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“Like, when I told you to just come in me like that, I swear I wasn’t trying to get pregnant,” she said. “I mean, okay, I sort of was, but… I was also in the moment, and it was all so hot, and you are… I mean…” She gestured to encompass his whole self. “I mean, you obviously have great genes, right, so?”
“You said you had infertility issues.”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I just said I’d done IVF.” She hugged herself. “It was my ex. He had… well, it’s a long story.”
Now, his heart decided to pound. Now, the back of his neck started to sweat. Now, his chest felt incredibly tight.
“I didn’t mean to trap you,” she said. “And you don’t… I’m totally fine to do it on my own. I wanted… that’s what I wanted. You can walk away and pretend you don’t know, and it’s fine. I’m a doctor, you know. I make great money, and I’m going to give our child a really great life, and you don’t need to worry, and—”
“No, no,” he said, cutting her off. “You don’t get to just lop me right out of this. I have rights. It’s half mine, that baby.”
“Yeah, I know,” she said, sighing heavily.
“Youwantme out of it, though,” he muttered. “You wanted a baby and you came to a party and hooked up with the first guy who showed interest in you—”
“No, I swear it wasn’t like that. I wanted you to use the condom, remember?”
His shoulders sagged. “Actually, yeah.”
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“No,I’msorry,” he said. “You shouldn’t have to do this alone.”
She raised her eyebrows.
“Which you want to do, of course, actually.” He bowed his head.
“Gunnar!” yelled the gruff voice of his father. “Get over here. They’re about to start the ceremony.”
He held up a finger. “One minute, Dad,” he called. He turned to her. “I have to go light this Yule log. Do not run away.”
She shifted on her feet, uncomfortable.
He looked her over, gaze getting snagged on her middle, which looked normal to him. Well, it hadn’t been that long, actually, only about a month and a half. Then he tore his gaze away and struggled over to his father.
“Who was that?” said his father.
Gunnar shook his head at his father. He could not find words.
“Fine, don’t talk to me,” said his father with a shrug. “What should I expect from my son except diatribes about the patriarchy, after all?” He snorted.
The ceremony started.
Algar, who was an old orc, his white hair curling around his ears, his beard white and curly, too, spoke at long length about Yule and the ceremony and how the community would weather the winter together.
Gunnar tried to come to terms with the fact that he was going to be a father.
And he wasn’t actually displeased.
After Yenna had left him two years ago because he didn’t have any time for her while he was building his construction business, he’d just stayed busy with work. He reasoned he didn’t have time for a woman. It wasn’t as if Yenna didn’t have a point. He worked a lot.
It was only that he liked his work, and he was a little bit of a perfectionist. He needed things done and done right, and that took time and effort.
But before Yenna had been angry and naggy and needy all the time, he’d definitely considered being with her. He’d thought about asking her to marry him and having children with her. Hewantedthat.
Now, Hiljd was pregnant with his child.
Maybe…
