Page 49 of Accidentally Perfect

"Laney—"

“Brad, just leave it. What’s done is done. Nathan did what he felt was right by calling the doctor and I'm doing what's right by paying the bill. You can’t fault him for following his instincts.”

“I may not be able to fault him, but I can see the extreme he's willing to go.”

“Would you not do the same thing?” My patience is now gone when it comes to Brad.

“I’m their father; of course I would do it, without question. Would I do it for a child I just laid my eyes on, fuck no.”

“Nathan—”

“No, Laney, let me just say this, and then I'll be done with it. Again, Brad, I'm going to do things that may not sit well with you. I admit, you've been a father for a hell of a lot longer than I have. I may not share their blood, but it doesn't mean that I don't care. It doesn't mean that seeing the anguish in Laney's eyes this entire time doesn't affect me. I want to protect her from any type of pain, any way I know how. I reacted, and if I stepped on your toes, I apologize and remember, I will always have the best intensions, even if I go about it the wrong way. I'm not going to fight with you, I’m not going to enter into a pissing match to see who is the better man. I want to work with you and never against you. But the fact is, it's not always going to be easy. We are different, Brad, we can offer the situation different things, mine happens to be financial. I can't help the fact that you aren't financially secure as I am. The Whitmore name means something in this town, far more than yours. Whitmore means power and it means the ability to get the things that I need and that I want—"

“Nathan—” Natalie comes bursting through the door of the conference room. I look to Laney, and she looks mortified. I’m so past the point of being reasonable. I’m tired, and worn out. I just married this woman, and I feel like we’ve been through hell and back, I haven’t even properly made love to her to show her how much she means to me. Three days into marriage and my resolve has been tested over and over again. “What in the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“Nothing.”

“Are you sure about that because I could have sworn that it was father who was here just now. Do you think acting like the man whom you despise is the right choice in a situation like this? Is it even necessary?” I don’t respond. There’s no point. She’s right.

“Fuck, I’m sorry, Brad. I really am. I didn’t mean that shit. I mean, I meant what I would do. I would bring Dr. Basset in again in a heartbeat. Even if it were you lying in that bed and needing a specialist, I would bring him in. If it makes Laney and the girls happy, I will do it for them.”

He doesn’t say anything; he just nods. “Laney, I want some time alone with the girls. Why don’t you take a break?”

“Brad—”

“Please, Street.”

“Laney, why don’t you and Nathan take a break? I’ll sit with Brad and the girls. You can come back when they release Amanda and get her settled in at home.”

“Natalie, don’t forget I need to work on what we discussed.”

“Nathan, I’ve got it handled. Let me make this clear, I’m not doing anything we discussed for you. You are so far down my shit list right now; I would kick your ass if I could manage it. Just go.”