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Something feral and urgent darts across her manic expression, and she cuts me off. “I am pregnant.”
Dot claps her hands in glee, sniffles, and wipes at a nonexistent tear before saying those three words again. This time, she’s louder and more certain.
Percy inhales sharply, two women at the next table offer jubilant congratulations, and a few more people put their hands together at the happy news.
Shocked and slow to follow, I don’t fully comprehend why all eyes are on me. I’m not the father. Still, it isn’t until two men from the city council, one after the other, clap me on the back and hug Dot, that everything clicks into place. All the pieces meld together like a cruel punch to the face.
Shit. Everyone thinks the baby is mine.
And why wouldn’t they? They believe we are still engaged.Fuck me.
Gazes dark and pointed, Pop’s and Percy’s eyes are glued to me. Only moments before we were talking about how I was with Wren. Finally. I need to say something, set things straight. If I do it here, in public, who knows what Dot will do? She’s dangerous when cornered or called out. More so than usual.
Standing from the booth, I nudge Dot out of the way but not too far. “Dot, can I have a word with you?”
My fingers wrap around her arm and she stops talking to Mrs. Parker. “Just one moment.”
Pop clears his throat again and leans into me, lowering his voice. “We’re not done here.” His eyes slide briefly to my ex. “Tomorrow. My house at three.”
He doesn’t wait for my response, spinning on his heel and marching away like a man ready for combat. The muscles in my face pulse, jaw hinged so tight. What is Dot playing at?
Percy, cheeks red and eyes clouded with doubt—or worse, betrayal and rage—sneers at me and then rushes from the restaurant.
Dammit. I tug on Dot’s arm and she quickly wraps up her conversation. As we exit the Grill, several people try to stop us to give us their well wishes, and like a complete fool, I only nod and strain a smile.
It’s only when we’re several feet from the restaurant, well on our way to the Nest, that I start talking. “What the hell, Dot?”
“What?” She tucks her hair behind an ear and stares ahead.
“Publicly announcing you’re pregnant. People think it’s mine.”
She stops in the middle of the sidewalk, gawking at me like I’ve lost my marbles. The Nest is within sight, and now I wish I’d pressed her harder earlier, or given her the audience she so clearly needs.
“Oliver, what are you talking about? Of course you’re the father. Didn’t I always say we’d be a happy family?”
She’s lost her mind, or more like wants to mess with my head.
“Fuck, no. We’re not doing this.” My bellow startles her and me.
Wide-eyed and mouth open, Dot charges for the Nest with me on her heels. She’s not getting away with this, not by a long shot.
I’m the one to usually keep my cool no matter how bad things get. It’s the way I was raised, to rein it in so as not to bring harm to the Winslow name. I hated how my father would overlook the worst of things just to save face. As I’ve aged, I realize it’s a useful tool to be levelheaded, but I can’t say so right now. My restraint lies shredded back at the Grill.
Once inside, I whirl her to face me. “What the hell is going on here? We haven’t had sex in more than two years.”
She grimaces and casts her eyes downward. “Oliver, with a baby on the way, we need to stop this and just get married.”
I grapple to find the words to cut through her garbage. This woman is devious, and clearly, she thinks this will keep us together, but why does she carry on with it when it’s just us?
“We’re never getting married, no matter what. The baby isn’t fucking mine.” I bite my tongue to stop from adding “if there even is a baby.”
I wouldn’t put it past her to lie about this. There isn’t much Dot wouldn’t do to get her way. To her, life is a game, and sadly, she must win at all costs.
She crosses her arms and looks at me, defiance burning bright in her gaze.
I place my hands on my hips to prevent them from fisting and glare back. “I don’t care who the father is. You need to tell people it’s not me. Fix this baby-daddy mess or I will.”
“No. If you say one word to the contrary, I’ll take the Nest away from you.”
