Page 25 of Reticent

“You think I don’t know that?”

“So, what the hell are you doing? He disrespected you. He used you.”

“You don’t think I’m humiliated?” My voice cracks, and I turn away as tears fill my eyes. Fuck. I told myself not to cry over him. Why can’t I turn it off?

“You have feelings for him.”

“No, I don’t. I’m not stupid. But I have to play nice with him.”

“What the fuck for?”

“I have to get to know the man who will be a permanent fixture in my son’s life.” I cradle my belly. “He’s his father, Niko. We can’t change that.”

Niko rubs the back of his neck. “I know,” he says solemnly.

“He wants to coparent, and regardless of how I feel about him, I won’t deny him that. I can’t. And there’s no way in hell he’ll let me.”

“Be careful, String Bean. Don’t fall for this guy. I saw how he ruined Jemma.”

“He ruined her?”

“She always loved him more than he loved her. She never felt like she was good enough. After a while, that can fuck you up. Don’t let him do the same to you.”

“I know what I’m doing. You don’t have to worry about me.” I force a smile, but it’s weak.

“Between you and Skylar, I’m stressed the fuck out.”

“You’re our rock. We love you.”

“Love you too, String Bean.” He pulls me into a hug, and I allow my tears to fall.

Chapter Eleven

Hunter’s text comes through one week later. He signs us up for a hospital maternity tour. It surprises me that he took the initiative. Would I rather take Skylar? Absolutely. But I can’t exactly ignore Hunter. I have to face him eventually, and the sooner, the better. It’s not like we have a lot of time before the baby gets here. I’m due in nine weeks.

Turning down his suggestion to ride together, I agree to meet him at the hospital. I step off the elevator onto the labor and delivery floor and follow the signs to the conference room where the tour is to begin. When I round a hallway corner, he’s standing outside the conference room with his phone to his ear. My phone rings just as he notices me. He pockets his phone and meets me halfway.

“I had to stop and get gas,” I start, skipping pleasantries and avoiding too much eye contact.

“It’s okay. They haven’t started the tour yet.”

“Good,” I say, glancing behind him down the hall.

“How have you been?”

“Great.” I can’t not look at him, so I do, long enough to begrudgingly appreciate how good he looks in his blue jeans and a beige cashmere sweater.

“You’re a hard person to get a hold of.”

“I needed space.”

“That’s understandable.”

“But I’m here now. So let’s do this.” I start toward the conference room. It takes Hunter a second before he joins me.

* * *

A labor and delivery nurse walks our group through the entire delivery process, from admission to discharge. Next, we stop by the registration office, the triage area, the family waiting rooms, and then everyone’s favorite place, the newborn nursery. After the tour ends, I step aside from the group to search my bag for my car keys.