Page 77 of Finding Hayes
I moseyed over to the dining room where he had my computer opened and ready for me to log in. I sent both of my parents a text asking if we could hop on a quick Zoom call, and my father answered immediately, so I sent him the link.
“You’re in such a hurry,” I said, as I clicked on the link and waited for Dad to sign in.
Hayes leaned close to my ear. “The thought of making you come in the shower is all I can think of.”
My breaths were coming faster now as the screen opened, and Hayes chuckled when my father came into view, and then he completely changed his disposition. “Mr. Abbott, it’s so good to see you.”
My husband can be a smug bastard when he wants to be.
Nadia was sitting beside him, and I introduced her to Hayes. He’d heard me speak about her plenty of times over the last few weeks.
“I love to see you two hanging out again after all these years apart,” my father said.
Well, this is going to be awkward.
“About that, Dad.” I cleared my throat, and Hayes found my hand beneath the table and gave me a look that made it clear that he wanted to explain.
“Mr. Abbott, I apologize that I didn’t come to you first. I owed you that respect, but we just got carried away.”
I dug my nails into his hand because I was going to be the one to say it. He could apologize all he wanted, but I needed to tear this bandage off. “We got married. We just—” I shook my head and shrugged. “We couldn’t wait.”
“We couldn’t wait one more minute. And we didn’t want anyone to try to talk us out of it,” Hayes added. “We’re ridiculously in love.”
My father’s eyes doubled in size, and his mouth fell open. “You two got married?”
“Married?” Nadia parroted.
“We did,” I said. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I didn’t want a big wedding or anything fancy, but I should have told you.”
“Well, we’ll just have to throw a big reception,” Nadia said, leaning against my father’s shoulder, as he swiped at the single tear coming down his cheek.
I sucked in a breath, preparing for him to be angry.
“I always knew you two belonged together. I couldn’t be happier.” Dad chuckled, his entire demeanor lighter now. “Now, just give me some grandbabies while I’m still around to enjoy them.”
A heaviness settled in my chest. Lying to my father didn’t feel good, even if he was the reason that I’d been willing to do any of this.
I couldn’t speak because he was hoping for something thatHayes and I would never give him.
But then the man beside me surprised the hell out of everyone. “Give us a little time, but we’re working on it.”
My father beamed, and I dug my nails into Hayes’s palm. He was going too far.
More laughter from my father, and we chatted for the next half hour, him asking Hayes endless questions before we finally said our goodbyes.
When I closed my computer screen, I turned to look at him. “You shouldn’t have said that.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s a lie.” I raised a brow. “We’re not trying to have a baby.”
“We’re also not married for real. So we’re already in this. And it made him happy.”
“And what happens when this all ends and he’s upset?”
“He’ll be receiving the best treatment money can buy, and he won’t give a shit if our relationship implodes. You can tell him that I was sterile.”
“It’s believable. You can be a little cold.” I smirked.
