AllFreeNovel
Share Us
6
“When you’ve putthe boards back in the trailer, you can change out of the wet suits and leave them in the box over there.” Logan waved a hand at the blue plastic box he was referring to. “Thank you so much for coming today. I hope you enjoyed yourselves, and that this is only the first of many surfing experiences for you.” He smiled at each member of the class, then fielded a couple of questions from the more eager students while the others carried their rental surfboards back across the sand to the storage trailer.
When he was alone, he turned, intending to collect the wet suits and begin his post-class tidy-up, but found himself face-to-face with Gabby. His stomach flipped over. She really didn’t look good. Pale skin, dark circles under her eyes, and her cheekbones seemed more angular than usual, as if she’d lost weight.
“Hey,” she said, meeting his eyes only briefly before looking down at the sleeve of her sweater, which she was picking at with clumsy hands. “Can I talk to you for a moment?”
“Sure.” He shook his knee out, needing to loosen it up after a couple of hours spent wading through the surf, correcting his students. “Do you mind if we head back to the trailer? I don’t want to leave it unattended for too long.”
Gabby’s eyes darted to his again before returning to her sleeve. “I’d prefer for our conversation to be private.”
He shrugged. “So we’ll walk slowly.”
She hesitated, then nodded. “Okay.”
He strode toward the wet suit box, limping slightly, his knee throbbing in protest with each step. He looked over at Gabby, who walked quietly beside him. It seemed as if she was working up the courage to say something.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “You don’t look great.”
She snorted. “Just what every woman wants to hear.”
He rolled his eyes. “I mean it. You okay?”
She drew in a slow breath and stopped walking. He paused too, and turned to face her.
She caught his eyes and raised her chin. “I’m pregnant. I just had it confirmed today.”
Oh, wow. He hadn’t seen that coming. He scanned her up and down. Weren’t pregnant women supposed to glow? And gain weight? She looked like she’d eaten bad chicken. And who the hell was the father? He hadn’t seen her with any particular man lately. Of course, he’d been going out of his way to avoid her, so it was possible she’d been seeing someone and he didn’t know. He doubted it though. Especially after what Shane had said about her being upset about her lack of a love life. Although maybe she’d been emotional about something else entirely. Or just felt like crap.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“Yes.” Her voice didn’t waver.
He cocked his head. “You don’t look happy. Haven’t you always wanted a baby?”
“Logan.” She spoke slowly, her tone pointed, but he had no idea what she was getting at. “You’re the father.”
What?
He laughed. This had to be a joke. She was having him on. She was probably just sick and knew she could use that to scare the bejesus out of him.
But her expression didn’t falter.
“I’m serious,” she said. “I’m pregnant, and you’re the dad.”
His smile faded, and he stopped laughing. She really seemed to mean it. “You’re not kidding?”
Her lips thinned. “I wouldn’t joke about something like this.”
His gut hollowed out. Fuck. No. It didn’t make any sense. Dread crept up his spine.
“What makes you think it’s mine?” His voice sounded alien. Tight, strained, and detached.
“What do you think?” she snapped, a flush working up her cheeks. “You’re the only man I’ve been with since my ex.”
Her ex. That must be it. He grasped at the straw. “Surely it’s your ex’s.”
“I’ve had my period since we broke up, but not since you and I slept together.”
