Sure.” Becca cast another glance at the three women and waved goodbye.
When they were safely out of earshot, Becca said, “This is so uncomfortable. So, I’m just going to say it and get it out into the open. I’m not going to force you to do anything you don’t want to do, Nick. Neither of us planned this. And I know I’ve had more time than you to sit with this and come to terms with it, but I have to say, I’m happy now. I can’t say I always was, but that night I was in the emergency room, I was so afraid I might lose the baby that it all suddenly became crystal clear. I want this child. I hope you’ll be part of its life. I firmly believe a child, whether it’s a boy or a girl, needs a father figure.”
