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He frowns. “Wereyou dating her?”
“No.” I suck in a big breath.
My mom’s smile drops, and I see my dad’s hand squeeze my mom’s leg. I hate that they’re disappointed in me. It’s like a crushing feeling in my chest.
“Maybe we should talk privately,” my dad says, looking at my mom.
Her head rears back. “Oh no, you don’t. I’m not being pushed out into the next room like I can’t handle the news that my son knocked up one of his one-night stands. I don’t live in a cave, Stanley. I read the articles and hear the rumors.”
“Yes, your son can’t keep his dick out of every fresh piece of ass he sees.”
And there’s the look on my phone screen I dreaded—complete and total disappointment.
Chapter8
Adeline
One Month Later
“This wasn’t necessary,” I say to my mom as she flits around my parents’ modest three-bedroom house, making sure everything looks presentable. “I mean, Damon’s family is—”
“I know, Adeline. They’re wealthy, but I didn’t see them planning the shower.” She takes out the dips and places them on the table. “Not to mention, you’re both trying to keep this from the media, so it’s not like I could rent a place.”
I grab a carrot and dunk it in my mom’s special dip that I love. “I’m sorry. I’m just nervous.”
She sits in the chair next to mine. “That’s understandable. This is all very unconventional.”
“Please don’t say it.” I can’t bear for her to tell me again how it’s nice to get to know a person before having their baby.
“I’m not. But having a baby is stressful. Merging families is stressful. There are a lot of changes coming your way, and I think he has a lot of growing up to do.”
“Mom…”
“Give the boy a break, Marge. He’s a professional athlete. He didn’t get there being lazy,” my dad chimes in from his recliner.
“Okay. Okay.” She holds her hands up in front of her. “I’m going to leave my opinions to myself. He did impress me at the doctor’s appointment. But I would’ve thought you might bring him around more over the last month.” She gives me her mom look.
“We’re both busy.” I shift in my seat to try to get more comfortable.
She looks down her nose at me. “It’s his offseason.”
“And need I remind you that we’re having a baby together, but we’re not a couple? I can’t very well tell him to come to Sunday dinner. He hasn’t missed a doctor’s appointment. He’s taken over all the payments my insurance isn’t covering. He came with me when I registered for this baby shower.” I refrain from mentioning that he had not one clue what we needed and looked disinterested until we reached the toy area.
“Yeah. I just don’t know how you’re going to make it work.”
My shoulders sink. Then the doorbell rings, and I say a small prayer of thanks for the end to this conversation.
“I’ll get it.” I get off the stool and walk to the front door—waddle is more like it.
I open the door to find Damon standing there alone.
“They’re getting out of the car now, but I wanted to apologize ahead of time,” he says rapidly.
“What? Why?”
“My dad demanded we come early so we could all have a sit-down. You, your parents, me, and my parents.”
I cross my arms. “What are we, like, fifteen?”
