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Milo. Fuck. My phone rings with an incoming call, but I’m too chicken shit to pick up. I’ve come up with a few different speeches, but each one ends in fists. I’ll take my beating and hopefully earn his permission. Part of me still holds onto hope it won’t come to that. Maybe, just maybe, after all these years, he can me settling down with Robin and living a great life with her. She’s a strong, stubborn-ass woman who will never settle for less. I will be the man she deserves. My resolve is strong and sticks with me all the way through the Uber ride to her front door.
It looks like a party. Streamers and black silhouettes of beards drape across the large wraparound deck. Did Milo set this up?It is World Beard day, plus he’s the only one who knew I was docking today. Maybe, telling him about Robin and me will be easier than we thought.
Grabbing my bags, I take the stairs two at a time and reach the yellow door, still filled with all the hope in the world.
Walking inside, I scan the crowd, my excitement building to a point I’m nervous I’ll be too obvious in my feelings for Robin in front of everyone before we can be alone.
I can’t wait to kiss her.
Ignoring every other face, I lock on hers immediately. Those beautiful, dark eyes shine with…worry?
She doesn’t look happy to see me. Hope deflates and chokes my throat. My gaze moves lower to her large pregnant belly. She’s glowing. I can see it now. She’s even more radiant with her stomach round with a growing child.
My lungs threaten to collapse. What’s going on? How long was I gone? She’s moved on? But she said if she was seeing someone when I came back, we would have to talk. Otherwise, we were good.
As she approaches, I hold onto hope. At the same time, my mind reels at her belly. She’s moved on so quickly.
“Hey, Soren. Long time no see. I, um, I guess we should talk,” she says so softly I can barely hear her over the pounding in my ears. My vision blurs. I grind my molars, feeling shattered and unfairly betrayed. I know it’s not fair. She didn’t make me any promises, and I don’t want to say anything to hurt her, so I turn and leave, storming out, bags still in hand.
I walk for a few miles before the adrenaline finally wears off, leaving me feeling rundown and heartbroken. My mind is still a tornado.
Robin is pregnant.
Very pregnant. Like due any day pregnant.
I’ve been gone almost nine months.
The last time I saw her, I came like a fucking freight train…without a condom on.
I stop walking and fall to my knees.Wait. I could be the father of her baby.
But when she used that phrase, I thought she was trying to communicate that she was with someone new.
Or, and I don’t know how to process this yet, I’m the father of her baby, and she hasn’t been able to contact me. That’s definitely a reason to use that tone and want to talk privately.
And I left. Shit. Jumping up, I run back. Still unsure of what I’ll say, but on the off-chance Robin needs me and will forgive me for jumping to conclusions, I’ll risk it. Being honest is always good, right? This will get messy.
Sneaking around back, I take the emergency ladder up to the second floor and jimmy open the first window and slip in ungracefully. A woman screams.
“Wait!”
She’s hitting me.
“Soren.”
“Robin, listen, I’m sorry I left. I want to talk. Hell, Ineedto talk to you.” I’m on my knees after falling inside her window, but I don’t move to get up. If this is my doing and I’ve left her alone this whole time, I have a shitload to make up for.
Please, say it’s mine.
She stutters unsure of her words.
“There’s so much to say I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything right now, if you don’t want to, but can I ask you a question…or two?”
Her eyes shoot down, and my heart squeezes with worry. She’s not mine.
“Yes,” Robin says, finally looking at me. I see tears in her eyes.
