Page 44 of Trials of a One Night Stand
“No, thanks.” If Jayne can’t drink during the pregnancy, I won’t either. That seems fair, though I hope I don’t experience sympathetic morning sickness like Roddy did each time Chloe was pregnant. “I have something I want to talk to you about.”
“Work?”
“No.” I force myself not to fidget on the barstool. It’s harder than it sounds. “Something, uh, personal.”
Ashton snickers. “So we’ll be discussing Zelda.”
It’s not a question. My muscles tense, and I wonder if I should’ve called Bradley instead. “I’ve told you. There’s nothing between me and Zelda. She’s marrying Jack.”
“Usually if you have something personal to talk about, it’s her.”
My brother isn’t wrong, but I won’t give him the satisfaction of being right, so I say nothing.
He grabs a bottle of beer from the refrigerator and pops the cap off. “So what’s up?”
“Jayne.” Her name bursts from my lips. I can almost imagine a peal of coronets sounding and white doves flying. Fuck, I have it bad.
“Who’s Jayne?” Ashton takes a sip from the bottle.
I don’t know where to start. Might as well just jump in where we are right now. “She’s the mother of my child.”
My brother chokes, nearly spewing beer all over the kitchen. Somehow, he swallows without making a mess. Chloe will be grateful for that, though knowing her, Ashton would be the one cleaning up after himself. She’s taught my brother that a relationship, one that includes marriage and parenting, isn’t fifty-fifty. It requires one hundred percent effort from both individuals involved.
Ashton wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. Something I don’t remember him doing until he had babies. Is that what happens when you become a parent? You forget to use a napkin and use your hand or sleeve to wipe things? That would explain him wearing a shirt with baby spit up on it.
I shiver.
“What the fuck, bro.” He takes a seat on the stool next to me. “Please start at the beginning because the last I heard, your girlfriend moved to London, and her name wasn’t Jayne.”
“That was Lara.” At least he remembered something about my life. “I met Jayne that Friday night we went out for drinks with Bradley and Max.”
He tilts his head. “You stayed at the bar.”
“I did and met her.”
“You didn’t go home alone?”
“I didn’t go home that night,” I admit. “We got a room at the hotel next door. It was just supposed to be one night.”
Still, I should’ve found a way to get her full name if not her phone number.
A dad look forms on his face. Fuck, he really does resemble our dad right now. “Did you wear a condom?”
Fucker. He seems to forget I’m the oldest. “Yes, Dad, but it was from UnoPharm.”
Ashton laughs so hard he has to bend over. “That was your first mistake.”
“No kidding.” I blow out a breath. “The thing is, I really like Jayne. I wanted to see her again after that night. But now there’s a baby involved. I’m not sure what to do.”
He takes another sip from the bottle. “Is she keeping the baby?”
“God, I hope so.”
Ashton studies me. “You want a kid?”
“I…” The question is valid, but I need a minute to think about it. I told Zelda I wanted to have a family with her, and she said no. I’m egotistical enough—yes, I know I can be an SOB—to want progeny to carry on for me, especially after seeing how cute and smart Harlowe and Willow are, but…
No other woman except Zelda has made me want to take the leap into parenthood, but an image of Jayne forms in my head. Sexy Jayne with the spectacular breasts who makes me lose control in bed. Smart Jayne who managed not to get the case dismissed during the preliminary hearing in Portland. Sweet Jayne who cried herself to sleep in my arms last night.
